Are early Black Friday deals worth it? Our shopping insider breaks it down

As a professional shopping writer with more than five years of dedicated coverage of the holiday-sales season, I’ve seen the evolution of the question: “Are early Black Friday deals worth it?” The short answer is yes — but not always, and not under all circumstances.Let’s cut to the chase: I’m diving right into what I’ve observed over those years, explaining the pros and cons of jumping into early deals versus waiting for the main event and offering up my exclusive tips for you to assess when an early sale is genuinely a bargain or simply a marketing ploy.Traditionally, Black Friday in the U.S.

referred to the day after Thanksgiving (for 2025 that’s Friday, Nov.28).

But over the last several years, major retailers have begun launching substantial discounts weeks — even a month! — in advance.These “early Black Friday” or “pre-Black Friday” deals extend the shopping window, ease logistics for the retailer, and let them capture shoppers eager to secure items early.For example, one retailer has described this window as the “pre-Black Friday sale” and noted it’s often less chaotic than the full-scale event.

When referencing “early Black Friday deals,” I’m referring to the promotions that many stores offer before the official date, sometimes as early as early November or even late October.There are several compelling reasons why early Black Friday deals can be a smart strategy.First, inventory is often more plentiful.

In my years covering these events, I’ve seen the biggest doorbuster deals on Black Friday itself sell out very quickly, often by the first hour online or the first few minutes in-store.By contrast, earlier sales often provide more size, color and model options, which is especially relevant for items like clothing, shoes, electronics or home goods where variety matters.Second, stress and competition are lower in the early window.If you’re shopping calmly and want to lock in certain items (for instance, home upg...