Possibly planning ahead for another surprise October Prime Day (like during 2020), Target has announced a pre-November, Black Friday-style event that will kick off the retailer’s push into the holiday shopping season. Deals will be available on the store’s website, on the app and within physical Target locations.

As of publication, Target hasn’t released a significant number of details on what will be on sale during the Deal Days even beyond mentioning categories like TVs, video games, kitchen appliances and vacuums. There’s no cost to participate in Deal Days as it does not require a membership like Amazon & Prime Day.

October 10 is also the kick-off date for Target’s, limited-time, price matching event. Any Target purchases made between October 10 and December 24 can receive a price adjustment if Target offers a lower price later in the holiday season. In addition, Target offers competitor price matching for 14 days after the date of purchase.

Saving even more on Target Deal Days

As always, we advise setting up your Target account prior to Deal Days to make sure you have quick access to checkout options, in the case of hot, limited inventory deals.

• If you have a RedCard, you can receive an additional 5% off your Target purchases. In addition, there’s frequently a deal that offers a bonus $40 to $50 gift card for signing up for a card. (For example)
• If you have a Discover IT card, you can sign up for an additional 5% cashback from Target during Q4. In addition, that card offers 5% cashback on Amazon and Walmart.com.
• Be sure to check Target Circle and look for additional 10% coupons that bring the overall cost down even further. These coupons are usually targeted at specific accounts.
• Look for deals that offer additional gift cards as a bonus for purchasing. Target frequently uses this tactic during Black Friday in order to entice customers away from competitors like Walmart and Best Buy.

Target schedules “Deal Days” event during October 10 – 12, 2021

Shopping for a set of AirPods this year? this Black Friday? We’ve looked through all the Black Friday ads and broken down where you can get the cheapest AirPods with charging case, AirPods with wireless charging case, the brand new AirPods Pro and a replacement charging case.

Best Price on AirPods Pro: $169

Advertised in the Walmart flyer this year, the $169 price on the AirPods Pro will beat the best price we have seen on the Pros all year. The last best price was $190 on Electronics.woot! a few weeks ago.

It’s possible that other retailers (Target, Best Buy, Amazon) will price match as the Walmart sale starts at 7 p.m. ET on November 25. The AirPods Pro offer noise cancellation, adaptive EQ and water resistance.

• Amazon: AirPods Pro
• Best Buy: AirPods Pro
• Target: AirPods Pro

Check Price on Walmart

Best Price on AirPods with charging case: $99

We actually saw this $99 price on AirPods earlier this month at Walmart and Amazon. We believe it’s significantly likely that the sale will repeat starting on Wed night and potentially run through end of day on Black Friday. Possibly even sooner with Amazon & Best Buy starting sales this weekend.

Apple’s standard AirPods typically retail for $159, offer up to five hours of listening time on a single charge and more then 24 hours of time with the charging case.

• Walmart: AirPods with charging case
• Amazon: AirPods with charging case

Best Price on AirPods with wireless case: $130 – $140 prediction

The AirPods with wireless case haven’t seen significant discounts in the last several months due to the popularity of the Pros. We are predicting the version with the wireless case will drop from the current sale price of $160 down to the $130 to $140 range.

The majority of retailers (haven’t even listed this model in flyers this year. It’s possible retailers are keeping that information intentionally vague in the Black Friday advertisements or are simply ignoring this model due to the popularity of the base model & Pros.

• Best Buy: AirPods with wireless case
• Walmart: AirPods with wireless case
• Amazon: AirPods with wireless case

Here’s the cheapest AirPods on Black Friday 2020

Shopping for boxes of LEGOs or specific LEGO sets this year? We’ve looked through all the Black Friday ads and broken down where you can get the cheapest sets of LEGOs (price per brick), the best overall percentage discount on LEGO sets, the second best option and a tip for exclusive LEGO sets.

Cheapest Price per Brick LEGO set: $30 (1500 brick set)

If you are looking for an inexpensive way to get a LEGO collection started, you really can’t do better than Walmart’s annual Black Friday sale on bulk LEGO sets. At this price point (50% off), that brings the price per brick down to exactly 2 cents each! (which beats the Black Friday 2019 price per brick).

This particular LEGO Classic set comes with 1500 bricks and also comes with a variety of eyes, wheels, doors, windows and hinges for creative builds. Also, if you are buying for a child between 1.5 and 3 years old, Walmart has a 175-piece LEGO Duplo set on sale for the same price.

Check Price on Walmart

Best Overall Discount on LEGOs: 40% at Target

Target is the leader in LEGO discounts this year, offering a 40% off sale on specific building sets, some of which include LEGO City and Harry Potter sets. Be sure to check for additional discounts in Target Circle and get an additional 5% off your purchase price using RedCard

Check Prices on Target

Best Add-on Bonus on LEGO Purchases: Kohl’s

In addition to getting 30% off select LEGO sets at Kohl’s this year, you will also be able to earn Kohl’s cash on your purchase. For instance, this LEGO City set would get you an additional $15 back in Kohl’s Cash, which can be spent on a future purchase.

