"Shoppers don't have to wait for Black Friday to get great deals," Staples said. "Starting Nov. 2, Staples will offer amazing deals on technology, photo cards and more to make less stress, more savings happen for customers."
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Homeowners may still be enjoying their jack-o-lanterns and Halloween candy, but several major retailers have leapfrogged over Thanksgiving to kick off their deals for Christmas. Amazon, Walmart and Staples all say the holiday shopping season pretty much began on Nov. 1, and are offering Black Friday-type door-busters all month long to prove it.
"Shoppers don't have to wait for Black Friday to get great deals," Staples said in a written announcement. "Starting Nov. 2, Staples will offer amazing deals on technology, photo cards and more to make less stress, more savings happen for customers."
Like Target and Kmart, office supplies retailer Staples is trying to cast itself as a holiday retail destination despite recent security breaches that may give consumers pause. Staples recently revealed that customers' credit cards and debit card information may have been compromised by a cyberattack on its data system.
Staples' promotions include both an in-store and online price match guarantee, the option of shipping seven days a week, free shipping from Staples.com for Staples Rewards members, same day photo greeting cards, weekly advertised specials at http://weeklyad.staples.com, and EasyTech support services.
Staples, with 24 stores in Northeast Ohio, said it will open its doors from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving, close for the evening, and then reopen at 6 a.m. on Black Friday.
Walmart Stores, the world's largest retailer, is offering more than 20,000 rollbacks at its 4,300 U.S. stores, insisting that "As soon as they put away their Halloween costumes, our customers start prepping for Thanksgiving, buying Christmas trees and shopping for gifts."
Walmart is offering free same-day in-store pickup, free shipping on the Top 100 Gifts from its Walmart.com website, with delivery guaranteed by Christmas Eve., free shipping to customers' homes for orders of $50 or more, and a Wish List for Santa that children can fill up and email to Grandma and Grandpa.
Walmart also promised that on peak shopping days between Nov. 26 and Dec. 24, it will open all of its checkout lanes between noon and 6 p.m. to ensure faster checkout at its Supercenters and discount stores.
Amazon is touting more than 15,000 Lightning Deals from now through Black Friday at www.amazon.com/blackfriday . Amazon is also offering two deals of the day, every day through Dec. 22, the Monday before Christmas, to keep people coming back to its site every day.
"This year, we will have more than 15,000 hand-selected, limited time promotions on hot products, including new early access deals for Prime members on many Lightning Deals from Amazon.com and daily sales events on MyHabit," Steve Shure, Amazon's vice president for worldwide marketing, said in a statement.
The deals include: 40 percent off of select Star Wars toys, Mickey and Minnie, Crayola and Disney Princess toys; $150 off the Canon EOS Rebel T5i DSLR; 70 percent off Cuisinart cookware sets; 50 percent off SodaStream Fountain Jet Home Soda Maker Starter Kit; 60 percent off the Paderno Three Blade Slicer; $250 off Samsung Baby Care Washers; half off the Levana Sophia Video Baby Monitor; 75 percent off select One Industries Motorcycle Helmets; and 40 percent off select Jeep and truck accessories.