Many of us will be preparing for the yearly deal hunt as Black Friday (November 29) and Cyber Monday (December 2) approach. According to YouGov research, about one-third of us in the UK are expected to shop during this year’s deals, and slightly more than a third (35%) anticipate spending the same amount as they did on Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year, when half of consumers spent more than £100.
With nearly two-fifths of us (38%) utilizing Black Friday and Cyber Monday as an opportunity to start our Christmas shopping, tech items are likely to be at the top of our shopping lists during these two well-known sale periods, followed by apparel and presents.
Even though there are usually a ton of deals to be found, it’s crucial to avoid getting carried away by the excitement of a sale. The golden rule is that you’ve saved money if you were going to purchase it anyhow and it’s on sale. No matter how much the discount is, it isn’t a savings if you weren’t going to buy it!
Nevertheless, if you are aware of your rights, shop wisely, and have your consumer wits about you, you may get good prices. Here’s how to shop wisely on Cyber Monday and Black Friday.
1. Steer clear of impulsive purchases
Doing your Black Friday homework in advance lowers the chance of overpaying or purchasing items you don’t need, much like you should never go into a store hungry or without a shopping list.
Customers who subscribe to their emails or follow them on social media frequently get a preview of the sofa black friday deals. Additionally, some websites have special Black Friday pages that alert you to the deals that will be available. Prioritize your shopping by browsing, comparing prices, and deciding what you want to buy before the major event.
2. Verify whether it’s a true deal.
It’s simple to get so engrossed in the Black Friday craze that you neglect to check pricing to be sure the sale you’re eyeing is actually as good as it looks.
Google Shopping checks prices from a variety of merchants, and comparison websites like PriceSpy offer you the lowest price you can find for a product. Look at the product you are thinking about purchasing on camelcamelcamel if you are shopping on Amazon. In order to determine whether you’re truly getting a good bargain, it monitors the pricing of goods offered on Amazon.
3. Don’t fall for buy now, pay later gimmicks.
The allure of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans, which let you pay for items in installments, is obvious. However, because these businesses charge hefty interest, you will ultimately spend much more for your Black Friday items if you don’t pay off your BNPL loan before the end of the 0% phase. Additionally, skipping payments might lower your credit score.
Never utilize BNPL unless you have a good strategy in place to pay back the loan during the interest-free period.
4. Save the page with the GHI reviews.
As many of us have discovered the hard way at some point, something’s low cost does not necessarily translate into high value over time. Purchasing a product at a deeply discounted price may seem like a great deal, but it isn’t worth it if it breaks before it should or doesn’t perform as well as you had planned.
Check out the top discounts our experts have compiled on the GHI’s Black Friday deals page to be sure you’re getting a decent price. To make sure you’re getting a truly excellent bargain, we’ve tested and tried every product we recommend and looked at pricing on a number of price comparison websites.
5. Avoid the rush
Since many of the greatest discounts will be gone by midday, if you intend to visit stores in person on Black Friday, start early. Check first thing in the morning to see when the bargains you want will go live and set an alarm so you may be prepared and waiting. Online merchants like as Amazon release their offers at specified times throughout the day.
You may speed up and save money on your morning buy by adding items to your online cart before the day.
6. Earn cashback when you buy.
Joining TopCashback and Quidco will allow you to receive cashback on your purchases, which will help you save even more money if you want to take advantage of the Black Friday sales.
Considering that these websites provide cashback offers all year long, it’s worthwhile to bookmark them or download their browser extensions. Just keep in mind that the amount you receive back varies depending on the shop, and that first-time buyers typically receive a larger refund. Keep in mind that the cashback may take a few weeks to process and that you might need to meet a minimum amount before you can get it.
Another option is to use DealFinder, a Chrome plugin developed by VoucherCodes. When you purchase online, DealFinder will automatically locate and use coupons, even combining them when it’s permitted to give you the most savings.
7. Guard against fraud
According to statistics from the National Cyber Security Centre, online customers who fell for scams lose an average of £1,000 per person throughout Black Friday and the Christmas shopping season. It’s critical to stay alert and keep in mind that if an offer seems too good to be true, it most often is.
If you receive an email or text about a promotion, use your browser to visit the retailer’s website rather than clicking on a link.
A padlock icon in the browser and the ‘https’ at the beginning of a website’s URL are indicators that a website is safe.
In the event that you are unfamiliar with the shop, research it online and read reviews to see if any frauds have been reported about it.
8. Gain special access to Amazon discounts
Amazon Prime members have early access to the company’s ‘Lightning Deals’, which are available all year long, in addition to unique savings. Getting a head start on other consumers might make all the difference because many offers are only available for a limited period of time or until a product sells out.
Activate your 30-day free trial or sign up for a one-month subscription for £8.99 if you’re not currently a Prime member and aren’t sure you want to commit to Prime for the entire year. you avoid being billed for the entire year, just be sure you cancel your subscription before the trial time expires.
9. Recognize your rights as a customer
Knowing your rights will put you in a better position to have things fixed if something goes wrong while you purchase online on Cyber Monday, Black Friday, or any other day of the year. For instance:
You are entitled to a refund, repair, or replacement if the item you purchased is defective, broken, useless, or not what was represented.
You have the legal right to a refund and the option to denounce the vendor to Trading Standards if you purchase something that turns out to be a fake.
70% of people in the UK have had deliveries that were either lost or sent to the incorrect address, according to data from what3words. The seller is in charge of making sure the item gets to you, and if it doesn’t, they should get in touch with the courier.
When you spend more than £100, use a credit card so you may get your money back if something goes wrong. Just make sure you pay off the entire amount at the end of the month.