Check Prices on Kohl’s

Best Place to Find Exclusive LEGO sets?

Every year, LEGO.com debuts exclusive LEGO sets. This year, LEGO is debuting a 2352-pc ECTO-1 from Ghostbusters fame. The set is targeted at ages 18 and up and comes with 1300 VIP points if you are part of LEGO’s VIP program.

Beyond that, LEGO will have their own 30% off sale for VIP members of their site as well as earning double rewards points for purchases. It’s free to sign up for LEGO VIP and does offer early access to exclusive sets, if that’s your thing.

Check Prices on LEGO.com

Here’s the cheapest LEGOs and LEGO sets on Black Friday 2020

Starting on Thursday, October 22, Lowe’s is launching deals daily, online-only sales on tools, generators, pressure washers, patio sets, electronics, small appliances, floorcare, lighting and more through Wed, December 2. Other promotions include

• Up to $700 off on major appliances totaling $1,999 or more between Nov 19 and December 2.
• Buy one DeWalt 20V Max XR Power Detect Tool, get one bare tool free between Oct 28 and Dec 30.
• Buy one Craftsman V20 Max Battery Kit, get one Bare tool free between Oct 28 and Dec 30.

Details on exactly what will be going on sale starting on Thursday are currently light, but you can check out our Lowe’s-specific deal feed in order to spot the absolute best deals.

In addition to starting online sales earlier than normal, Lowe’s is offering free, fresh Christmas tree delivery starting on October 30. In order to qualify for free delivery, orders must be $45 or more. You can find all the pricing on fresh cut trees here on the Lowe’s site.

Lowe’s announces holiday deals schedule, free Christmas tree delivery

Following in the footsteps of retail giants like Walmart and Target, GameStop has announced that all retail locations will be closed on Thanksgiving this year. This is a shift from previous years where many locations were required to open up mid-afternoon on Thanksgiving to kick off the Black Friday shopping sales.

Of course, customers will be able to shop online on the GameStop site, likely earlier than Thanksgiving as more online retailer launch deal pricing on the Wed night prior to Thanksgiving. Customers can use a same-day shipping option (if available) or simply head to the store the following day to pick up their order (assuming the order is placed on Thursday).

GameStop typically released their Black Friday sales ad in the final week of October or the first week of November. If the company attempts to follow Walmart’s lead, expect to see more frequent flash sales during early November.

As always, you can watch the GameStop-specific deal feed on Ben’s Bargains to view the latest deals. This holiday season is expected to be particularly busy for video games with two new, next-generation consoles coming out as well as deep discounts on previous gen hardware and software. You can watch all the best gaming deals at all retailers in our category feed here.

If you are shopping at GameStop this year, keep in mind that free shipping only works on orders that are $35 or more.

GameStop becomes next retailer to announce store closures for Thanksgiving

Likely looking to reach more online shoppers this year due to the COVID pandemic, retail giant Walmart is taking a new approach to Black Friday sales this year.

Starting on November 4, Walmart will run it’s first “Deals for Days” event for online shoppers. Specifically starting at 7 p.m. ET, customers can visit Walmart.com to find deals like a $88 42-inch UHD Roku TV as we as Hotel Style bath towels on sale for $5.

On November 7, Walmart will release more deals online and in-stores. Some examples include the Magic Bullet Blender for $15 and a 1:6 scale RC truck for $40. Those deals will become available at 12 a.m. ET on the site and in stores at 5 a.m. local time.

On November 11, Walmart’s next event is targeting customers looking for electronics deals in addition to apparel, home and other categories. There isn’t much specificity on what will be on sale though. The same start times apply though. 7 p.m. ET on Nov 11 and 12 a.m. ET on Nov 14 (5 a.m. local time in stores).

On November 25, the pattern will repeat. (This is an identical pattern to Black Friday events in previous years, btw.) Deals will go online at 7 p.m. ET on November 25 and more deals will be dropped on Black Friday at 12 a.m. ET for online & 5 a.m. local time in stores.

Here’s a list of the deal drop times for online shoppers:

• Wed, November 4: 4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET
• Sat, November 7: 9 p.m. PT / 12 a.m. ET
• Wed, November 11: 4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET
• Sat, November 14: 9 p.m. PT / 12 a.m. ET
• Wed, November 25: 4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET
• Fri, November 27: 9 p.m. PT / 12 a.m. ET

Walmart expands Black Friday plans with weekly events in November

In a recent update to the coronavirus risk categories list as it related to virus transmission during holiday events, the Center for Disease Control has added in-person shopping around Black Friday to Thanksgiving’s high risk category.

Specifically, the CDC added “Going shopping in crowded stores just before, on, or after Thanksgiving” along with other high risk activities like attending crowded parades, participating in (or watching) crowded races, and attending large, indoor gatherings with family / friends.

Alternatively, the CDC recommends shopping online instead of going to a retail, brick & mortar location. In years past, online Black Friday sales typically kick off around 7 p.m. PT on the Wednesday preceding Thanksgiving. If you are diligent about shopping early, you can snag many deals before Thanksgiving even starts, leaving you to focus on eating as much turkey as humanly possible.

