Why you should really do your Christmas shopping ASAP

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Unless you work in logistics, you’ve probably heard the term “supply chain” more often in the past few weeks than in your entire life.

The global supply chain is struggling to meet demand and capacity amid a series of disruptions, from labor shortages to port congestion. You may have already noticed longer delivery times and delays for your online orders this fall. As the busiest shopping season approaches, it is clear that these issues will affect party retailing as well.

“As these big retail brands scramble to find alternative manufacturing solutions, it increases their costs and creates a backlog,” Kristin McGrath, shopping and trends expert at RetailMeNot, told HuffPost. “The result is fewer products for consumers to buy and higher prices on available products. It becomes an even bigger problem during the holidays when there is already such a high demand for different retail products.

So what can consumers do to make Christmas shopping less painful? Below, McGrath and other experts share their advice.

Start shopping early this year

“Our manufacturing and shipping infrastructure is complicated, so any problem has a domino effect,” McGrath noted. “Buyers should know that last minute shopping is not an option. And they have to think about not only shipping times, but also the challenges retailers face in keeping things in stock in the first place. “

Indeed, starting early is key this year. A creditcards.com survey found that more than half of shoppers surveyed planned to start their holiday 2021 shopping before Halloween – with the largest segment of early adopters being parents of children under the age of 18. This is why it is important to prioritize specific items that you may need, especially popular toys.

“If you’ve watched this trending TikTok item or must-have toy this season, buy it now if you see it in stock,” advised Kristen Gall, shopping and retail expert at Rakuten Rewards. “There may be alternative options available throughout the season, but if you or your loved one is stuck on something exact on their vacation list, you better not wait.

Be deliberate and informed

Prepare your gift purchase this holiday season and have your shopping list ready early.

“As buying early can mean forgetting what and who you bought for by the time December arrives, use a gift tracker app like Santa’s Bag where you can jot down ideas and a budget per person, track what you bought and how much you spent and get a total amount spent in real time, ”suggested Andrea Woroch, money and budgeting expert. “This will help to avoid overspending. “

Gall recommended adding items to your shopping carts now, even if you don’t buy them yet.

“Not only will this help you visually track your budget, but it will give you time to think twice before pulling the trigger on an item,” she said.

Stay on top of global supply chain disruptions and what should become rarer as a result.

“For example, there is a shortage of microchips, and everything that needs them to work will be harder to come by, including personal technology, video games, some home appliances, and even new cars,” said Woroch.

McGrath noted that clothing and footwear brands, such as Adidas, American Apparel, Gap and Nike, have already been affected by supply chain issues. The same is planned for the hot toys of the holiday season.

“CEOs of companies that manufacture and distribute popular toy brands such as Little Tykes, Bratz, LOL, Fisher Price and K’nex warn of potential toy shortages and rising prices,” he said. she declared. “This is in large part due to delays and price increases associated with shipping.”

Follow offers and prices as soon as possible

“Look at Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday as your last chance this year rather than kicking off the holiday shopping season,” McGrath advised.

“Retailers will start to ramp up with their first sales from now on,” she added. “Buyers should make their list and take pictures as they go on sale. Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon have all announced early sales and Black Friday staggered sales spanning several weeks. This can be confusing for shoppers, compared to everything being focused on Black Friday. “

To stay on top of discounts on low-supply items, consumers should sign up for retailer email newsletters and pay attention to Christmas sale and coupon announcements. If this is the first time you subscribe, you can often get a discount on your first purchase.

“Shoppers fear buying too early because they fear paying too much and missing out on savings, but retailers are constantly fluctuating prices and promoting new deals and coupons,” Woroch said. “So you can save money before Black Friday by tracking prices, setting sales alerts and automating coupons. “

She advised setting up sale alerts with Amazon Assistant or Honey’s Droplist to receive notifications when the price of something on your list goes down. Woroch also recommended using navigation tools like Cently for cash back and coupon options to “take advantage of rising consumer prices” this year.

“Sign up for the Paribus app, which will track the prices of recent online purchases linked to your email and ask for money in case any of these items go on sale in the adjustment window retailer prices, ”she added. “You can also search for coupons by store name on sites like CouponFollow to see if there is a current offer. “

Remember to pick up in store

With the news of delivery delays and shortages, many online shoppers will inevitably head to the mall or local shopping district to look for gifts. But Woroch said there was a better way.

“Buying in-store isn’t necessarily the answer to avoiding supply chain issues,” Woroch said. “It’s because you don’t know what your local retailers have in stock, and it’s a waste of time driving from store to store. “

Instead, she recommended buying online and choosing curb or store pickup at the nearest location that has the item you want in stock.

“Even if that means getting out of your way, especially for items that are already in short supply,” Woroch added. “That way it’s reserved and there’s less chance of that order being canceled than if you had to have it delivered to your home. “

When you buy something online for in-store pickup, you also have the benefit of being able to earn money on your purchase or use coupon codes through sites like Rakuten, CouponCabin, and RetailMeNot. And in general, it’s good to check your credit card’s reward programs to see if any stores offer bonus cash back options.

Look beyond hot priced items

“If you’re flexible about what you want to give a loved one, there are plenty of items to choose from later in the season, so you don’t have to panic to shop now,” Woroch noted.

While browsing online gift guides and lists of the most popular festive items can be fun, it’s not the only way to select gifts for everyone on your list. Consider something homemade, personalized, or otherwise original.

Sadie Higgins, founder of personalized gift recommendation app Gleam, suggested looking for unique items from small businesses and browsing local stores.

“Buying small at your local brick and mortar store ensures that what you are looking for is in stock or not and that you are always in contact with someone face to face,” she explained.

Also, keep in mind that gifts don’t have to be physical items.

“Experiences are always wonderful gift ideas,” Higgins said. “We have a lot of them at Gleam, and it was important that we included classes and experiences, such as cooking and mixology, as they often make the best memories.”

Opt for reconditioned or used

It is also possible to find high quality products that could make nice gifts in the resale market.

“Refurbished items are often overlooked, but they can be a great way to address the supply issues we face this holiday season while saving money,” Woroch said.

“For example, last year I was planning to order Echo Show screens for a few family members so that we could make video calls more easily, but they were out of stock almost everywhere,” she said. added. “I realized that Amazon still had refurbished options available that came with a warranty, so I was able to order them and it even saved me around 20%.”

Woroch suggested looking for refurbished appliances, home appliances, electronic toys, and even power tools to save money. She noted that OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace can be great places to find popular toys.

“Just make sure you buy from a reputable retailer and get a money back guarantee, warranty, and items can be returned if they are faulty,” she said.

Remember what really matters this time of year

“A lot of people feel stressed and overwhelmed while on vacation,” Higgins said. “Yes, there is a disruption in the supply chain, but eventually everything will be fine. Fear of shopping shouldn’t have its place in a beautiful and memorable holiday season.

If party shopping starts to be a pain, take the time to remind yourself that, at the end of the day, it’s just gimmicks. Supply chain issues are not in your control, but you have the power to deal with the disappointment and mood you bring to the festive celebration. And so many seasonal traditions have nothing to do with gifts.

“As an adult, I don’t remember what I had for Christmas I remember what I made with my family and friends, ”Higgins said. “Watching It’s a Wonderful Life every Christmas Eve, drinking hot chocolate with barley sugar shakers, watching the lights in the surrounding neighborhoods, and baking cookies with my mom and siblings – that’s what I do. want my kids to remember one day too. May this season be happy, no matter what.

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