The sale season is now in full swing. We’ve just had Singles’ Day (11.11), but now we’ve got Black Friday sales looming on the horizon. Are you sure you’ll get the best prices? There are some great shopping habits you can start on today that’ll streamline the entire process. Do these, and you’ll be ready to take advantage of fantastic deals on Black Friday.

Also, if you’re curious about this holiday, we’ve got a post that explains Black Friday and its origins.

Identify fake deals

You should always check the price history of products before the sale season. Many stores raise the price beforehand, then offer discounts to customers during the “sale.” Just keep tabs on the price of the gadget you want so you can compare it later. An easy way to do that is with Pinboards in Opera Browser. It’s essentially a blank tab in which you can collect notes, links, screenshots and ideas, like a collage. You can also send a pinboard link to family and friends so they can react with emojis to give you feedback.

Combine promotions

You can’t combine every deal, but you can usually get two deals (or more!) with one purchase, if you use the right services. First, buy with cashback. Second, check if the store has coupons available. Generally, searching for coupons is a pain, but now you can just have Opera Coupons do it for you. Just install the extension and visit a shop, and Opera Coupons will show you what codes are available. Plus, it will automatically apply the best ones when you make your purchase. Many stores prepare special coupons just for Black Friday, and if you want to save money, you definitely don’t want to miss them! 

Change locations… virtually

Some sites offer different prices depending on where you are or how often you browse their listings – this is called price profiling. To avoid this, clear your browser’s cookies (you can also open a private window as well) and switch on your VPN. Then just switch virtual locations with your VPN and see the difference. Don’t want to pay for a premium VPN service? Not a problem – just use the free VPN service built into Opera Browser and you’ll know if you’re getting the best possible prices on your Black Friday shopping.

Take your time

Spot a great offer while window-shopping on your phone? Use the Flow file-sharing feature in Opera Browser to send yourself a link. Flow lets you connect your devices so you can share things instantly between them. Just scan a QR code with your mobile device, and you are good to go. Then you can keep all your links, price-checks and ideas in one place for later. You can also share notes, files and photos with yourself to organize your Black Friday shopping more efficiently.

Use all the tools available

The best savings come from combining several, if not all, of the above tips. You can’t always get what you want, but if you practice mixing and matching, you can make the most of the deals available. Be sure to experiment and explore new stores – especially those with coupons and cashback.

Follow these tips and you’ll make out like a bandit on Black Friday sales. Until then, happy browsing and happy shopping!

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