It’s not even Halloween and the first Black Friday ad has already leaked out online. With almost eight weeks to go before the 2015 holiday shopping season gets underway, one retailer’s door buster deals were revealed this weekend, and they include bargain-priced Star Wars goodies.
The first Black Friday ad of the 2015 holiday shopping season is not for a popular store like Target, Walmart or Toys R Us. However, consumers who are already putting together their Christmas lists may want to check out the ad BFAds.net leaked out for Half Price Books — especially if you have a Star Wars fan on your list.
Highlights from the Half Price Books Black Friday ad include a great variety of Star Wars toys, shirts, totes, and other gift items priced between $5 and $22. Doorbuster deals include Star Wars t-shirts ($5.99), Chewbacca and Boba Fett soft sculpture toys ($19), a set of 4 16 oz. Star Wars glasses ($21.99), a hardcover movie-themed book ($15.99), a Boba Fet mug ($5.99), and a Darth Vadar “punch out and play” book ($11.96).
Not a Star Wars fan? The ad is full of other great gift ideas that are perfect if your holiday budget is slim. The first 100 customers at the Half Price Books Black Friday sale will get a $5 gift card and a free tote. BF Ads reports that one bag will include a $100 gift card, a giveaway the retailer has offered since 2008.
Doors open at 9 a.m. on November 27 and the 12-page ad features not only Star Wars gift items, but 20 percent off “best selling books,” $17 leather iPhone cases, KnitWit Knit has for $6.99, Dr. Who gifts ($9.99), and more.
Most Black Friday ads are leaked out in early-to-mid November, with many stores once again opening up on Thanksgiving (November 26) with doorbuster deals for shoppers who just can’t wait for one more day to get their holiday shopping started. However, not all stores will be open on the holiday – Staples recently announced that their stores will be closed on Thanksgiving and will re-open at 6 a.m. on Friday, November 27.
Consumers can expect competitive pricing between major retailers like Target, Best Buy and Walmart during the upcoming holiday shopping season. Price-matching and layaway programs will be an important factor for shoppers who need to budget their purchases.
According to CNBC, Target started a new price-matching policy on October 1 with both in-store and online purchases eligible for price matching with a long list of competitors. Last year, they would honor the prices for in-stock merchandise at five stores; for 2015 the retailer will match the price of 29 stores including Costco, Best Buy, Bed Bath and Beyond, Amazon and Gamestop.
Target to Price Match Amazon, Costco, Walmart & Many Other Stores This Holiday Season! http://t.co/DXsCIOV3oR pic.twitter.com/QT0DT3L5Q2
— Black Friday (@blackfriday_fm) September 30, 2015
Deal News recently released their predictions for the 2015 Black Friday sales for hot items including TVs, tablets, gaming hardware and video games, and toys. Here are some of the highlights from their extensive list of deal predictions.
Amazon will be the place to shop for toys during the entire week leading up to Black Friday. Deal News states that the online retail giant will offer “three times as many toy deals as Walmart” and “will regularly match or beat its prices.”
Need a new TV? Expect to find off-brand 42-inch HDTVs as low as $108 and name-brand models priced at around $300. Smaller TVs (32-inch and smaller) may be priced under $100 and many retailers are expected to offer the big-screen 60-inch TVs for as little as $549.
Tablets will be a hot item for holiday shoppers. Deal News expects retailers like Target and Best Buy to drop the price of the iPad mini 2 to $199 and newer iPad models will be priced “as low as $300.”
When the Black Friday ad scans start leaking out next month (or earlier), keep a lookout for big savings on Xbox One and PS4 bundles and discounts on recently released video games if you have gamers on your list.
Will you be heading out to the Black Friday sales this year or is shopping in pajamas on Cyber Monday more your style?
[Image: Kena Betancur/Getty Images News}