The best time to shop on Black Friday is early morning. The most popular deals tend to sell out quickly, so you'll want to get there early if you don't want to miss them. Although many Black Friday shopping deals are available online, there are some deals that you can only access in stores. That often means waiting in overwhelming lines and navigating through densely populated crowds.
Google data suggests that traffic tends to be more intense in the afternoon than in the morning. Foot traffic at 6 a.m. peaks between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., so the best way to avoid the Black Friday shopper crowds is to wake up early.
Google's graphic suggests that foot traffic in all types of retail stores reaches its lowest point around 5 a.m. Although Black Friday is a very popular day for shopping, most stores see more foot traffic as Christmas approaches. Consumer electronics stores are the exception, as they have a peak of foot traffic the day after Thanksgiving, according to Google reports. Paying Walmart Plus subscribers will also have early access to all of the retailer's Black Friday deals, starting at 12 p.m.
ET instead of 7 p.m. ET regulars. If you're not an early riser, don't worry - you don't have to completely rule out Black Friday shopping. Target recently announced a series of early Black Friday discounts, called “One-Week Black Friday Deals,” that began in mid-October.
Newegg also offers price protection for most of the holiday shopping season, so if you buy early and the same item drops to a lower price, you can get a better deal retroactively. Shopping with a plan in mind is the best way to get in and out of stores reasonably quickly, no matter what time you go. The classic image of Black Friday shopping first thing in the morning is an experience that some diehard fans look forward to all year long. The retailer is currently offering several special offers through its Black Friday deals event, and Totaltech premium members will have early access to more deals on November 17.