It’s also possible that you could finish off your holiday shopping in mid-October during Amazon Prime Day. Amazon will offer significant discounts on Oct 13 and 14. In addition, both Target and Walmart will be holding competing sales. It’s also likely retailer like Best Buy will get into the mix.

Retailers will also be spreading out sales throughout early November, attempting to snag the dollars of consumers who prefer to stay home this year and avoid stores completely.

It’s possible that retailers will come up with some form of voucher system for doorbusters this year, in an attempt to limit the number of people waiting at the door when the stores open. Of course, retailers could also just shift a larger portion of doorbuster inventory into the online space as well.

Most retailers have been quiet about Black Friday plans thus far, beyond announcing that retail locations will be closed on Thanksgiving this year. Expect to see press releases on how stores will be handling in-person visitors on Black Friday by the end of October.

CDC adds in-store, Black Friday shopping to high risk list for Thanksgiving

Launching on the same two days at Amazon Prime Day (Oct 13 and 14), Target is repeating their yearly tradition of “Deal Days.” Identical to Target’s Deal Days promotion in July 2019, the digital deals will start rolling out as Amazon Prime Day kicks off.

This year, Target is claiming to offer double the total deals as last year. Unfortunately, Target hasn’t elaborated on what specifically will be on sale beyond mentioned deals on electronics, home goods, essential products, toys and items in the Beauty category.

All deals will be available through Target’s contactless Drive up pickup system as well as the Order pickup counter inside the stores. Of course, it’s likely that Amazon will over many same day shipping deals on items, thus eliminating a need to even leave your home.

After Deal Days finishes up, Target will take a pause on offering deals until November 1. After October ends, Target will offer Black Friday deals (one million more than last year) throughout the entire month. Starting on Sunday, November 1, Target will offer week-long deals as well as a barrage of daily deals.

One interesting, pro-consumer tweak to policy this year is that Target customers will be able to request a price adjustment on any item advertised as a “Black Friday deal” between November 1 and December 24. That’s significantly longer than the company’s standard 14-day window to request a price match. Presumably, customers will be able to request the price adjustment at the customer service counters in Target stores, over the phone or online using the Target chat function here.

Regarding other competitors, only Walmart has announced a competing sale. Launching Sunday, October 11, at 7 p.m. ET., Walmart will have a “Big Save” event that will last through Thursday night. The company has release zero details on the volume of deals or what product categories will be covered.

There’s also been radio silence on free shipping promotions. Typically, Target, Walmart and Best Buy (among other retailers) announce free shipping promotions for holiday shopping. We expect those promotions to be more aggressive this year as more consumers have been pushed to online shopping due to the COVID pandemic.

Target announces October “Deal Days” to compete directly with Prime Day

Likely not the last store to announce store closures on Thanksgiving, Target will be closing all stores on Turkey Day for the first time in a decade. Both Walmart and Target have been comparing for in-store shoppers during Thanksgiving for the last several years.

Of course, customers will still be able to shop online on Thanksgiving, likely taking advantage of Black Friday deals as early as 6 p.m. PT on the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving.

In addition, Target may extend the traditional November sales push into October, likely as an attempt to compete with Amazon’s Prime Day (rumored to start in early to mid-October). As detailed in Target’s blog post: “Starting in October and continuing throughout the season, you’ll find Target’s lowest prices of the year on items in stores and online.”

Prior to Black Friday, Target typically picks one weekend during November to schedule a weekend flash sale. Target will offer pricing that’s fairly similar to prices offered on Black Friday; mainly on electronics as well as kitchen housewares, home goods and toys.

We wouldn’t be shocked to see similar sales occur in October, either directly competing with Prime Day or staggered throughout late October as an attempt to kick off holiday shopping early.

Following Walmart, Target announces all stores will be closed on Thanksgiving

Closing for Thanksgiving for the first time in roughly a decade, Walmart has made the decision to give employees the day off prior to one of the busiest shopping days of the year, Black Friday. The same goes for the Sam’s Club warehouse club chain, but that retailer is typically closed for Thanksgiving just like Costco.

The last time Walmart was closed for Thanksgiving was 2010. The retailer opened at midnight, just after Thanksgiving expired. Since 2010, the opening time was pushed earlier and earlier into Thanksgiving. As of holiday 2019, Walmart opened at 6 p.m. local time.

Of course, this shift is unlikely to alter when Walmart offers Black Friday deals online. If anything, it may push the start time to an earlier point in order to expand sales. Last year, Walmart started offering Black Friday prices on the Wed. preceding Thanksgiving at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

Walmart will be open for normal hours on Wednesday and will announce the opening hours for Black Friday at a later date.

It’s likely Walmart will also have to announce some form of crowd control to protect customers against spreading coronavirus when lined up outside stores this year. Best Buy has used a ticket system in the past that assigns doorbusters to people in line to avoid crowds rushing the door at opening.

Walmart will close for Thanksgiving this year