Who doesn’t love a good deal? Black Friday has turned into at least a week-long affair, with pre-Black Friday sales, “Cyber Monday”, “Cyber Monday Weekend”. Paying full price? Unheard of. Canadians are spending more on Black Friday sales every year, with 61% expected to spend.
How to stay in the black for US Black Friday shopping
However, there is a caveat to many of these massive sales, especially if you’re a Canadian who is shopping online for US bargains. Not unlike the good Superbowl Commercials, many coveted brands aren’t available in Canada. So, how do you get your hands on some serious bargains without getting unexpected, hefty duty fees? BorderBuddy is here to help, in a few key ways. Firstly, you can always use our free duty calculator. If you can’t get an immediate quote, an agent will email you an estimation, free of charge, so you can make informed buying decisions. Secondly, we’ve gone ahead and done research for you on the brands with the best all-in prices for their online holiday sales. Here are some go-tos for online shopping.
Asos is a browsers’ paradise with offerings for vintage lovers and label hunters alike. Another caveat (sorry!) is that some sellers won’t ship to certain countries, so you’ll want to check that with the seller beforehand. In some cases, they’ll make exceptions. This year, Black Friday starts on November 25th, so be sure to mark your calendars and have your credit cards ready. Asos recognizes that Canadians pay more in taxes for imported goods, so they offer a 15% discount, year-round to Canadians. Sweet deal, eh?
Town & Country has its own annual list of the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, which they are updating daily. You can find deals on everything from homewares, to electronics, to jewelry, even wine! And if you’re worried about duties, remember that BorderBuddy agents are ready to help calculate your import fees if they do apply, so don’t let uncertainty hold you back.
Overstock is a one-stop shop for all Black Friday deals, and deals on overstocked goods from all over. Many major retailers have a large surplus of goods due to limited spending during the COVID pandemic, so even if Black Friday shopping isn’t usually your thing, you may want to give it a try this year.
What are Canadians spending the most for Black Friday/Cyber Monday?
Via Retail Insider, Canadian BFCM shoppers main reasons for shopping online during BFCM are: want to take advantage of online sales (51 per cent), save time (46 per cent), get better prices online (45 per cent) and take advantage of free shipping (44 per cent); and
The top categories Canadian Black Friday/Cyber Monday shoppers plan to purchase are:
- Electronics (47 per cent); Clothing/footwear/accessories (46 per cent);
- Toys/games/hobby supplies (31 per cent);
- The top category in terms of total spend is electronics (31 per cent).
With shipping a pervasive concern, operating outside of duty and customs, buyers would be wise to read the fine print and see the total cost of their purchase before completing the sale. Although we can’t intervene with shipping costs, BorderBuddy is here to help with streamlining duty and customs.