Black Friday falls on November 27, but most big retailers have already started their holiday sales, and the terms for buying early differ from store to store.
Best Buy began its promotions on October 30, with its first doorbusters landing on Halloween, and it will add new deals every Friday. Its main event starts November 19 and runs for 10 days. Cyber Sunday and Cyber Monday sales follow, then Cyber Week deals from December 1 through 6 and a Last-Minute Savings event from December 18 through 24. Members of My Best Buy Plus or Total can earn up to $25 in bonus rewards during select doorbusters.
Walmart is again using three waves. The first runs November 12 through 15, with Walmart Plus members getting access at 12:01AM ET on November 12 and everyone else a day later. The official sale opens at 12:01AM on November 23, and any remaining deals open to non-members on November 24. In-store sales start at 6AM local time on November 27, and Cyber Monday runs online from November 30 through December 2.
The rest of the field is just as spread out. Target ran an early sale November 5 through 7 and has a Deal of the Day through December 24. Newegg drops new deals daily at 12PM ET through November 30. Costco's sale runs in two waves, October 30 through November 15 and November 16 through 30, with a larger event November 27 through 30.
With that many start dates, Black Friday is one date among several, and the practical question is what happens if a price falls after you buy. Best Buy will refund the difference on qualifying items if the price drops during the eligible holiday period. It is also extending returns on most purchases made October 30 through December 31 to January 15, 2027 (January 31 for Plus and Total members). Amazon does not price match, so shoppers there who want the lower price must buy the cheaper listing and return the original.
For early buyers, that gives Best Buy an edge on the items it covers. Amazon's full Black Friday plan is still unannounced, as is GameStop's, so comparisons with the early deals in Amazon's Holiday Shop remain incomplete.