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Good afternoon. Here’s what you should know today, Nov. 25: |
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Black Friday is back—or is it? Frustrated shoppers are getting advice on Reddit Americans are planning to buy fewer gifts and give less to charity |
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| People waited in line before the mall opened at American Dream in New Jersey on Black Friday. PHOTO: JUTHARAT PINYODOONYACHET FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL |
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1. Door-buster deals are a bust this Black Friday. |
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The deep discounts offered for a limited time, typically during early-morning hours, to draw customers to stores are (mostly) gone. Walmart, Target, Best Buy and Macy’s are among the chains that nixed them during the pandemic, when they had to limit the number of people in stores for health reasons. Promotions that run for longer periods, sometimes all day or even a week, became the name of the holiday-shopping game, though Amazon, Kohl’s and JCPenney had door-busters this year. In case you want to power up before heading to a brick-and-mortar store, think about some Thanksgiving leftovers. |
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Black Friday Starts With a Toy Glut. Can Shoppers Save Christmas? (Read) If the Price Ended in 99, You Probably Overpaid (Read) Spending Traps: Credit-Card Offers, Tricky Trips and So-So Discounts (Read) |
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2. Shoppers annoyed with fake reviews and paid influencers are turning to Reddit. |
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Frustrated consumers are joining communities on the social network, with 50 million daily active users, to share tips and seek candid product opinions. People post anonymously in so-called subreddits, such as Buy It for Life, Budget Audiophile, SkincareAddiction and A Bra That Fits. Moderators generally prohibit paid promotions and commission-earning referral links, so users are free to fire up their “Is this Black Friday deal really a deal?” questions. (Note: You don’t need a Reddit account to visit a page, but you will need one to post, vote or save comments.) |
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Fading Supply-Chain Problems Signal Season of Plenty for Holiday Shoppers (Read) |
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3. Black Friday started waaaaaaaaaaaaay before today. |
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Deep discounting began in October, a 180-degree change from the past two years when scarcity allowed stores to charge full price for many products. Another change you might see while hunting for gifts online: Retailers are focusing on specific-day delivery rather than speediest shipping. And if you’re not one of the few who attacked your Christmas-Hanukkah-Kwanzaa list before Halloween, consider live-streamed shopping. The practice is big in China and some brands think it’s about to break through in the U.S. |
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Holiday Sales Growth Expected to Slow This Year (Read) |
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4. Stressed Americans are saying “bah humbug” to gifts and charitable donations this holiday season. |
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The Scrooge is inflation. People plan to buy an average of nine gifts this year compared with 16 last year and spend $1,455 versus $1,463, according to a Deloitte survey conducted in September. Crowdfunding platform Kiva found that many folks planned to give less to charity compared with last year; 44% blamed a lack of funds. |
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Inflation and Recession Fears Have Some Holiday Shoppers Trading Down (Read) Used Lululemon Yoga Pants? Shoppers Overcome the ‘Ick Factor’ (Read) |
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5. Still deciding what to buy for whom? We’ve got your back. |
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Get ready for some truly timeless gift ideas, most of which are under $300. They’re selected for relatives and friends who love gear, food, travel, fashion and design. (FYI: I prefer bracelets to necklaces, my favorite color is purple, and visiting the Serengeti is on my bucket list.) If you want a classic shopping experience, embrace the kitsch of Christmas markets. |
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Good Luck Returning Your Unwanted Clothes and Electronics (Read) How Will You Dress Next Year? 7 Top Trends From the Spring 2023 Women’s Runways (Read) |
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