Black Friday 2016 marked a significant shift in consumer shopping behavior, characterized by a substantial increase in online transactions and the expansion of sales beyond a single day. According to Source [2], online sales on November 25, 2016, reached $3.34 billion, a 21.6% increase from the previous year, with mobile devices contributing over a billion dollars in sales for the first time. Retailers adopted a "Black Friday week" approach, offering deals earlier to capture holiday spending. While digital shopping grew, traditional in-store doorbuster deals continued to attract shoppers to physical locations. Amidst the broader sales landscape, specific free offers and "actually free" promotions were available, distinct from standard discounts or free-with-purchase deals.
Understanding "Actually Free" Promotions
For consumers seeking genuine freebies, it is essential to distinguish between offers that require a purchase and those that do not. According to Source [3], "actually free" promotions include door prizes, sweepstakes, free food and activities, coupons for specific dollar amounts off (such as $10 off $10), and items free after mail-in rebates. Conversely, promotions such as "free with purchase," "free gift card with purchase," "free with activation," or "free after points" are not classified as actually free by the definition used in the source material. While the latter categories can yield significant savings when combined with other offers, they are not standalone freebies.
Retailer-Specific Free Offers
Several retailers offered specific free items or rebate opportunities during the Black Friday 2016 period. These offers ranged from electronics accessories to household goods, often requiring specific timing or mail-in rebates.
Staples
Staples offered select items for one cent after applying an "easy rebate." The promotion included: - Kaspersky Internet Security (1 user) for 1 cent after a $45 rebate. - Staples multipurpose paper ream (limit 4) for 1 cent after a $7.98 rebate. These offers were available starting Friday at 6 am.
Rural King
Rural King provided an opportunity to win a Monster Moto Mini Bike or a $400 Rural King gift card. This was presented as a sweepstakes entry found on page 9 of their ad.
Energizer (via various retailers)
Energizer Batteries (16 pack, AA or AAA) were available for free after a $10 Mail-in Rebate (MIR), with a limit of 4 per customer. While the specific retailer was not detailed in the source, this type of offer is common during Black Friday events. The source notes a potential inquiry regarding whether the purchase could be made online.
Shopko
Shopko, opening at 4 pm on Thursday, offered a free $10 gift card to the first 100 customers, along with a coupon book.
Victoria’s Secret
Victoria’s Secret offered a free tote for Angel Card holders starting at 5 pm on Thursday. Additionally, a "mystery surprise for members" was scheduled for Saturday, though the source notes it was unknown if this would actually be free.
World Market
World Market, opening at 7 am on Friday, offered a free tote and a $10 certificate to the first 100 customers.
Sears
Sears promoted a sweepstakes where "Wheel Watchers" could win what contestants win on Wheel of Fortune. Details were available at www.wheeloffortune.com/secretsanta on page 34 of the ad.
Categories of Freebies and Deals
While the provided sources focus heavily on electronics and general retail, the definition of freebies encompasses food, activities, and rebate-eligible goods across various categories.
Electronics and Entertainment
Black Friday 2016 was a prime time for electronics deals, with some offers effectively providing high-value items through rebates or bundled gift cards. Source [1] highlights several significant deals: - Dell: Offered a Dell Inspiron 11 11.6" Laptop for $99.99 and a Dell 15.6" Inspiron with 4GB RAM and 500GB HDD for $199.99. The Alienware Alpha Desktop was priced at $299.99. - Best Buy: Featured a Toshiba 49" LED 4K Ultra HDTV for $199.99 and a Sony Alpha a6000 mirrorless camera with "freebies" for $699.99. A notable offer was the Samsung Galaxy S7 bundled with Gear VR and a $250 Gift Card, potentially offsetting the cost significantly. - Target: Offered an iPad mini 2 for $199.79 and a 7" Amazon Fire tablet for $33.33. The iPhone 7 was listed as $0 with activation.
Household Goods
Household items were often available through mail-in rebates, making them effectively free after postage and handling costs. - Dyson: Source [1] notes a Dyson Ball Animal bagless upright vacuum for $299.99 at Best Buy. While not free, this was a significant appliance deal. - Kaspersky: As noted in the Staples section, internet security software was available for 1 cent after rebate.
Food and Activities
The source material references "Free Food and activities" as a category of actually free promotions (Source [3]). However, specific food freebies for Black Friday 2016 are not detailed in the provided chunks.
Beauty and Personal Care
The provided source material does not contain specific information regarding free beauty samples or personal care products available during Black Friday 2016.
Baby and Pet Care
The provided source material does not contain specific information regarding free baby or pet products available during Black Friday 2016. However, the "free after rebate" and "free gift card" structures apply to these categories generally.
Mail-in Rebates and Couponing Strategies
Mail-in rebates were a primary vehicle for obtaining items for free or at a deep discount during Black Friday 2016. Source [3] explains that free-after-rebate deals are included in the "actually free" category because the savings are approximately 99%, even considering sales tax and postage. To maximize these offers, the source suggests using a cash back credit card (provided the balance is paid in full monthly) to offset the remaining costs.
Coupons were also a significant factor. Retailers like Shopko and World Market offered gift cards or certificates to early shoppers. Additionally, coupons for "$10 off $10 or more" were categorized as actually free, as they could be used to acquire items without out-of-pocket expense if the coupon value covered the item price.
Sweepstakes and Contests
Several retailers integrated sweepstakes into their Black Friday events. - Rural King: Offered a chance to win a Monster Moto Mini Bike or a $400 gift card. - Sears: Connected with the Wheel of Fortune holiday promotion, allowing Wheel Watchers to win prizes matching those won on the show.
Timing and Availability
The shopping period extended beyond Friday, November 25. Many doorbuster deals and freebies were time-sensitive: - Thursday Openings: Shopko opened at 4 pm, and Victoria’s Secret at 5 pm. - Friday Openings: Staples and World Market opened at 6 am and 7 am respectively. - Early Bird Incentives: First 100 customer bonuses were a common strategy at Shopko and World Market.
Conclusion
Black Friday 2016 provided a mix of traditional doorbuster deals and specific "actually free" opportunities. For consumers prioritizing zero-cost acquisitions, the most viable options were mail-in rebates (such as those offered by Staples for electronics accessories), sweepstakes entries (Rural King, Sears), and early-bird gift cards (Shopko, World Market). The definition of "free" strictly excluded offers requiring a purchase or activation, focusing instead on rebates, prizes, and specific coupons. The shift toward online shopping during this period suggested a growing accessibility of these deals through digital channels, although the specific freebies listed were largely tied to in-store timing or mail-in processes.