Black Friday may be next week, but a lot of good sales are already active!
Before I continue, with the holiday shopping experience in full swing, here are a few tips I have for you:
- Compare prices. One store’s “sale” price may be higher than another store’s. The major stores will also price-match each other, so choose the store you prefer and call/chat to have them pricematch.
- Check stores’ price protection and return policy. Some stores will have extended returns (and, in some cases, free returns), so you may want to buy an item now and return it later if you find a better deal. PayPal, for instance, is offering up to $30 in return shipping refunds on up to 4 purchases. Most stores will offer a refund if an item drops in price within a week, but credit cards like Discover offer this service for items within 90 days of purchase.
- Don’t fall for Black Friday traps. I almost always find as good of deals–if not better–before and after Thanksgiving week. Stores tend to list a few loss leader items and hope you’ll add more to cart, thinking that other items must be a good deal as well. Some items will be at a great price, but don’t assume. If you haven’t already, you should start looking now and track prices among the different stores.
- Watch for gift card deals. Lots of stores are offering bonus money or a freebie with a minimum purchase. Planning a purchase? Buy a gift card, get the bonus, and immediately use the gift card on what you were going to buy anyway.
Amazon
Amazon is having an anime sale with titles up to 50% off. Titles include Trigun for $20.49 and Soul Eater for $31.49.
However, if you look around, they have a lot more titles on sale, many of them pricematches of Best Buy’s sale (see below). Some Section23/Sentai Filmworks titles are 53% off like Beyond the Boundary [Collector’s Edition] for $84.99 for Prime members, No Game, No Life for $32.99 for Prime members, and Outbreak Company for $32.99. Free shipping with Prime or on $35+.
Barnes and Noble
Barnes and Noble is offering 2 for $20 on select paperbacks, and some manga and light novels like Fullmetal Alchemist and Maid-sama! omnibuses are included. Be sure to look at prices, as many of the titles in the sale are below $10 a piece.
They are also offering a free $10 eGift Card with $75 of gift card/e-gift card purchase.
Best Buy
Best Buy‘s anime sale continues, with Blu-ray box sets as low as $20, Studio Ghibli Blu-rays as low as $13, and OVAs as low as $4. All orders currently ship free.
If you want to maximize your savings, consider going to your local Rite Aid this week to earn 1,000 Plenti Points (equal to $10 reward) on $50 in Best Buy gift cards, limit 2 offers. Alternatively, Gyft is offering a $10 Savings Code in your Gyft Wallet with $100 Best Buy gift card purchase with code BESTBUY.
Hot Topic
Hot Topic is offering buy one, get one for $1 on clearance. Lots of anime items are available here, including Dragon Ball Z Vegeta costume, Attack on Titan Colossal Titan plush, Pikachu hat, and more. Shipping is free to the store or $4.99 to home. Offer is also available in-store, so check your local Hot Topic for more items.
Omakase
Omakase is a combination video streaming/anime mystery box service. Their first anime box features Kill la Kill merchandise. It is available for $29 plus shipping, and it includes streaming for two months. You can then either cancel or continue your subscription for another two months, and then you’ll get the next anime-themed box. Sign up by November 23rd to be eligible for the first box.
Right Stuf
Right Stuf has started their Annual Holiday Sale. The sale is divided into three main parts:
- Holiday Sale, with titles up to 95% off. New offers are added daily, and sale prices are good until December 27th or until stock runs out.
- Viz Media Holiday Offers, where select Viz Media titles are put on sale for one week only.
- Mega Deal, where one item is heavily discounted for that day only.
The sale not only includes anime and manga but figures and other merchandise as well. So be sure to keep an eye on inventory, and check back each day to see what’s new. As always, free shipping to the U.S. on $49+ or to Canada at $250+.
Robert’s Anime Corner Store
Robert’s Anime Corner Store is doing a holiday sale. The sale will consist of 12 groups of deals, a new set going active every few days. As of this writing, the first two “salvos” are available. Sale so far includes anime, manga, and figures. Prices are good until December 24th or while supplies last. Free shipping on $49+ with coupon code FREESHIP.
Second Spin
Second Spin is offering 20% off the regular price of CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and games plus free shipping on $30+ with coupon code EARLYBIRD until November 18th.
Staples
Staples is offering 20% off iTunes gift cards ($20 for $25 iTunes, $40 for $50 iTunes, $80 for $100 iTunes). Store pickup is free or get free shipping to home on $50.
Target
Target has a new kids’ wishlist app available on iOS and Android. By downloading the app and setting up a kid’s registry, you can get a 10% off coupon good on: toys; sporting goods and outdoors; video games; electronics; kids’ apparel, accessories and shoes; kids’ home; an kids’ music, movies and books.
Coupon is good until November 25th, and it excludes Lego, video game consoles, and other items (read coupon for full details). The coupon is good in-store or online but is limited to one-time use.
Planning a wedding, having a baby, or going to college? Set up a registry, and you’ll get a coupon for 15% off your remaining registry items after your event date. The wishlist and registry coupons can be combined!
