BLACK FRIDAY IS BOLLOCKS

Friday sales offer few real deals with most goods cheaper or available for the same price at other times according to consumer group Which?.

It said that just one in 20 offers was cheaper during the annual sales, which start this week.

Among products cheaper outside of Black Friday were a tumble dryer, smart speaker, coffee maker and TV soundbar.

Which? home products and services chief Natalie Hitchins said shoppers should do research and never impulse buy,

The consumer group tracked 83 products on Black Friday last year – November 23 – and the items, from retailers including Currys PC World, Amazon, and John Lewis, were monitored six months before the date and six months after.

Just four products were cheaper on Black Friday than at other times of the year.

Six in 10 items were cheaper or the same price on at least one day in the six months prior to last year’s Black Friday event.

When looking at the two-week period surrounding Black Friday itself – including sale prices in the week before and after – it was found that three quarters of products were cheaper or the same price in the six months after.

While Which? did not find evidence that any of the retailers were breaking the law, they said it showed that so-called deals may not be all they are claimed.

Ms Hitchins said: “We have shown deals touted by retailers on Black Friday are not as good as they seem. Time-limited sales can be a good opportunity to bag a bargain, but don’t fall for the pressure tactics.”