Black Friday in the United States is not just about one sale day; it has transformed into several weeks of discounts, flash offers, and huge savings for electronic devices, clothes, and household items. Online shopping makes it all more convenient and faster.
However, with millions of packages shipped during this season, it is also the period when delivery problems, scams, delays, package theft, and lost packages occur most frequently.
This guide answers the most common questions so you can find the best deal and ensure your orders arrive safely and on time.
Black Friday Online Shopping FAQs (USA Shoppers)
1. When do the best Black Friday deals actually go live?
- Early Pre-Sales: Start 1-3 weeks prior to Thanksgiving
- Main Deals: Thanksgiving evening & Black Friday
- Price Drops: Midnight refreshes 12:00 AM EST
- Cyber Monday: More tech deals + leftover inventory
- Final Wave: “Cyber Week” (Mon-Fri after Black Friday)
Tip: Many stores have price protection. If the price drops, you can request a partial refund.
2. Which retailers drop the biggest online deals?
Top retailers offering deep deals:
- Amazon – Flash deals updated hourly
- Walmart: Best for electronics & gaming
- Best Buy – Appliances, TVs, laptops
- Target - Home, Beauty, Toys
- Macy's – Fashion, homeware
- Home Depot / Lowe's – Tools & appliances
- Adidas, Nike, Gap, Old Navy – Clothing
- Costco / Sam’s Club – Big-ticket items (members only)
3. How do I find REAL deals vs fake inflated discounts?
- Check out price history tools like CamelCamelCamel, Keepa, and Honey
- Compare across 3+ stores
- Beware of "was $299, now $129" without proof
- Look for manufacturer discounts (more legit).
- Check real reviews; avoid products with no reviews or suspicious ones.
- Watch out for low-rated third-party sellers
4. Will the items be out of stock soon?
Yes, especially:
- 4K TVs
- Laptops & tablets
- Game consoles
- AirPods & Headphones
- Small kitchen appliances, such as air fryers
Tip: Add items you want to your shopping cart and remain logged in.
5. How can I avoid Black Friday scams while shopping online?
- Shop only from official retailer sites.
- Avoid clicking on deals from random social media pages.
- Check HTTPS in the URL
- Look up domain age on Whois (new sites = risky)
- Avoid merchants that require only gift cards, bank transfer, or Zelle
- Seek out customer service contacts, not just email.
- Use trusted payment methods: Credit card, PayPal
6. Are there coupon or cashback hacks during Black Friday?
Yes!
- Use cashback through Rakuten, TopCashback, or Honey
- Certain cards give 5–10% cashback in shopping categories.
- Combine store promo codes + card promos
- Stack store loyalty programs (Target Circle, Best Buy Rewards)
Shipping & Safe Delivery FAQs for USA Shoppers
7. How can I make sure my packages don’t get stolen or lost?
Package theft increases 30-50% during Black Friday season.
Protect yourself by:
✔ Use secure delivery options
- Amazon Locker
- UPS Access Point
- FedEx Hold at Location
- USPS PO Box or USPS parcel locker
- Package Receiving Services like Stowfly are helping shoppers avoid the stress of stolen packages or missed deliveries by also accepting and securely storing packages from all major carriers and more, everything under one roof.
✔ Ask for delivery with signature when sending valuables
✔ Track all shipments with alerts
✔ Set up delivery notifications for Amazon, UPS, and FedEx apps
8. What is the safest address to ship Black Friday purchases to?
Safer alternatives to home delivery:
Want to dive deeper into how to protect your Black Friday deliveries using package receiving services? Check out the full guide in this blog.
Never send high-value items to an address with:
- Unattended porch
- High theft neighborhood
- Apartment mailroom without any surveillance
9. How can I prevent porch pirates if I have to ship to my home?
- Add delivery instructions, such as "leave behind planter."
- Use doorbell cameras: Ring, Nest
- Ask neighbors to pick up packages
- Schedule arrival when you're home
- Use Amazon Key (garage delivery) if available
- Get packages held at the carrier facility
10. What should I do if my package says ‘delivered’ but I didn’t get it?
What to do immediately:
- Wait 24 hours; many carriers mark "delivered" early
- Check around your home: side door, garage, bushes
- Ask neighbors
- Contact the carrier directly-USPS/UPS/FedEx/Amazon
- File a missing package claim
- Ask for a replacement from the retailer
- Provide any available security camera footage.
Items are usually replaced quickly by retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy.
11. How can I reduce shipping costs during Black Friday?
- Combine multiple orders from the same store
- Choose standard shipping (express costs 4–10× more)
- Avoid oversized items
Use free shipping options:
- Target: free with Circle/RedCard
- Amazon: free with Prime
- Walmart: free with membership or minimum order
- Best Buy: usually offers free shipping BF week
12. Should I insure my packages?
Yes, especially for:
- Electronics
- Jewelry
- Orders over $200
- Items coming via USPS - less secure than Amazon/UPS
Insurance protects against loss, damage, and theft.
13. How can one best track packages on Black Friday?
Use these apps:
- Amazon app: live map tracking
- Shop app: gives details of all stores operating in the vicinity.
- UPS MyChoice
- FedEx Delivery Manager
- USPS Informed Delivery
Enable SMS alerts + email alerts.
14. What do I do if a retailer shipped me the wrong item?
- Take photos of what you received
- Contact retailer support immediately
- Request a free return label
- Ask for a replacement or refund
Don't use or damage the item. Most retailers fix these issues rapidly during the holiday rush.
15. How do I return Black Friday items safely?
- Keep original packaging
- Initiate return within the return window, so often extended for holidays
- Use pre-paid return labels
- Drop off at secure carrier locations (UPS Store, USPS counter) Keep the receipt + tracking number
