Ditch heels, be patient and stay away from items you don’t need… our guide to getting the best from Black Friday sales
BRITISH shoppers will splash out more than £2million a MINUTE tomorrow on Black Friday deals.
For weeks, stores have hyped up the annual spending frenzy — which is now seen as the start of the festive shopping season.
Two years ago, punters came to blows over in-demand bargains.
But last year was calmer as Brits bought online and with their phones. Shops opened for longer and some even employed security guards. But spending on the high street will again outstrip online this year, suggests a report by the Centre for Retail Research for vouchercodes.co.uk.
RELATED STORIES
It estimates that Brits will spend £1.96billion on Black Friday — up by 19 per cent on 2015 and equating to an incredible £2,313,760 every minute.
Whether you prefer to shop in-store or from the comfort of home, there are plenty of pitfalls.
Here, The Sun’s Consumer Editor DANIEL JONES reveals how to keep your Black Friday on track.
Not every 'deal' is really a bargain
DON’T buy things just because it’s Black Friday. It is easy to get caught up in the hype but remember that simply being “on sale" doesn’t make something a bargain.
Consumer body Which? found almost HALF of last year’s so-called deals were bogus, with a staggering 49 per cent of products “on offer” actually cheaper in the months before or after Black Friday.
Just 51 per cent of items were cheapest on Black Friday itself.
For example, Currys pulled a fast one on a Samsung 40in television, dropping its price for Black Friday . . . by £1.
From October 30 onwards, it cost £749. On November 24 it was cut to £748.
Yet Currys claimed this was a saving of £101. Even worse, for 18 days in late August and early September, you could have bought the telly for £699.
Consumer groups also warn that some shops use Black Friday to offload old or unpopular stock. Many of these deals aren’t all they are cracked up to be.
Don't buy things you don't need
DON’T chase a “bargain high” buying gear you won’t use.
Gumtree reckons Brits will waste £627million on unused stuff bought between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
It also says nearly half of shoppers don’t remember what they bought previously, while one in five confess to buying products they later realise they already have at home. However big the discount, who needs TWO coffee machines?
Don’t waste your hard-earned money buying items simply because they are in the sale.
Before you start shopping, sit down with a sheet of paper and draw up a list of all the things you actually need.
Then stick to it.
READ MORE:
Where to find the cheapest Black Friday 2016 deals – Amazon, Argos, Currys and Tesco
What is Black Friday 2016, when is it and which UK retailers are offering deals?
The little-known way that Google can help you find the best Black Friday deals
Save in store
ONLINE or by phone might be easier but going in-store can save you cash – and you can see the quality of items more easily.
That shiny mixer you fancy to kickstart your Bake Off bid might be flimsy plastic up close.
And you are more likely to get clothes in the right size.
Websites may have stricter return rules on sales items – or you might not get round to sending back items as the festive season gets busy.
If it sounds too good to be true..
DO your research. Check web forums to see what other customers say. Users of sites such as HotUKDeals will share their knowledge of recommended prices.
On comparison site Idealo you can track an item’s price history across various retailers.
You can check price fluctuations on Amazon at Camelcamelcamel.
Don’t assume Amazon will be cheapest on Black Friday. Use other comparison sites such as Kelkoo, PriceRunner and MegaShopBot.
Which? suggests shopping at retailers with price promises. That ensures you get a refund if your item drops in value in later weeks.
The group says: “If you are not convinced by an offer or discount, hold off for a better one. We found 38 per cent of products were cheaper after Black Friday.” See.
Ditch the heels
TRAINERS and layers you can remove easily in-store are the order of the day to avoid getting hot and bothered. Bring water to stay hydrated or you risk buying overpriced drinks when you are trying to save.
In the past, shoppers have donned bubblewrap or pads to guard against fists and elbows. Too much? Maybe. But comfy shoes will keep you agile.
Only spend what you can afford
PRICE comparison site gocompare.com found that nearly one in ten shoppers complain the mega sales of Black Friday and Cyber Monday cause them to overspend or to buy things they don’t really need.
This means the country could have as much as £441MILLION worth of buyer’s remorse once the sales are over. Matt Sanders of gocompare.com says: “British shoppers have embraced the Black Friday sales. But rather than saving them money, the hype around sales can tempt some people into buying items that they don’t need or can’t afford.”
Impulse purchases can leave you with unnecessary debts, so be disciplined about what you buy. Don’t forget to check for hidden costs like shipping. These can take huge chunks out of eye-catching discounts.
Ways to pay
USING a credit card protects you under the Consumer Credit Act.
So if you buy a faulty laptop, say, and the retailer won’t refund your money, the card company reimburses you. This applies to items costing from £100 to £30,000.
Hannah Maundrell of money.co.uk says: “Debit cards or PayPal also give you buyer protection, although they are not guaranteed by law.”
If you worry about over-spending, however, bring your budget in cash.
Be patient
BLACK Friday can be a great time to save money.
But remember that it isn’t the only time of year when huge savings are available to savvy shoppers, so don’t be panicked into thinking it’s now or never for a bargain.
If you can’t get that dream item for the price you want, don’t simply settle and cough up more cash.
Wait until the January sales – or for the bumper discounts that come along in summer.
Customer service could suffer
SOME stores might struggle to cope with the sheer volume of orders.
Review website Trustpilot says 43 per cent of consumers who made purchases on Black Friday or Cyber Monday don’t think online retailers can cope with the huge influx of orders. One in five consumers have had a bad shopping experience on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
And almost a quarter said the level of customer service was below their expectations. Not surprisingly, Trustpilot also found disgruntled shoppers were quick to share negative experiences online.
Do as much homework as you can to steer clear of unreliable retailers. Shop with companies you trust – and those which routinely get good customer feedback.
Avoid many unhappy returns
IF you can, try to check each store’s returns policies BEFORE you shop. You will probably be buying in a bit of a rush on Black Friday.
Which? says: “When shopping online, retailers must guarantee a 14-day returns window for non-faulty goods. But on the high street your rights can differ from store to store. While some may choose to offer a full refund for a product that you no longer want, others may only offer a credit note, an exchange or even nothing at all.”
If you are shopping on the high street, the key is to check the individual return policy at the till.
Save more with online codes
YOU can save even more online on Black Friday, Cyber Monday – or any time, really – with discount codes.
Sites such as vouchercodes.co.uk and hotukdeals.com have codes that offer free delivery or money off, such as ten per cent or £5 off when you spend £50. Check they work on Black Friday, though.
Cashback sites are also underused. You can earn money as you spend by making purchases with the likes of quidco.com. Most online retailers are featured there, although John Lewis and Amazon are not.
Each time you buy something, first log in to Quidco, search for the retailer and click on the special link to that store’s site.
You will then get a small percentage of what you buy back. This can be worthwhile if you use it frequently for small stuff or now and again for big items such as a television.
5 deals to buy today
Lakeland: Towel warmer
Was: £54.99
Now: £27.49
Saving: £27.50/50%
Toys R Us: Little Live Pets Clever Keet
Was: 39.99
Now: 14.99
Saving: £25/63%
Argos: Beats by Dre PowerBeats 2 wireless sports headphones – black
Was £129.99
Now £99.99
Saving: £30/23%
Miss Selfridge: Floral long sleeve mini dress
Was: £45
Now: £22.50
Saving: £22.50/50%
Smyths: Ever After High Way To Wonderland playset and doll
Was: £59.99
Now: £30
Saving: £29.99/50%