With supply chain issues affection the nation, it’s advisable to start holiday shopping early this year to get the gifts that you want.

Westend61 via Getty Images


Black Friday 2021 sales are on! Or, at least, the pre-Black Friday 2021 sales are on. Amazon kicked the 2021 holiday season off on Oct. 4 with it’s Epic Deals sale, offering Black Friday-like pricing on a wide range of Alexa-powered gadgets, kitchenware, apparel, holiday decor and more, now through Christmas.

Amazon’s early sale — and the pre-Black Friday sales happening at major retailers across the country — is good timing. There’s an important reason to start your holiday shopping now, if you haven’t already: California ports, which handle 40% of the nation’s imports, are facing a record backlog of cargo ships, and the trucking industry is backlogged as well. That means you may not find the products you want as quickly as usual this holiday season — if you can find them at all. Retailers from Best Buy to Nordstrom are expecting some stress related to port issues.

The cost to import goods is up too, so there’s no guarantee that prices will get better as we approach the holiday shipping deadlines. If you see something that would make a great gift at a great price, a number of shipping and toy industry experts recommend you shop now — or you might not get the item in time for Hanukkah or Christmas 2021.

Stores including Walmart, Best Buy, Nordstrom, Amazon and more have deals on apparel, decor and electronics, among other categories. Here’s what’s on sale at these major retailers right now. 

Walmart pre-Black Friday deals

Walmart has tons of tech, makeup, home goods and more reduced right now.

Dyson V7 Animal cordless vacuum

This Dyson stick vacuum is currently $150 off at Walmart.

Walmart


Dyson V7 Animal Cordless Vacuum, $250 (reduced from $400)

LOL Surprise Confetti Under Wraps Re-released Doll with 15 Surprises

LOL Surprise dolls are hot items this holiday season.

Walmart


LOL Surprise Confetti Under Wraps doll, $11 (reduced from $13)

Hamilton Beach 2 lb Digital Bread Maker, Model# 29881

Walmart


Hamilton Beach digital bread maker, $50 (regularly $70) 

Keurig K-Duo Essentials Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker

Walmart


Keurig K-Duo Essentials single-serve and carafe coffee maker, $79 (regularly $99)


Best Buy pre-Black Friday deals

Best Buy has TVs, laptops, video games and more tech on sale

LEGO - Super Mario Adventures with Mario Starter Course 71360

This highly interactive Lego play set challenges kids to design their own course for the Bluetooth-enabled Mario to traverse.

Walmart


Lego Super Mario Adventures with Mario Starter Course, $48 (reduced from $60)

TCL 50

Save $50 on this highly rated TCL Roku 4K TV at Best Buy now.

Best Buy


TCL 50″ 4K Roku TV Series 4, $400 (reduced from $450) 


Ulta pre-Black Friday deals

Find makeup, skincare, fragrances and more reduced at Ulta.

prince-u-got-the-look-vegan-eyeshadow-palette.jpg

Ulta


Prince U Got the Look vegan eyeshadow palette, $28 (regularly $55)

Anastasia Beverly Hills  Natural and Polished Starter Kit

Ulta


Anastasia Natural & Polished Starter Kit, $17 (regularly $24)


Amazon pre-Black Friday deals

Amazon’s pre-Black Friday sale, featuring what the company is calling “epic deals,” is on now. You can save big on Alexa-powered devices, toys, apparel, kitchenware, beauty and much more. Here’s a sampling of what’s on sale.

Apple AirPods Pro

Apple via Amazon


Apple AirPods, $180 (reduced from $250)

Echo Show 5

Amazon


Echo Show 8, $45 (reduced from $80)

Instant Omni Pro 14-in-1

Amazon


Instant Omni Pro 14-in-1 air fryer and convection oven, $250 (reduced from $300)

Melissa & Doug Mine to Love Wooden Play Bunk Bed for Dolls

Amazon


Melissa & Doug Mine to Love wooden play bunk bed for dolls, $39 (reduced from $54)

Love, Diana Sing Along Popstar Doll

Amazon


Love, Diana Sing-Along Popstar 13-inch doll and working microphone, $30 (reduced from $35)


Nordstrom pre-Black Friday deals

Nordstrom has markdowns on men’s, women’s and children’s fashion, home and more.

Nike Dri-Fit zip up jacket

Nordstrom


Nike Men’s Dri-Fit zip jacket, $45 (reduced from $75)

Disney x Casetify insulated stainless steel water bottle

Disney x Casetify insulated water bottle

Nordstrom


Keep thirst at bay with this Disney x Casetify insulated water bottle (26 oz.) featuring a retro design of Minnie Mouse or the whole Mickey Mouse gang.

Disney x Casetify insulated stainless steel water bottle, $29

Nordstrom Snuggle Plush Faux Fur Slipper

Nordstrom


Nordstrom Snuggle Plush faux fur slipper, $15 (reduced from $29)


Pre-Black Friday deals at Kohl’s now

Kohl’s has plenty of deals on apparel, kitchen appliances, home goods and more. Right now, you can take an extra 15% off when you use the code SAVE15NOW at checkout (ends Oct. 17), plus additional discounts for Kohl’s Card holders. You’ll also get $10 in Kohl’s Cash for every $50 you spend, also through Oct. 17. (Redeem your Kohl’s Cash Oct. 18-24.)

The Big One® Oversized Supersoft Plush Throw

Kohl’s


The Big One oversized plush throw, $22 (regularly $27)

Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker

Kohl’s


Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker, $200 (reduced from $230)

Women's Gloria Vanderbilt Amanda Classic Jeans

Kohl’s


Women’s Gloria Vanderbilt Amanda classic jeans, $25 (regularly $40)


GameStop pre-Black Friday deals

GameStop has deals on video games, gaming accessories, action figures and more. 

The Last of Us, Part 2

GameStop


The Last of Us, Part II for PlayStation 4, $20 (reduced from $40)


Wayfair pre-Black Friday deals

Find furniture, small kitchen appliances, bedding and more reduced at Wayfair.

The Magic Bullet Countertop Blender

Wayfair


The Magic Bullet countertop blender, $39 (reduced from $57)


Related content from CBS Essentials

https://www.cbsnews.com/essentials/black-friday-deals-shop-now-2021-10-08/

By Amalia