‘Fatigued’ deal hunters blamed for slack Friday

SHOPPERS with ‘bargain fatigue’ are being blamed for a smaller-than-expected Black Friday sales bonanza – despite retailers slashing their prices by up to 70 per cent.

Queues which had been expected outside many shopping centres failed to materialise – and figures showed that stay-at-home buyers were behind an increase in the number of online purchases of just six per cent. Experts had predicted a double-digit rise.

Retail analyst Natalie Berg claimed shoppers had become sceptical about some of the deals on offer.

She said: ‘Research from this year’s Black Friday showed around half of all deals have been cheaper at other times in the year. Shoppers are becoming indifferent and they can suffer from bargain-fatigue.

‘The appeal has been diluted because it’s no longer a one-day, in-store event.’

Retailers such as Amazon, Debenhams and Currys have extended their discounts until ‘Cyber Monday’ tomorrow.

Although Black Friday was not as frantic as predicted, Britons will still spend about £8 billion this weekend.