Black Friday or Cyber ​​Monday? Which day has better holiday deals?

On By Littum

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  • While historically separate events, Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday sales now often overlap.
  • Many retailers are offering Black Friday deals early, both online and in stores.
  • Cyber ​​Monday deals are expected to be live throughout the weekend and into Monday.

The superb shopping weekend is almost here.

A record 183.4 million people plan to shop in stores and online between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber ​​Monday in 2024, up from the previous record of 182 million in 2023, according to a annual National Retail Federation survey.

Black Friday still reigns supreme, the survey shows, with 131.7 million people (72%) reporting plans to shop that day. It is followed by Cyber ​​Monday, where 39% of respondents, or 72.3 million people, plan to shop.

The main reason shoppers are still so dedicated to cashing in on the official shopping holidays is deals that are “too good to pass up,” said 57% of people, followed by a love of tradition, according to 28% of the respondents.

With so many millions planning to do most of their shopping over about four days, it begs the question: Is one day better than another for shopping sales? Which shopping holiday comes out on top in the battle between Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday? Here’s what you need to know.

What is Black Friday? When is Black Friday 2024?

Black Friday takes place the day after Thanksgiving, which is Thursday, November 28 this year, meaning the shopping holiday falls on Friday, November 29.

It is believed to have earned the title “Black Friday” in the 1950s, when Philadelphia police coined the term to describe the chaos they observed thanks to suburban shoppers flooding the city, USA TODAY previously reported.

By 1961, the name stuck in Philly, but it didn’t go nationwide until the late 1980s, when retailers seized the opportunity to reframe the day as something more positive, concocting the analogy of stores moving from being “in the red” (experienced financial loss) until the explosion of sales the day after Thanksgiving, which brings them back into the “black” (being profitable).

What you need to know about Black Friday 2024: Where and when to shop sales

What is Cyber ​​Monday? When is Cyber ​​Monday 2024?

Cyber ​​Monday takes place on the first Monday after Thanksgiving. This year it falls on Monday, December 2.

It originated as something of an answer or supplement to Black Friday, which eventually became just as lucrative for retailers. The official term was coined by the National Retail Federation in 2005 when the organization noticed an influx of online shopping on the Monday after Thanksgiving as people returned to work and used their – at the time – faster Internet connections at the office than at home to start on their holiday lists.

As with Black Friday, retailers cashed in on this by turning it into a full-fledged sales event, this time focusing on online shopping and sales.

What you need to know about Cyber ​​Monday 2024: Where and when to shop sales

Black Friday vs. Cyber ​​Monday: Which is better?

Once upon a time, Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday were two different events, especially when brick-and-mortar stores and in-store flash sales were more popular.

Between online shopping becomes the preferred method year-round of deal-hunting for many consumers and the now-popular practice among retailers of cashing in by extending the shopping holiday into multi-day events, but the two have become more or less entangled. And the COVID-19 pandemic likely managed to push some of the last in-store wait times into the digital space.

The shopping holidays now often run right into each other without any real break, like Amazon’s Black Friday Week, which ends Nov. 29 and bleeds right into Cyber ​​Monday sales from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2. While the deals are labeled as being part of two different events, they function as one long sale.

In some cases, the same sale may simply roll over into the “new” holiday promotion and be rebranded. In other cases, stores may choose to save certain types of sales for one day or the other, so while Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday may have become more or less the same, be sure to pay attention to the official sale dates on those items , you really want.

Top Black Friday Deals

With a growing preference for online shopping, retailers have started rolling out “Black Friday” deals earlier and making them run longer, giving customers more time to cash out. You can already find markdowns at a number of retailers, including Best Buy, Amazon , Walmart, Staples, BJ’s Wholesale Club and Target. However, some of the biggest deals are usually reserved for the day.

Amazon’s Black Friday Week started on November 21st and runs through Friday, November 29th. Offer includes up to 55% on selected items Amazon devicesincluding Amazon Fire Smart TV, Kindles, Ring doorbells and Beats headphones. There is also up to 50% on denim for the family from Levi’s and clothes from OROLAYalong with thousands of other offers.

Walmart launched its online early Black Friday deals on Nov. 11, offering up to 70% of everything from kitchenware and beauty products for toys and clothing.

Top Cyber ​​Monday Deals

Like Black Friday, Cyber ​​Monday has expanded its domain over a single day.

The biggest deals from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are often reserved for Cyber ​​Monday itself, but are also often available for at least two days, if not a full “Cyber ​​Week.”

Amazon’s Cyber ​​Monday event starts before the actual day, beginning on Friday November 29th and running through Monday December 2nd. As usual, sales run the whole spectrumincluding up to 50% off technology including JBL headphones and Eufy security cameras, 55% off Zinus mattresses, 40% off select Bissell and Tineco vacuums and 20% off Stanley beverages.

Target’s Cyber ​​Monday event usually begins the Sunday after Thanksgiving and extends into Cyber ​​Monday, meaning this year it will likely begin on Sunday, December 1st and last through Monday, December 2nd. Target’s sale includes Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $189.99, Keurig K- Mini for $59.99, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4k for $24.99 and Apple Watch SE for as low as $199.99.

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