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Photo : Canadapanda ( Shutterstock ) Food, clothes, home goods: If you can buy it, chances are there’s a Black Friday deal being advertised for it. But just because you’re snagging something with a so-called Black Friday markdown doesn’t mean you’re actually getting the best deal in the long run. With electronics in particular, the cheap price tag might mean getting tricked into buying a cheap models of what you really want. Here’s how to avoid misleading Black Friday “deals” and make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. Cheap products aren’t the same thing as a good deal When you see a clothing item or kid’s toy with a big ol’ Black Friday tag slapped on it, it makes sense to take advantage of that deal. Chances are it is the same exact product on other days of the year. The same can’t be said for a TV, though. Stores often take cheaper, shoddier versions of the same electronics and mix them in with the legit offers. You might end up purchasing a Black Friday “deal” ...

Photo : Ambartsumian Valery ( Shutterstock ) At the end of a year that saw inflation reach a 41-year high , there may not be much (or anything) left in your annual budget to spend on holiday gifts for friends and family. If that’s the case, and you haven’t already done so, now would be a good time to talk to loved ones you usually exchange gifts with, and come to some sort of agreement about limitations—at least for this year. Whether that looks like a Secret Santa or white elephant arrangement, or a price limit on gifts, it’s entirely possible to give someone a personalized, thoughtful present for under $5, using a cheap picture frame and some creativity. Here’s what to know. What to put in the frame This gift involves framing a photo, print, image, or other piece of artwork or ephemera specifically tailored to that person that you know (or at least suspect) they’ll appreciate. There are so many options, you may not know where to start. Here are some suggestions: Something you al...

Photo : Kaspars Grinvalds ( Shutterstock ) Ever opened up a package only to find that the sturdy, beautiful item you ordered is tissue-paper-thin, or far larger (or smaller) than it looked online? We have a few tips to help you make sure that what you receive isn’t going to be a disappointment—whether you’re buying it as a gift or for yourself. Look at a lighter color This excellent tip comes from Reddit, where one smart shopper advises that you shop for dark-colored shoes, bags, and clothing by looking at the lighter colorways. Stitching, texture, material, and other details may not always show up well in photos of black, brown, dark gray, or navy items. But if the same backpack, say, is available in a light gray or beige, the photo there may offer more clues about how it’s made. This is where you realize that part of the bag is cloth where you thought it was leather, or that it only has a one-way zipper where you were expecting the kind with two zipper pulls. On clothing, you...

How Rakuten Works Formally known as Ebates, Rakuten is a cash back rewards app that earns you money when shopping with participating retailers. It’s fairly simple to use: If you’re on a website that supports Rakuten, you’ll see a pop-up appear letting you know how much cash back the stores allows, and offering a button that activates Rakuten then and there. Then, you continue to shop on the site, and anything you buy contributes to your Rakuten cash back. You’ll receive the cash back in the form of a check (no gimmicks!), but you do need to earn at least $15 before the check will be sent. Unfortunately, Rakuten’s biggest deals have come and gone following Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but there are still plenty of opportunities to take advantage of. If you’re already going to shop with these stores, why not make a little cash on the side? Not to mention, the app searches for available coupon codes to add at checkout, a feature central to another app you may have heard of ... ...

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. There may still be a prolonged supply chain shortage, but there are plenty of holiday tips and tricks for ecommerce brands to win this time of year. More often than not, most tips floating around tend to focus on different types of acquisition strategies to get consumers to your site. However, I'm here today to offer up one overlooked piece of advice: look to your most loyal customers to reach your goals. Your most loyal customers will be turning to you during the holidays, and you should be doing the same for them as a merchant. Remove any friction while creating new opportunities for your loyal customers to share their favorite products with friends and family. With everyone in the spirit of giving, there is no better time to promote, package and offer products as gifts. A great way to flip your marketing funnel and build from your most loyal customer base, we've seen brands executing this ...

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. It has been an unprecedented few years for brick-and-mortar retailers, but in 2022, physical stores have started to bounce back. In October, nationwide foot traffic to shopping centers was up more than 18% from two years ago. Meanwhile, 54% of consumers prefer brick-and-mortar retail to any other channel, suggesting that people still love going to physical stores. There are bright spots for retailers, but it is important to note that while in-store shopping has surged, the industry has evolved since the pre-pandemic era. Recent consumer habits and preferences that emerged during the pandemic appear to be here to stay. Let's explore these in more detail. Related: As Inflation Soars, Consumers Want More Rewards and Shopping Incentives. Here's How to Give Them What They Want A lot of retail journeys start online but end in store According to Google , searches for "open now near me" h...

Photo : VDB Photos ( Shutterstock ) We have officially entered holiday-shipping-panic season, that period of less than 10 days before Christmas when we suddenly realize how quickly the 25th snuck up on us, once again. If you are strategic, though, your packages can (maybe) still make it to their final destination before the big event. Here are some dates to keep in mind, depending on whether you’re sending the packages out via the USPS, UPS, FedEx, or if you’re ordering online from one of the major retailers. One important thing to keep in mind: Dec. 24 is a Saturday, so not all mail services will be available on that day; if it comes down to delivery “business days” for you to make your deadline, the 24th will not count as one. 2022 holiday shipping deadlines for USPS, UPS, and FedEx If you’re using the post office to send your gifts, these are the deadlines to mark on your calendar so your gifts arrive by Dec. 24: USPS 2022 Holiday Shipping Deadlines Ship by Dec. 17 with Retail...

Photo : ArieStudio ( Shutterstock ) All the tech we know and love will, one day, be obsolete. In the meantime, it would be nice if the gadgets we use every day were designed to last longer and longer rather than shorter and shorter. Unfortunately, tech companies usually adopt the strategy of “planned obsolescence:” Y ou keep coming back to buy more product, hurting the planet and wasting your money along the way . And so, for the sake of the planet, your wallet, and your sanity, h ere’s what to know about hacking planned obsolescence and getting your electronics to last as long as possible. What exactly is planned obsolescence? Planned obsolescence is not as simple as electronics falling apart on a set deadline. Instead, planned obsolescence is a business strategy of designing products that require replacing within a few years on the market. In practice, this looks like your smartphone slowing down after just about two years as new generations of software grow less compatible ...