Amazon Launches Early Black Friday Deals Ahead of Nov. 19 Sale Start

Key points

• Amazon’s official Black Friday sale begins at 3:01 a.m. ET on November 19 and runs through Cyber Monday on November 30.
• Early deals are currently available, including discounts on Sony headphones, Apple AirTags, and Amazon Fire tablets.
• The sale features daily 'Today’s Big Deals' with limited-time discounts, including double drops on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
• Prime membership is not required to access the Black Friday sale, unlike other Amazon events.
• Amazon does not offer price matching, but items purchased between November 1 and December 31 can generally be returned through January 31.

Background

Major retailers, including Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, have also launched early Black Friday sales in November. Previous coverage noted that Best Buy began its early sale on November 6, offering discounts on electronics and appliances. Amazon’s early deals follow a trend of retailers extending their holiday sales periods to capture shoppers earlier in the season.

How outlets are covering it

WIRED highlights specific tech deals, such as the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones at $378 and the Apple AirTag at $23, noting that some prices are at their lowest on Amazon. Allrecipes focuses on kitchen and home deals, including a 50-pack of meal prep containers for $27 and a Ninja toaster oven for $140. Mashable provides a broader overview of the sale structure, emphasizing the 12-day duration and daily deal drops. CNN Underscored offers a curated list of 41 deals across various categories, including electronics, kitchen, and home items, with a focus on items that have reached their lowest prices of the year. The outlets differ in their emphasis, with WIRED and CNN focusing on tech and specific product recommendations, while Allrecipes highlights kitchen and home goods, and Mashable provides a more general overview of the sale.

Why it matters

The early launch of Black Friday deals by Amazon and other retailers reflects a broader trend in the retail industry to extend sales periods and capture consumer spending earlier. This strategy benefits shoppers who prefer to shop early and avoid the rush of Black Friday weekend. For retailers, it helps to spread out demand and potentially increase overall sales during the holiday season. The early deals also provide an opportunity for consumers to secure popular items before they sell out, which is a common concern during Black Friday.

What to watch

Shoppers can expect more deals to be added to Amazon’s Black Friday sale as the official start date approaches on November 19. The daily 'Today’s Big Deals' will feature limited-time discounts, with double drops on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Consumers should monitor Amazon’s deals page for new offers and consider purchasing early to avoid potential stock shortages. The sale will continue through November 30, with Cyber Monday expected to begin on November 28.