Deal-watching websites are already publishing predictions about holiday shopping sales, and one says the public will likely see discounts before Halloween.
BestBlackFriday.compredicts that with the biggest shopping day being earlier than usual (this year it's on Nov. 23, next year it's on Nov. 29), deals will be launched earlier than ever. In 2017, Office Depot and OfficeMax had pre-Black Friday sales on Oct. 29. And Amazon started its Black Friday countdown with deals on Nov. 1.
But the website says not to take the bait. Waiting until mid-November will help shoppers score better discounts.
"We recommend waiting until at least the second week of November to really starting shopping, and even then you should exercise caution," BestBlackFriday.com reads. "Our favorite early sale is the annual Sam’s Club Lowest Prices of the Season One-Day Event. We expect this sale to take place on Saturday, November 10 this year, and it will likely be a preview for some of this year’s hottest doorbuster prices on electronics. For example, expect the first real iPhone deal to be available during that sale."
The first ad "leak" every year is from Harbor Freight, which the website predicts to be released Oct. 3.
"Major store leaks, including Target, Walmart, and Best Buy, will likely start on Nov. 5 and be complete by Nov. 8," the website says.
BestBlackFriday.com also says to watch for online shopping deals to begin Nov. 19, though Cyber Monday isn't until Nov. 26.
