Black Friday TIPS: Best Advice For Deal-Hungry Shoppers (PHOTOS)

You may have studied the hours and keys stores for Black Friday 2010 (and if you haven't, check them out here), but unless you're a seasoned veteran, there are many more things to think about to be an effective Black Friday shopper.

It's likely to be an eventful Black Friday this year. Retailers are hoping low prices and special offers can lure cautious consumers into their stores. For many, the holiday shopping season can mean the difference between a good year and a forgettable one.

This year's Black Friday bonanza will be complicated by the fact that Walmart is now offering free shipping with no minimum on their website.

We've compiled 10 key pieces of advice for this year's Black Friday. Feel free to share your own tips and experiences in the comments or by tweeting us @HuffPostBiz with the hashtag #BlackFridayTips. We just might add a few of them to our slideshow!

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Know The Sale Before You Go

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Researching items and sale prices before heading to the stores can be a real time saver.

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Researching items and sale prices before heading to the stores can be a real time saver.

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Comments

[samul swan]

07:52 AM on 11/27/2010

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[samul swan]

07:52 AM on 11/27/2010

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[AxelDC]

08:11 PM on 11/26/2010

Day after Thanksgiving tips:

1) "Black Friday" sounds way too much like "Black Tuesday", which is the date of economic collapse.  Not a good holiday reference.
2) Stay away from the malls, FAR AWAY.
3) Never get up before dawn on your day off
4) Spend the day at home with friends and family watching football on TV
5) Better yet, send your friends and family to the mall while you stay home and enjoy some peace and quiet
6) You have a month 'till Xmas, and there's no need to kill yourself getting ready

[Marturia]

03:59 PM on 11/26/2010

My husband is out and on a quest for a Black Friday deal on a TV. Personally, I hate to shop. I am an insult to my gender...

[SusanElizabeth1949]

04:05 PM on 11/26/2010

I'm the same way, I was in our indoor Mall for the first time in 15 years last week, because I had a work assignment there. Internet shopping is the only reason my husband doesn't have to drag me out every 5 years, when I start looking 'worn' to buy some new clothes.

[Marturia]

04:09 PM on 11/26/2010

Just fanned you, 'cause you're my 'fiscal twin'.

[AxelDC]

08:12 PM on 11/26/2010

Why don't you buy yourself a TV AFTER Xmas?  It will be way cheaper!

[Marturia]

10:26 AM on 11/27/2010

That's what I said! But my techie husband wants another TV now. When he really wants something, and it doesn't cost too much...I just roll with it.

[SinfullySublime]

03:28 PM on 11/26/2010

I don't buy much but when I do, clicking thru bigcrumbs to check for a rebate helps me save.

affordablepetsafety

[jtaylor80]

01:52 PM on 11/26/2010

Great tips! If your going to do any shopping online, another black friday strategy is to use price alert web sites, like ZingSale.com, where you create "email alerts" for gifts you want to buy, and then you'll get notified as soon as the product goes on sale.

[GpaDuane]

12:33 PM on 11/26/2010

I'll bet the Chinese love our Christmas.

[Ana4]

12:11 PM on 11/26/2010

Personally, I'm going to buy nothing today. Used books make great gifts for kids at Christmas. And adults enjoy home made items; always have. As for that mp3 player I wanted: well I'll have to wait for the January sales at a local small business.

[elkhawk]

12:05 PM on 11/26/2010

Best advice: Go see Kriss Kringle at Macy's and he will tell you the best places to shop to get the best deals. Oops, that was on "Miracle on 34th Street".

Best advice: Wait until after today because then you won't have to fight all the other people. Also, you can find some of the same deals or better online. Cyber Monday will probably be many great deals too.

[SusanElizabeth1949]

03:37 PM on 11/26/2010

I got my 'great deal' today, ShopNBC had one of those combination radio, turn table, CD and tape players that records to CD from either tape or vinyl. I've wanted to get one since they first came out, but the 499 launch price was a strong deterrent. I got mine for 174.58 delivered, with a 5 payment plan on one of my zero interest credit cards. I have a large collection of vinyl left over from my teens and 20s and no way of either playing it or digitizing it. Now I do.

[KalNJ]

12:04 PM on 11/26/2010

So with all we learned about corporate America the past year, does anyone really think there are great bargains to be had on Black Friday?
Sure, here and there but not by enlarge.
If you save your money and pay attention you'd get much better deals in other times of the year.

Electronics tip: best time to buy is before the Superbowl when electronic stores are clamoring to get rid of the old stock to be replaced by the new stock.

[bryce05]

10:44 AM on 11/26/2010

DO THE GOBBLE!!!

[QuantProgrammer]

10:34 AM on 11/26/2010

Or you could stay at home and stop spending money you don't have to impress people you don't care about.

[rbchilds]

12:06 PM on 11/26/2010

Bingo, we have a winner. Step 1 to wealth creation, purchase only what you absolutely need not what you want.

[Marturia]

04:02 PM on 11/26/2010

But...but...that's just unAmerican!

[imonlyhereforthelaughs]

10:13 AM on 11/26/2010

The same people standing in line at 2am in front of the Walmart are very often the same people standing in line at the credit counseling service center in March when they've gone a few months late on the thousands they spend on a single day in November.

[RodbfromNC]

09:40 AM on 11/26/2010

I AM A DEAL HUNGRY SHOPPER! But I have a question...where do I get the money to shop from? If you are self employed, but don't make any money are you still "self employed"?. Maybe I should go from "self employed' to "Retired".

[Oska Wright]

08:52 AM on 11/26/2010

Please please anyone who was at these Black Friday Shopping Events.....don't complain about being out of work or that the economy is bad and the President is destroying our country. Funny when people want something or think they would get a good deal they'll find a way to spend. Didn't a lot of company Best Buy HH Greg etc. have to hire more people for the holidays? I'm just saying!