CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Most people love waiting until black Friday to score those good deals, but the retail holiday could look a lot different this year.
Shoppers are being told to expect changes.
Experts said the Black Friday tradition continues to evolve and, this year, there are a variety of things contributing to the changes.
Retailers are going into holiday mode a lot sooner than Black Friday. Many started rolling out deals in October.
Black Friday deals likely won't be too different from companies post-Thanksgiving, according to many retail experts.
A big slowdown in overall spending may have customers scaling back on gift buying. Shoppers are expected to spend 30% less on presents this year.
After finding the perfect deal, your gift could still miss the mark.
Impacts from the months long auto-workers strike are expected to delay shipments to retailers' inventory. That could have trickle-down effects that change when your packages get delivered to your doorstep.
But, it's not all bad. Most retailers are getting a little more generous with return times this holiday season. They are hoping more accommodations boost shopper spending.
Contact Ben Thompson at bthompson@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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