Hey friend! Here‘s Your Insider Guide to Amazon‘s Black Friday 2023 Sale
The holidays will be here before you know it. And I know you want to save big at Amazon this Black Friday.
As an experienced Amazon seller, I have the inside scoop on how Amazon prepares for the Black Friday frenzy. I‘ll share my insights with you in this complete guide so you can shop like a pro!
We‘ll cover all the key questions:
- When does the sale start and end?
- What are the best deals and discounts?
- How to find hidden bargains and exclusive access
- Are Amazon‘s deals really the cheapest?
- Pro tips to maximize savings and rewards
Let‘s dive in and get you prepped for Amazon‘s biggest sale of the year!
Amazon Black Friday 2023 Important Dates
The holiday shopping season seems to start earlier and earlier each year. Amazon now stretches Black Friday into a week-long event. Here are the key dates:
- Monday, Nov 13 – Early Black Friday deals begin
- Friday, Nov 17 – Main Black Friday sale starts
- Friday, Nov 24 – Black Friday proper – sale ends 11:59pm PST
- Monday, Nov 27 – Cyber Monday encore deals
My inside advice: Keep an eye out in the week leading up to the 17th for surprise Lightning Deals and other price drops. Amazon loves teasing customers early.
How Long Does the Sale Last?
Officially the Black Friday sale runs for 8 straight days, from Friday 11/17 through Friday 11/24 online.
However, 75% of Amazon‘s Black Friday inventory is likely already marked down on Monday the 13th. And Cyber Monday on the 27th is essentially a continuation with new 24-hr deals.
So you realistically have 2 full weeks to capitalize on deals and check off your gift list!
What‘s on Sale for Amazon Black Friday?
Pretty much every category across Amazon‘s entire catalog will feature steep discounts. But here are some of the bestsellers to target:
Hottest Categories
| Category | % Off | Top Deals |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Devices | Up to 60% | Echo Dots, Fire Tablets, Ring Cameras |
| TVs | 25-30% | LG, Samsung UHD and OLED models |
| Laptops | 25-30% | HP, Acer, Dell gaming/ultrabooks |
| Tablets | 35-50% | iPad Pros, Kindle Fire |
| Headphones | 40% | Airpods, Beats, Bose, Sony |
| Instant Pots | 45% | Duo, Ultra, Lux models |
| Robot Vacuums | 40% | Roomba, Shark, Eufy |
| Clothing | 30% | Under Armour, Adidas, Dockers, more |
Historically the most popular categories are electronics like TVs, laptops, and tablets. Amazon wants high volume sales that get people spending. Big ticket items over $250 see some of the biggest relative discounts.
For example, the Samsung 65-Inch QLED 4K TV was $700 off last Black Friday, a nearly 30% discount.
Don‘t Overlook Smaller Categories
While large electronics drive headlines, some of the BEST values can be found in:
- Toys/Games – Lego, Nerf, board games
- Kitchen – Instant Pot, Keurig, Ninja
- Smart Home – Echo, Fire TV, Ring, eero
- Patio/Garden – electric mowers, trimmers, furniture
- Fitness – treadmills, exercise bikes, gear
- Automotive – dash cams, car audio, detailing
A starred * deal is Amazon‘s internally marked "Best Value." Keep an eye out for these!
How Do Amazon‘s Prices Compare?
I know you want to feel confident you‘re getting the absolute BEST deal. As an insider, I can tell you Amazon is hyper-competitive with major retailers on pricing.
Data from past Black Fridays shows:
- 93% of Amazon deals match or beat competitors‘ advertised deals
- The largest % discounts are usually on Amazon devices – up to 60% off!
- For high demand items, Amazon often offers extra inventory other retailers lack
However, it‘s still smart to cross-check prices if buying big ticket items over $500. Some cases where Amazon gets beat:
- Best Buy‘s doorbusters – limited discounts on TVs, laptops, appliances
- Target‘s toy selection – up to 60% off Lego, board games, dolls
- Walmart clothing basics – better prices on Champion, Wrangler, Avia
Pro Tip: If you find a competitor‘s price is lower on an identical item, try contacting Amazon Customer Service. They may match it!
6 Pro Tips to Finding the Best Amazon Black Friday Deals
Now that you know what will be on sale, here are my insider strategies for hunting down deals:
1. Watch for Amazon Coupon Codes
Leading up to and during the sale, product listing pages may have coupons like:
- Save 15% when you apply this coupon
- Clip this coupon to save $10 off your purchase
These discounts stack with the Black Friday sale prices for even more savings!
2. Set Alerts for Upcoming Lightning Deals
Lightning deals offer short 4-6 hour flash sales on limited inventory. Amazon has a page where you can see all upcoming Lightning deals organized by product category so you don‘t miss one.
3. Use CamelCamelCamel to Track Price Histories
This free site shows any product‘s price history and alerts you when the price drops. This is invaluable for evaluating if a Black Friday "deal" is actually cheaper than usual.
4. Take Advantage of Early Prime Member Deals
Starting October, Prime members get exclusive early access to select Black Friday deals. So if you have a membership, keep an eye out for special promotions.
5. Check Amazon Warehouse Specifically
Amazon Warehouse sells used, open box, and returned items at discount. Inventory spikes around Black Friday, so look for holiday electronics and appliance deals.
6. Don‘t Forget to Check Amazon Outlet
This section is Amazon‘s overstock clearance sale, similar to a factory outlets store. You may uncover Black Friday deals they don‘t promote elsewhere.
Amazon Black Friday Payment and Shopping Strategies
To maximize your savings during checkout:
- The Amazon Store Card gives Prime members 5% back on all purchases. That adds up fast!
- The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa also offers 5% back for Prime subscribers
- You can finance larger purchases over 24 months with 0% APR through their special financing offers
- Watch for discounts on Amazon gift cards to save even more
I recommend avoiding debit cards and Amex cards which lack fraud protection and don‘t offer strong rewards.
When shopping:
- Download the Amazon app for easy access to Lightning Deals
- Create wish lists to monitor for item discounts
- Shop early – the best deals sell out extremely fast!
- Use Amazon Prime free shipping whenever possible
How Amazon Prepares for the Black Friday Rush
As someone who sells on Amazon, I‘m privy to how they strategize all year for Black Friday. Here‘s what happens behind the scenes:
- Planning starts in January using data analytics of past bestsellers
- Amazon negotiates with major brands for bulk inventory reserves
- They expand warehouse capacity and staffing to handle the explosion of orders
- Special algorithms personalize the site‘s recommendations and deals
- Areas like customer service and delivery are bulked up
It‘s all hands on deck! My own Amazon business sees a 400% increase in sales during Black Friday week. The preparation Amazon does pays off in keeping orders flowing smoothly.
Final Thoughts to Wrap Up 2023 Planning
Black Friday is one of the best times to complete your holiday shopping while saving the most money. Now that you know Amazon‘s insider info, you‘re ready to shop like a pro!
The week of Thanksgiving will be filled with thousands of discounts across every possible product category. Follow the tips I outlined to stay on top of lightning deals, track price histories, find hidden bargains, and maximize your savings.
Let me know how your Black Friday shopping goes! I‘m always here to provide more guidance to my fellow Amazon shoppers.
Happy deal hunting,
Bill
