Target basically turned November into a month-long sprint in 2024. If you were waiting for a single "Target Black Friday ad 2024" to drop on Thanksgiving morning, you kinda missed the boat. The retailer completely ditched the old-school "one big day" strategy. Instead, they bombarded us with a series of ads starting as early as late October, and honestly, it was a lot to keep track of.
Most shoppers didn't realize that the "main" ad was actually an 85-page behemoth that leaked or went live in waves. It wasn't just about the Friday after Turkey Day. It was a rolling calendar of "Deal of the Day" offers and weekly resets that made the actual Friday feel more like a finale than a kickoff.
The Strategy Behind the Target Black Friday Ad 2024
Target's 2024 plan was clever, if a bit exhausting. They leaned heavily into their Target Circle program. If you weren't a member, you were basically paying a "non-member tax" on half the items. They kicked things off with "Early Black Friday" deals from November 7th to 9th, and then just... never stopped.
The biggest misconception? That the best deals were only on the 29th.
In reality, the Holiday Price Match Guarantee was the real hero. Target told everyone that if they bought something between November 7th and Christmas Eve, and the price dropped later at Target, they’d refund the difference. This was a direct move to stop people from "window shopping" and waiting for the actual Black Friday ad to drop. You could buy your Dyson or your iPad in early November and rest easy knowing you wouldn't get burned.
What Actually Hit the Shelves (and the App)
The 85-page ad was a monster. It was packed with tech, toys, and home goods that actually lived up to the hype. Here’s a breakdown of what really stood out in that 2024 spread:
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- The Apple Ecosystem: We saw $200 off select Macs and the Apple Watch SE hitting a low of $149 for the 40mm GPS model. The Series 10 even saw a $70 shave-off right out of the gate.
- Gaming Chaos: The PS5 Slim Digital Edition was a hot ticket at $75 off, but the real surprise was the "Buy 2 Get 1 Free" on books, movies, and—most importantly—video games.
- The Kitchen Queen: The KitchenAid 5.5 Quart Stand Mixer dropped to $279. That's a massive $170 discount from its $449 MSRP.
- Robot Vacuums: You could snag a Roborock Q7 Max for $199.99, which was a staggering $400 off.
Sentences were short. Savings were big.
Why the 2024 Ad Release Was Different
Usually, you wait for the leak. In 2024, Target was much more proactive. They officially announced their dates on October 30th, 2024. They wanted to beat Walmart and Amazon to the punch. By releasing "Deal of the Day" offers from November 1st all the way through Christmas Eve, they kept people opening the app every single morning.
One weird, specific thing about 2024 was the Taylor Swift effect.
Target leveraged its exclusive partnership with Swift to drive foot traffic on Black Friday itself. While most people were shopping for 70-inch TVs (like the Westinghouse Roku TV for $299), a huge crowd was there specifically for the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book and the The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology on vinyl. These weren't even "on sale"—they were just exclusive. It was a brilliant way to ensure the stores weren't ghost towns while everyone else shopped in their pajamas online.
The Price Match Catch
Here is the thing about the 2024 price match policy: it was internal.
Target used to match everyone. By 2024, they were mostly focused on matching themselves. If the price dropped on Target.com or the app, they had you covered. But if you found it cheaper at a random boutique or even some specific Amazon third-party sellers, you were sometimes out of luck. You had to be an "identical item" hawk. Same model number. Same color. Same everything.
Many people got frustrated because Black Friday electronics often have "derivative" model numbers. These are versions of a TV or laptop made specifically for the holiday sale with slightly different specs so they can't be price-matched against the standard versions. Target's 2024 ad was full of these "special" SKUs.
Tips for Navigating Future Target Sales
Based on how 2024 went down, the "one-day shopping spree" is dead. If you want to win, you have to be a strategist.
First, join Target Circle. It’s free, and in 2024, it was the only way to access the "Deal of the Day" and the 50% off toy sales. Second, get the Circle Card (formerly RedCard). That 5% discount applies on top of the Black Friday prices. On a $500 TV, that’s another $25 in your pocket.
Lastly, scan everything. Even if you’re standing in the store looking at a price tag, scan the barcode with the Target app. The online price was often lower than the shelf price in 2024, and the cashier would match it right there if you showed them.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit your Target Circle settings. Make sure you’re opted into "Just For You" bonuses, as these often stacked with the Black Friday ad prices in 2024.
- Check model numbers. Before buying a "Doorbuster" TV, compare its model number to the standard version to see if features were stripped out for the sale.
- Use the 14-day window. If you bought anything at Target in the last two weeks, check the current price in the app. If it's lower, head to Guest Services for a quick refund of the difference.
- Download your receipts. The Target app stores your "In-store" purchases if you scan your barcode at checkout, making price adjustments way easier than digging through your trash for a paper slip.
Target's 2024 Black Friday wasn't just a day; it was a month-long chess match. If you played it right, you saved a fortune. If you waited for Friday morning, you probably saw a lot of "Out of Stock" labels.