Shoppers are expected to splash over £9billion over the course of the Black Friday weekend, according to VoucherCodes – but how do you know if you’re getting a good deal?
Black Friday is set to take place this Friday, but many retailers have already kicked off their sales.
So, how do you know if you’re really getting a good deal – and how do you avoid getting ripped off? Shoppers are expected to splash over £9billion over the course of the Black Friday weekend, according to VoucherCodes. Top of wish lists will be clothing and footwear, followed by toys, then electrical goods, with half of Brits looking to buy ahead of Christmas.
But research from PriceSpy shows in 2023, 85% of products could either be found cheaper, or for the same price as Black Friday, during other times of the year – 11% of products had what PriceSpy describes as a “fake sale”. Here, we explain how not to get caught out – and how to get the most out of Black Friday.
Make a list – and stick to it
If you’re spending money on something you don’t actually want, then you’re not really saving any money. Make a list of everything you’re looking to buy – and make sure you stick to it. It can be easy to get sucked into an impulsive spend on Black Friday when you’re bombarded with advertisements.
Set your budget
Go through your bank balance now and work out how much you can afford to spend on Black Friday. This should come from money you have leftover after all your bills have been taken into account, including things like food and commuting.
Even then, it is never a good idea to spend all your disposable income. You should always make sure you have money put aside for unexpected costs, such as your car or boiler breaking down, and ideally for savings as well. If your budget isn’t looking great, then avoid Black Friday altogether.
Compare prices
Make sure you compare prices before you hand over any cash, so you can see if you’re actually getting a good deal. There are bargains to be had on Black Friday, but some retailers have also been caught putting prices up before Black Friday, only to then lower then on the day so it looks like a bigger discount.
You can compare prices using websites like Google Shopping, PriceSpy and PriceRunner, and CamelCamelCamel for Amazon. An item can only be advertised as on sale in the UK if it has been available at a higher price for at least 28 days.
Use cashback websites
Sign up to free cashback websites like TopCashback and Quidco before making any online purchases. If you’ve never used one before, cashback website does exactly as its name suggests – you get money back when you make a qualifying spend.
You’ll need to search for the retailer you’re wanting to buy from via the main TopCashback or Quidco website. Always check the terms and conditions to see if there is anything that stops you from getting cashback – for example, it may be only certain types of items.
Check your return rights
Always know your refund and return rights before making any sort of Black Friday purchase. You don’t have a legal right to a refund if you change your mind about an item purchased in store – and sometimes, there will be restrictions in place for non-faulty items purchased in a sale.
Each store sets their own policy, so check with the retailer before you hand over any cash. You are, however, still entitled to a full refund for faulty items up to 30 days from purchase. The rules are different for shopping online. When shopping online, you have 14 days to change your mind and return the item for a full refund. You may have to pay for return postage.
Is it a scam?
If a deal looks too good to be true, chances are it could be a scam – and fraudsters will be out in full force on Black Friday. Keep an eye out for fake websites and phishing emails, or fake order receipts, which is where you receive an email or text claiming you’ve placed an order you don’t recognise, with a link to cancel or view the purchase.
You might receive a message saying your parcel couldn’t be delivered or needs an extra fee to be released – but if you weren’t expecting a delivery, then this is very likely to be a scam. Also be aware of people flogging super cheap gift cards for below retail price.
