Black Friday shoppers set for £3BILLION splurge – how to make sure you don’t get ripped off
SPENDING over the Black Friday sales period is expected to rocket by nearly 40 per cent this year, raking in up to £3billion for British retailers.
Despite shoppers often facing hefty queues and scuffles to get their hands on a bargain, the average Brit is set to spend £203 each on the sales bonanza from Black Friday on November 25 to Cyber Monday on November 28.
But, the American-imported shopping frenzy isn't popular with everyone. Over 35 per cent of Brits have no interest in the event, with 14 per cent actively avoiding it, PricewaterhouseCoopers said.
Over a quarter of Brits are looking to pick up a bargain over the sales period, with 60 per cent holding off spending anything now while waiting for the discounts to flood in at the end of the month.
Keen to avoid the ugly scenes of crushes and queues which have previously dogged the event for retailers like Asda and Tesco, 77 per cent of Brits plan to browse for the best bargains online, rather than in-store.
Over half of those planning to spend over the Black Friday Friday period intend to snap up electrical goods and technology, like laptops and TVs.
Just over a quarter plan to use the event to stock up on Christmas presents and shopping fillers, while many also have their eye on discounted clothes, shoes and accessories.
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Nearly a third of over 2,000 surveyed said they expect Black Friday prices to be cheaper than those in the run up to Christmas.
Black Friday started across the Atlantic in the 1940s to coincide with the Thanksgiving period. Since then, the love-it or hate-it shopping event has drifted over to the UK, much like Halloween.
US-based online giant first offered Black Friday deals in 2010, with many retailers like Currys joining the bandwagon after that.
Five tips to make sure you don't get ripped off this Black Friday
But, like everything else where money is involved, caution is encouraged. Here are five tips to make sure you aren't ripped off and get a genuine bargain this Black Friday.
It's not just a one day event First, remember that the event is not just one day anymore. Gary Caffell, Deals Editor at MoneySavingExpert.com, he said: "Most retailers start building up to it with smaller offers from the week before, so be prepared early.
"And if you are planning on shopping on Black Friday itself, set the alarm as stores pump out a lot of strong offers from about 6am – some even earlier - and with stock limited, popular items often sell out before breakfast."
Next, do your research Gary advises shoppers not to take a retailer's word for it that something is a bargain.
It helps if you know in advance what you're after as well, rather than ending up with a whole load of items you don't really need.
Don't forget the discounts Try and use discount codes applicable to an entire site, rather than just selected products. Asos offered 20 per cent off across its website last year, but won't spill the beans on whether it's matching that offer this year.
It's not just about the deals Some retailers will never offer discounts, in favour of low prices all year round. Gary said: "Most big retailers generally match each other's prices on many items, so look for other factors that can help you decide where to purchase from. For instance, John Lewis offers a 5-year guarantee on TVs, which is a lot longer than many other places."
Go online The pressure of queues and crushes can make people spend more than they wanted in the heat of the moment. In contrast, shopping online means you can not only shop in the comfort of your own home, but compare prices at different retailers for the best price.
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