HUDSON VALLEY, NY — This Black Friday the most popular shopping destinations aren’t necessarily the ones offering the best deals.

Black Friday, one of the year’s biggest shopping holidays, is here. Knowing the best places to shop can save consumers hundreds or even thousands of dollars this year on everything from jewelry and clothes to appliances, furniture and electronics, according to a new survey from WalletHub JCPenney and Macy’s are the top two retailers for Black Friday shoppers, according to a new report by the personal-finance website WalletHub. The report surveyed over 3,500 deals from 13 of the biggest U.S. retailers’ 2023 Black Friday ads.

“JCPenney offers an average discount of 59.1 percent, and you’ll save the most money when shopping for jewelry, apparel, accessories, and appliances,” WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe explained. “Macy’s is the second-best Black Friday retailer, offering an average discount of 58.2%, with especially good deals on jewelry, clothing and furniture. Belk takes third place, saving consumers an average of 54.8percent, with great offers on appliances, apparel and consumer packaged goods like makeup and shampoo.”

While Belk has a lot fewer locations than JCPenney or Macy’s, consumers nationwide can take advantage of Black Friday deals at all three retailers by shopping online.

Top 5 Black Friday Retailers (Average Percent Discount)

1. JCPenney (59.12 percent)
2. Macy’s (58.19 percent)
3. Belk (54.76 percent)
4. Kohl’s (48.81 percent)
5. Target (32.70 percent)
6. BJ’s (30.11 percent)
7. Best Buy (29.78 percent)
8. Amazon (28.48 percent)
9. Walmart (26.88 percent)
10. Dell (25.79 percent)

Some retailers are offering much smaller Black Friday deals this year. For example, Costco only gives an average of 17 percent off, and shoppers at The Home Depot will save an average of around 21 percent, according the study.

“The best Black Friday deals can save you up to 85 percent, which could translate into hundreds or even thousands of dollars in savings, depending on the extent of your shopping spree,” Happe said. “Knowing exactly where to find the best deals can also help you save a lot of time and avoid a lot of aggravation. You don’t even need to leave your house and fight the mob in an actual store.”

If you are headed to the shopping centers to stake your claim, the experts at WalletHub offer a few tips for getting the most out of the day.

• Research the Stores With the Best Deals: Knowing ahead of time which stores provide the best savings will help you get the most bang for your buck. Checking out Black Friday ad scans is a good way to set your sights on the best deals in advance.
• Use a Rewards Credit Card: Putting your Black Friday purchases on a rewards credit card can save you an additional 1 percent to 5 percent, and even more if you use them to earn an initial bonus. Just make sure to stick to a budget and only charge what you can afford to pay in full by the due date.
• Start Shopping Early: Black Friday shopping isn’t just for Black Friday anymore. Some stores start their sales weeks in advance and keep the deals going all the way through Cyber Monday.
• Shop Online: The days of risking getting trampled just to find the best deals are over. Tons of retailers offer their Black Friday deals online, allowing you to save big from the comfort of your home.

To view the full report and more expert advice can be found here.