• 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

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.

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)

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.)

Fading Supply-Chain Problems Signal Season of Plenty for Holiday Shoppers (Read)

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.

Holiday Sales Growth Expected to Slow This Year (Read)

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.

Inflation and Recession Fears Have Some Holiday Shoppers Trading Down (Read)

Used Lululemon Yoga Pants? Shoppers Overcome the ‘Ick Factor’ (Read)

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.

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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 This year, Black Friday discounts started in October. What does that mean for shoppers?

 This is good for shoppers, because deals are more abundant this year than during the past two years, when scarcity allowed retailers to charge closer to full price. But despite the discounts, many shoppers are delaying purchases, and that's bad for retailers. The longer people wait to shop, the more nervous retailers become and the more they slash prices even further. As one retail executive told me recently, “If you think the deals are good now, they are only going to get better.”

 What is your outlook for holiday sales this year? When will we know if it’s been a good season for retailers?

 The National Retail Federation expects sales for November and December to grow between 6% and 8% compared with the same period a year ago. That is less than last year’s 13.5% gain. The figures exclude spending at car dealers, gas stations and restaurants. The trade group also expects unit volume to grow this year, meaning that the increase isn’t driven solely by rising prices. Other estimates call for more muted spending. Macy’s and Kohl’s said sales slowed in October and early November, indicating the season is off to a slow start. Because Christmas falls on a Sunday, retail executives predict a big surge during that last weekend. As a result, this could shape up to be a very back-end-loaded season. We won’t have a final tally on the season until January.

 What about online sales—will shoppers get their packages on time?

 Some estimates call for online sales to level off this year after the rapid growth of the past two years. That’s because more people are expected to visit bricks-and-mortar stores during the holiday season, as pandemic-related health concerns ease. This shift should alleviate some of the pressures on shippers over the holiday season. Some freight companies say this year’s peak season will level off as demand slows.

Today's newsletter was curated by Zlati Meyer in collaboration with audience interaction producer Gretchen Tarrant and Leigh Kamping-Carder in New York. Follow Zlati on Twitter at @Zlatimeyer and Leigh at @Leigh_KC.

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