If you have plans to experience the thrill of Black Friday shopping up close and personal in the U.S. this November, don’t forget to take your smartphone or tablet with you. You’ll be able to use data like you would at home – worry-free – thanks to Rogers $7.99/day U.S. Roaming Internet Rate1. This rate lets you access up to 50 MB of data per day, and automatically kicks in when you start using data across the border. And here’s how it can help you survive the annual bargain-oriented madness that American Thanksgiving inspires.
Start planning before you start the trek over
Check out the online flyers of your favourite retailers, find the deals that interest you most and plan out which stores to hit first (see “Start saving early” below).
HOT TIP: before you leave home, print out ads, coupons and flyers. Although stores may offer a lowest-price guarantee, most won’t honour it without a physical copy of the price advertised by a competitor.
Find your way
You got up ridiculously early and made it across the border before the crack of dawn – congratulations, you’re ready to shop! But where should you start, and how do you get there? Hop online on your smartphone or tablet and easily access maps or get directions to your favourite stores.
Start saving early
Online shoppers can get a head start on Black Friday with Web-only specials offered by some retailers. These are super-early-bird deals you can order online after midnight on Thanksgiving Day and pick up at a chosen store location after the store opens. So as you’re driving down or waiting at the airport, start browsing the Web-only deals. Some brick-and-mortar stores open at 12:01 a.m., or offer limited-time deals to customers who shop at certain times (such as between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m.). You can always sleep on Saturday.
Get social
Be sure to “Like” retailers’ Facebook pages and follow their Twitter feeds to get timely updates on deals, product availability and unadvertised “insider only” specials. Using data roaming to check these feeds on the go is a great way to make use of time spent waiting in the checkout line. Plus, it can help you get a jump on your next shopping stop.
HOT TIP: Sign up to receive Black Friday ad alerts for many major U.S. retailers at blackfriday.com
Treat shopping like a sport
Wear comfortable shoes and clothes that let you try on outfits without needing a fitting room; stay hydrated and carry energy bars with you. Some successful Black Friday bargain hunters team up so that each member visits different stores. You can use data roaming to share wish lists, figure out places to meet up for a break, and to update each other on purchase progress.
Go big with a tablet
Nothing beats a tablet’s large screen when comparing product images, reading ads or figuring out just how far away that other factory outlet mall is. Rogers offers a choice of tablets – including the iPad, iPad mini and Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 – with features such as LTE connectivity (for super-fast ad and image downloads), high-resolution cameras and a range of storage capacities. To see the entire tablet range, click here.
Getting close to 50 MB?
No problem! You’ll receive an alert right before you reach 50 MB, so you won’t be surprised by extra charges.2 If you need more data, it’s only an additional $7.99 per day for another 50 MB that you can use within the same 24-hour period. If you want to check your usage, just text USAGE to 3330, anytime, free of charge. So, you can keep on comparing prices, checking maps and updating your social-media status with photos of the great deals you’ve scored.
1Customers with a pre-purchased data roaming option on their account will be excluded from this rate. Rate available while roaming in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands) for data usage within a 24-hour period starting with the first byte of usage. If usage exceeds the initial 50 MB within that 24-hour period, additional charges of $7.99 will apply for access to each incremental 50 MB during the same 24-hour period. Subject to Rogers Terms of Service and Acceptable Use Policy. Rate subject to change without notice. Taxes extra. Quebec and Newfoundland customers that signed a term agreement with Rogers before May 7, 2013, must complete a one-time set-up to subscribe to this pay-per-use rate. Text TRAVEL to 7626 or visit rogers.com/m/dus and follow the prompts.
2On compatible devices (e.g., some tablets do not receive text messages).