MINNEAPOLIS — Black Friday has been a holiday shopping tradition for decades, but a lot has changed in recent years.
Retail experts say online shopping has grown to the point where most retailers now offer the same deals both in-store and online.
“You may find here and there a doorbuster deal at a store that isn’t available online, or an online exclusive that is not available in stores, but for the most part, you’re going to find the same prices anywhere and everyone,” Consumer Reports analyst Samantha Gordon said.
Managers at Target say all their holiday deals will be available both in-store and online this year.
“Our guests have a multitude of options now to shop. They can do the in-store experience, which a lot of our guests who are traditionalists love to do. You can also do pick-up. You can do ship from the store, you can do same-day service though Shipt. There are so many options for our guests,” Edina Target store director Rich Dean said.
With so many options, which is the best for you?
Analysts say online shopping offers convenience and an easier ability to compare prices across multiple retailers.
However, analysts say in-store shopping offers unique customer experiences that can never be replicated online.
For example, with in-store shopping, a holiday shopper can pick out a new TV, see the picture quality in-person and then bring that TV home and set it up the same day.
Analysts say in-store shopping is also a great option for shoppers who are having a difficult time finding gifts for friends and family members because they can see the countless products on the shelves and generate gift ideas.
“It’s really up to you and how you like to shop. There are just so many options right now. Shoppers can create their own custom experience that fits their needs,” Gordon said.
Some shoppers are leery of visiting a physical store during Black Friday because they don’t like crowds.
Dean said the crowds have been smaller in recent years with more customers moving online, so one might assume the in-store experience may be less crowded than remembered.
“The excitement of Black Friday is still there. We don’t necessarily see the same crowds that we used to have in terms of waiting outside, but we still get a lot of excitement with guests who want to come in, touch and feel the product, and get that store experience we can provide,” Dean said.
Several major retailers are also offering deeper discounts during the month of December this year to give shoppers more time to shop and more time to spread out their purchases.
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