Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- It’s that time of the year when we make a list, check it twice and then search for the latest ads for the best deals.
In the hunt for the best ways to save on Black Friday, you may get lost in not only finding what you want, but figuring out who has it for the best price.
This year, there’s an app for that, making it that much easier for you to find the best deals around.
More than 70 percent of shoppers say they plan to use their smartphone while shopping and with good reason. Some of those apps could save you money and time.
The three main types of apps offer price comparisons, product reviews and specific retailer apps will even give you in-store discounts.
When it comes to comparing prices for a product, you might want to try
RedLaser. It’s an app you can use right in the store. You can scan the barcode of any item or you can manually type the product’s name and it will bring up the cheapest prices found online and at stores in your area.
For all those impulse buyers who might get caught up in the shopping frenzy, Black Friday by
BradsDeals offers expert and consumer reviews of products. So if you find something you weren’t planning on buying, you can quickly read about it to see if it’s really going to live up to its expectations.
Retailer apps are also good if you plan on going to specific stores. It might be worth searching to see if the store has an app. Macy’s and Sears have promised exclusive deals for app users and Walmart is saying it will give shoppers early access to Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
Other locator apps, like
FourSquare and
ShopKick allow you to virtually “check-in” when you’re at the store. Last year, Toys R Us offered special deals for those who checked in.
If you’re thinking about using apps, experts recommend you download them before you get to the store. They also say doing most of your research at home is probably a better idea, since some stores and malls don’t have wi-fi or get in the way of cell signals.
