How to win at Black Friday
It’s one of the biggest sales of the year and a great way to blitz the Christmas shopping, but while Black Friday throws up some amazing offers, sadly some are just too good to be true. Follow our guide, and you can make sure you’re always getting a great
QWhat is Black Friday?
A tradition in the United States since the Fifties, Black Friday comes immediately after Thanksgiving and is when shops slash prices to encourage Christmas shopping. Asda and Amazon brought it to the UK in 2010 and other brands followed suit, but bunfights over bargains in some stores have led it to become mostly an online affair over here.
QAre the bargains as good as they seem?
There are some great deals – last year we spotted a Nespresso machine, Lego sets and a Miele vacuum at less than half price. However, some retailers use Black Friday as an opportunity to clear out old stock, or even increase the prices of items beforehand to make the deals look better on the day.
QHow can I avoid being ripped off?
‘It’s easy to get carried away, so make a list of what you want in advance,’ advises Danny Munday, general manager of Hotukdeals. It also pays to read reviews and note the RRPS of the models you like, so you know you’re getting a genuine deal. ‘Check the shipping costs before you order, too,’ adds Danny. ‘Some brands charge so much for postage, it cancels out any savings.’
QWill my purchases arrive by Christmas?
It’s not guaranteed, so check the estimated delivery times and factor in a few extra days on top. Due to the amount of people shopping at the same time, some parcels take longer to arrive than usual.
QHow long have I got to get these promotions?
Some deals sell out in seconds, so be ready to make a quick decision and have your card details to hand.
QShould I buy from a website I don’t know?
There are fake sites, so make sure the one you’re buying from has a company address, phone number and email listed, and contact them in advance for ease of mind.
QI’ve nervous of buying online. Any tips?
Pay by credit card or Paypal for added security, and when you enter your details, ensure that the web address starts with https:// (the
‘s’ stands for secure) and that a padlock appears in front of the URL or in the browser frame. If you’re not sure, don’t risk it.