ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – According to the National Retail Federation, an estimated 164 million people are expected to do holiday shopping between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, and big-box retailers like Walmart and Target are getting ready.
"We are getting ready for Black Friday," said Walmart store manager Joe Clemente, inside of his East Colonial Drive store in Orange County.
This year, both Walmart and Target are enhancing their shoppers' experience online.
According to the Better Business Bureau, the number of shoppers visiting stores in person dropped 4 percent while online sales rose 18 percent.
It's why Walmart updated its app, which now has maps of each store locating where hot items are positioned within the aisles.
"Traditionally, we have most of our hot items in the grocery area," Clemente said. "You can find right now, the eight most sought after items. They are already on the map so you can see where they are and plan your purchase."
Target offers the same feature on its app.
Both Walmart and Target are adding associates with mobile checkout devices. These associates will be walking around in the stores checking out customers who don't want to wait in line.
"Everybody's time is important," Clemente said. "Nobody has time, so Walmart wants to help our customers to make sure they get in and out fast."
However, when it comes to speed and shopping, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a reminder of some safety tips on Black Friday from the 2018 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide:
- Pay with a credit card instead of a debit card when shopping online. Both payment methods allow consumers to dispute a charge if the merchandise never arrives or is different from what was ordered. However, with a debit card, the purchase amount is already deducted from a bank account and it may take days or weeks for the bank to reverse the charge;
- Ensure that a web browser is secure before submitting payment information. To identify a secure browser, look for a padlock symbol in the address bar; and
-Keep receipts and be sure to understand retailers’ return policies and periods, so consumers can return any unwanted items for a full refund.
To view the 2018 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide, click here.
Walmart is beginning its online sales at 10 p.m. Wednesday before Thanksgiving, while Target begins its Black Friday sales at 5 p.m. Thanksgiving.
For all the Black Friday deals, click here.
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/black-friday-where-to-find-the-best-holiday-shopping-deals