Yahoo Finance 10 things you shouldn’t wait until Black Friday to buy
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Black Friday 2020, which falls on Friday, November 27, is approaching sooner than you think. While the day after Thanksgiving is usually the year's biggest holiday shopping event, it's going to look a little different this year. Not only have many retailers—including Amazon, Walmart, and The Home Depot—announced that they'll be starting Black Friday deals early, but amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there's expected to be higher demand and lower supply of many popular products. Plus, shoppers need to keep in mind about those pesky shipping delays happening now.
If you want to avoid sold-out stock, there are some things we recommend buying well before Black Friday. From the top-rated Amazon smart speakers to the must-have winter gear, these are 10 products you might want to snag before November 27, according to our experts.
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1. Amazon smart speaker
Whether it's the Echo Show or the Dot, Amazon smart speakers are as popular as ever this year. Our favorite Echo (the third-generation model) has sold out several times at Amazon over the last few months. You can get them for a great price right now at Best Buy, where you'll take advantage of their "Black Friday guarantee," which ensures that the store will refund you the difference for any product purchased by Wednesday, October 28 that drops to a lower price ahead of Black Friday.
Get the Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Smart Speaker with Alexa from Best Buy for $18.99
Get the Amazon Echo Show 5 with Alexa from Best Buy for $44.99
2. AirPods Pro
Want a pair of what our experts deemed the best wireless earbuds you can buy? You might not want to wait until Black Friday to scoop them up. The AirPods Pro are one of the year's hottest gifts and was a top seller during Prime Day, and you can get them at a slight discount right now. Fair warning: They'll likely be equally popular during Black Friday.
Get the Apple AirPods Pro from Amazon for $219
3. Throw blankets
Experts have predicted this winter will be colder and snowier than usual—so a cozy throw blanket is at the top of everyone's wishlists as we head into the holiday season. The celebrity-approved Barefoot Dreams throw (which Chrissy Teigen says she uses every day) is already selling out in solid colors but you can still find it in certain prints or you can opt for a more budget-friendly pick like this sherpa blanket from Amazon, which has over 23,000 rave reviews.
Get the Barefoot Dreams In the Wild Throw Blanket from Nordstrom for $180
Get the Bedsure Sherpa Fleece Blanket from Amazon for $21.99
4. TVs
Of all the things to buy on Black Friday, TVs have been one of the most popular purchases year after year. And while you can certainly get a good deal on some of the best TVs on the market the day after Thanksgiving, our senior deals editor, Nicole Briese, predicts that stock will be very low this year. So if you have your eye on a specific TV (like our experts' favorite, the LG C9 Series, or our best-value pick, the TCL 6-Series), you might want to go ahead and buy it now.
5. Slippers
Just like throw blankets, slippers are in high demand going into the very cold—and potentially very snowy—months ahead. Ugg slippers famously sell out whenever there's a big sale (the Scuffette slide is the highest-rated pick for women) but there are also plenty of more affordable options on Amazon, like this fluffy pair with that over 3,000 reviewers have given five stars.
6. Fitbit
According to Pew Research, one in five Americans wear some sort of fitness tracker—and the wearable tech will likely be a top holiday gift this year. Of all the Fitbits our experts have tested, we like the Charge 4 the best thanks to its plethora of tracking capabilities and ease of use. Our runner-up, the Versa 2, is also a solid option if you're looking for something that functions like a fitness tracker but has the same look as a smartwatch.
7. Winter gear
Shovels, ice scrapers, space heaters, oh my! Now is the perfect time to buy all of your winter weather essentials before they sell out. Some of our recommendations? The best snow shovel we've ever used (thanks to its pickup ability and durable design) or this top-tested space heater that our experts found to be the most effective at warming up a room.
8. Face masks
With a predicted second wave of COVID-19 coming this winter, face masks are going to remain a hot commodity. If you need a new one, it's smart to snag a few sooner rather than later. Our experts tested some of the most popular masks out there and found the Athleta face masks to be the best, followed by Old Navy and Tom Bihn. There are hundreds of other retailers selling cloth face masks online, as well.
Get the Everyday Non-Medical Masks (5-Pack) from Athleta for $30
Get the Triple-Layer Cloth Face Mask (5-Pack) from Old Navy for $12.50
9. Home decor
Spending more time at home this year means an increase in demand for decor like rugs, mirrors, furniture, and wall art. While you'll get some good deals the day after Thanksgiving, you can shop equally good sales on decor and furniture early at Wayfair, whose Black Friday sale is starting Monday, October 26th.
Shop all home decor at Wayfair
10. Xbox Series X or Playstation 5
Two of the most-wanted gifts of 2020—the Xbox Series X and the Playstation 5—come out in mid-November, and if the sold-out pre-orders are any indication, they'll likely sell out within hours of release. I.e. waiting until Black Friday could leave you empty-handed. While you can't pre-order the consoles, you can get them from Amazon or Walmart when they become available (the Xbox Series X comes out Tuesday, November 10 while the Playstation 5 is available ThNovember 12th).
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
This article originally appeared on Reviewed.com: 10 things you shouldn’t wait until Black Friday to buy: AirPods, Amazon Echo, and more
