Vast majority of Black Friday ‘deals’ cheaper at other times of year

NEARLY nine in 10 Black Friday “deals” are not real discounts, a watchdog has warned, as it suggested shops put up prices in the lead-up to the day.

Which?, the consumer group, said shoppers should do their research before splashing out in the sales because the discounts might be bigger before or after the day itself. It tracked the prices of 219 “Black Friday deals” last year at Amazon, Ao.com, Argos, Currys PC World and John Lewis and found 85 per cent were cheaper or the same price in the six months before. Many were cheaper in the days and months afterwards.

Data from Pricespy showed the average cost of laptops and tablets had been creeping up over the past two months before Black Friday on Nov 27. Natalie

Hitchins, head of home products at Which?, said: “If you are looking for something in particular, do some research first. That way you’ll know a genuine bargain when you see one.”

Ossie Bayram, of Pricespy, suggested checking previous prices, adding: “If it was cheaper before, it ’ll likely be cheaper in the future.” Currys said 45 per cent of its deals this year were at their lowest price, but that it had other sales and price-matches, while John Lewis said its “never knowingly undersold” guarantee meant it matched prices year-round.

Ao.com said it offered “great deals” for customers all year round and Argos said hundreds of its products were at their lowest price on Black Friday. Amazon said it also offered low prices “all year round” with a number of “fantastic seasonal deal events”.