Howtokeepyour head on Black Friday
We’re being bombarded with adverts about incredible offers and one-off deals but to get the most out of tomorrow’s shopping frenzy, you need to keep your head, even if others around you are losing theirs
FOR many, the Christmas shopping season begins tomorrow when they snap up bargains on Black Friday.
More than seven in 10 of us (71 per cent) have already made up our minds to do some shopping then, a report from TopCashback.co.uk has found.
Black Friday was imported from the US, where it happens the day after Thanksgiving – the fourth Thursday in November – and was a way that retailers could slash prices to get tills jingling in the build-up to Christmas.
It was seen as the point where retailers turn a profit – from being in the red to in the black.
Amazon introduced Black Friday offers to their UK customers in 2010 but it wasn’t until 2013, when Walmart-owned Asda took part, that it really started to take off.
However, it’s important not to get carried away.
So here are some handy Black Friday survival tips from James Walker, founder of consumer help website Resolver. BY VICKY SHAW like a bargain, go to the maker’s website and look at the recommended retail price.
Bear in mind that items often sell for less than this all year round. Some websites also have price comparisons, if you search for particular items. It’s tempting to just browse the Black Friday sales but that’s a sure-fire way to end up buying stuff you might not actually need.
Think about items you actually want to buy – either as gifts, replacing items that are nearing the end of their lives, or a one-off luxury purchase you’ve wanted. Don’t be tempted to deviate. It doesn’t matter if you’re convinced you can beat the techniques retailers use to get you to cough up your hard-earned cash.
There’s a huge amount of research and planning employed by retailers to get to your impulse buy. Ticking clock timers, glossy images, discounted prices, item offers “expiring – they’ve thought of it all. Don’t think of these credit sources as “free money”. Think of them as bills outstanding. So if you spend £1000, you’ll need to allow for paying that off each month. Imagine what that will cost over a year and see if it fits your budget. Contrary to what you may be told, you do have rights to take back sale items if they turn out to be faulty. If you’re receiving goods in the post which you may be putting to one side as Christmas presents, always open the delivery box when you receive it and check the items. Some firms offer assembly services for big items. Be aware you might get a local handyman to do the job much cheaper. Burglars often use Christmas as an opportunity to strike as they know households are stocking up on goodies. You’d be amazed what you can recycle these days. Sofas, household appliances and other items will be collected by some charities if they’re in an OK condition.
If you’re replacing something that isn’t broken, check online to see if it’s recyclable.
Don’t bin it – it could make someone else’s Christmas. Consumer rights expert Martyn James said: “When you enter into an agreement with a retailer, your contract is with them,” adding that retailers should sort out delivery-related problems.
He suggests asking for proof of delivery if you’re being charged for goods that were not received.