Navigating Black Friday at 7 of the Biggest National Retailers

Black Friday is finally upon us.

We’ve been hearing about it for weeks now, but the sales — and pre-sales — seem harder to keep straight this year. Many retailers will have offered multiple promotions in the name of Black Friday before the month is out.

So we’ve rounded up major department stores’ actual Black Friday schedules and broken them down based on when they start online and in stores. We also included relevant sales that were already underway as of Wednesday morning.

If you plan to shop in stores, note that these hours are general guidelines. Most retailers have specified that store hours might vary by location. So if it’s important to be at a store when its doors open, call ahead or check your local ad to confirm the hours.

JCPenney:

• The Black Friday sale is already underway online. It will start in stores when they open at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Kmart:

• Kmart appears to be referring to everything as “doorbusters” this year. These deals will become available online at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and re-open at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Kohl’s:

• The Black Friday sale is already underway online. It will start in stores when they open at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Macy’s:

• Doorbuster deals are already available online.
• The Black Friday sale starts Thursday, online all day and in stores at 5 p.m.

Sears:

• Doorbuster deals are already available online.
• The Black Friday sale starts Thursday, online all day and in stores at 6 p.m. Some stores will be closed on Thanksgiving, though, instead opening at 5 a.m. Friday.
• Free shipping for all orders, with no minimum purchase requirement, will be offered starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday and all day Thursday.

Target:

• The “10 Days of Deals” promotion is already underway online and in stores.
• Early access to the Black Friday sale is available Wednesday in stores (but only by using Target’s Cartwheel app) and online.
• The Black Friday sale starts Thursday, online all day and in stores at 6 p.m.

Walmart:

• Pre-Black Friday deals are already available online.
• The Black Friday sale starts Thursday, online all day and in stores at 6 p.m.

Do you plan to shop on Thanksgiving or Black Friday? Let us know where you’re headed — comment below or on Facebook.