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How to Get Better Black Friday Deals

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2014/11/17/how-to-get-better-black-friday-deals

Signing up for rewards programs before you hit the stores on Black Friday can lead to extra savings and exclusive offers.
By Matthew Ong Nov. 17, 2014 | 8:55 a.m. EST + More

Membership cards have nothing to do with camping out early or pushing your way through the crowds, but they can be secret weapons when it comes to conquering the chaos of Black Friday.

To snag some of the best deals around this Nov. 28, you’ll want to sign up for a few rewards programs before you hit the stores.

How Rewards Programs Work

Through rewards programs, customers can earn money while they shop; stores give shoppers points, gift certificates, gift cards or coupons based on the amount they spend or the items they purchase. Basically, the programs reward customers for patronizing a specific store and offer an incentive to return in the future.

The rewards at some stores are attached to credit card accounts, but other retailers offer them for free. With the latter, you simply sign up, swipe your membership card each time you make a purchase, watch your rewards stack up and redeem them. Membership can be beneficial all year long, but it can be especially helpful on the big kickoff of the holiday shopping season: Black Friday.

Black Friday Deals for Rewards Members

What could having a rewards membership get you on Black Friday? A lot, actually.

For starters, being a member can give you an edge on your nonmember shopping competition. Last year at Toys R Us, Rewards R Us program members received access to some Black Friday deals the Wednesday before the shopping holiday. Offers included 50 to 60 percent off select toys.

Similarly, at Sears and Kmart last year, Shop Your Way members were granted access to a special selection of early online-only sales. And a number of retailers, including Rite Aid and Walgreens, gave their rewards members better deals and lower prices than other shoppers received.

At Rite Aid, only Wellness+ members had access to most of the best prices and deals. Those without a membership card couldn’t score the savings. The same was true at fellow drugstore Walgreens, where it was necessary to have a Balance Rewards membership to get the deals. So, if you wanted 50 percent off children’s toys or Home Elements holiday gift wrap for only 99 cents, you had to have a rewards card. From early exclusives to deep discounts, look for similar rewards perks from these retailers this year as well.

Other retailers have revealed some benefits for rewards members on Black Friday 2014. Online giant Amazon, for example, recently announced that Amazon Prime members will have access to the site’s Lightning Deals, which are time-sensitive discounts on specific items, 30 minutes before nonmembers. This early access feature also applies to Lightning Deals available on days other than Black Friday.

How to Prepare for Black Friday

If you want to cash in on rewards program savings, study this year’s Black Friday ads to see which stores are offering discounts to their loyal customers. Companies usually advertise these opportunities by denoting offers somewhere in the ad or next to a product.

If you spot an opportunity to benefit from such a program and you’re not already a rewards member, consider signing up for the store’s program before Black Friday. That way, you’ll be ready to save as soon as the offers become available.

However, before signing up for any program, check for fees or strings attached. Amazon Prime, for instance, is a paid membership, not a free rewards program, and costs $99 annually.

If you’re considering a more typical retail store membership that's completely free, you can benefit from it on Black Friday – and, if you so choose, never use it again.