Black Friday and Cyber Monday by Guest Poster…
Jermaine Spight, Senior PR Manager for AT&T Michigan
When breaking the budget isn’t an option and there’s no time to scour the holiday circulars for sales, the right tools can help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday shopping list, while getting the most out of every penny in your budget.
The lure of deals is strong, but the crowds and competition can be fierce! So, as you prep for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, make sure to reach in your pocket and grab your secret weapon: your smartphone. The handy-dandy smartphone you rely on to stay connected can also help you master the art and science of holiday shopping, once you’re armed with a few simple tips:
1. Is that *really* a deal? Scan those codes! Apps like the AT&T Code Scanner will scan just about any UPC code you come across using your phone’s built-in camera. Not only can you find out if you’re getting a good price in the aisles, the app can search nearby stores and online shopping sites for the same product to see if it can find you a better deal. Buy the deal, not the hype!
2. Don’t know what your 12-year-old niece is into or if your choice is age-appropriate? Find the perfect gift with a tap of your finger using the free Common Sense Media mobile app, an app that provides expert review, ratings on and recommendations of – tailored to any age -15,000+ movies, DVDs, music, video games, TV shows and more.
3. Follow the social media accounts of your favorite brands on-the-go. Retailers will be using Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter to announce deals and offer limited-time savings throughout the holiday season – by staying in the loop you can get the best deals. Social saves!
4. Saving isn’t limited to the destination, it’s about the adventure. Take advantage of deals in the area with apps like YP Yellow Pages & Gas Prices from AT&T Interactive. Plus, you can use the gas prices feature to find the best pump-prices nearby while you’re on-the-go with holiday shopping.
So next time you see that awesome Black Friday ad, remember: your smartphone can be the perfect personal shopping assistant this holiday season. Whether you’re searching for this year’s it toy or treating yourself to a holiday splurge, AT&T is here to help and we’ll be sharing more tips on our local Twitter account @ATT_Detroit all holiday season!
disclosure: i have not been compensated in any way for this post. i just figured that at&t would have some great ideas for you crazy people who like to head out at the crack of down on Black Friday. Personally, I’ll be curled up in my bed, snoring softly whilst dreaming of duran duran (hopefully) while you are all breathing each others morning breath, fighting over dvr’s and flat screen tv’s. Have fun though, call me if you want me to meet you at the bar later in the day. 🙂