Black Friday: How to spot a deal and not get ripped off
Black Friday: How to spot a deal and not get ripped off
The Black Friday sales are already in packed swing and it can be straightforward to get swept up in the shopping frenzy and complete up out of pocket – instead of bagging a bargain.
The vast majority of Black Friday offers are cheaper or the same worth at other times of the year, buyer throng Which? has warned.
We’ve spoken to some experts who have shared tips on how to shop Black Friday without being ripped off.
Make a list and stick to it
“It’s only a deal if it’s something you genuinely wanted or needed before seeing the discount,” said Sarah Johnson, director of merchandise consultancy Flourish Retail.
She recommends making a list and apportionment to stick to in order to avoid impulse buys.
“Make the deals work for you by using Black Friday to save on products you already planned to buy,” she said.
“If you stick to your list and remain within your apportionment, you’ll maximise your funds without unnecessary splurges.”
contrast historic prices
“When looking to make a purchase, it’s worth comparing the worth at multiple retailers,” said Harry Rose, editor of Which? Magazine.
He also recommended using websites that allow you to check a product’s worth history over the previous 12 months.
“That way you’ll recognize a excellent deal when you view one,” he said.
Which? investigated deals on 227 products at eight of the biggest home and tech retailers in the UK in last year’s Black Friday “fortnight” between 20 November and 1 December.
Its research suggested nine in 10 of the deals analysed were the same worth or cheaper at other times of the year.
Mr Rose said you should not feel “pressured to splash out on Black Friday purchases as those deals are usually repeated – if not beaten – at other times of the year.”
Search for second-hand
If you spot something you desire to buy in the Black Friday sale, search for it on a second-hand platform where you might discover it even cheaper, says resale influencer, Jess.
Many resale platforms provide you the alternative of offering a worth that matches your apportionment, she said.
“If you make an propose and it’s reasonable most sellers will receive,” she said. “So not only are you likely to get a excellent deal in the first place because it’s not recent from a shop but you can propose a lower worth.”
Vintage clothing influencer Vivien Tang also buys and sells on resale websites.
“I ponder it is very straightforward to discover almost recent or brand recent items on second-hand platforms,” she said. “The state alternative on listings is now compulsory so it makes it easier to filter for newer items.”
If you’re using the Black Friday sale to buy Christmas presents you should not rule out buying second hand, according to a recent update.
Some 63% of people would be comfortable receiving second-hand Christmas gifts and a further 26% felt neutral about the concept, according to a survey by research consultancy Retail Economics for second-hand marketplace Vinted.
Beware of obligation
Many people will use a capitalization card, or may dip into their overdraft, when buying what they consider bargain items on Black Friday.
But if you complete up paying yield, this could outstrip any saving made on the Black Friday promotion.
Using a typical capitalization card to make a £300 purchase, then paying back at £20 a month would receive more than a year to pay off and cruel having to pay £55 in yield, according to the monetary information service Moneyfacts.
Using an overdraft would usually navigator to an even bigger yield statement.
A capitalization card offers more protection when buying something over £100, so there is greater chance of a refund if something goes incorrect.
monetary experts declare paying off a capitalization card immediately, perhaps from funds, before any yield is accrued, is the safest alternative.
Check for scams
Criminals use the hype around Black Friday to try to steal from online shoppers.
Purchase scams are when someone is tricked into sending money via a financial institution transfer to buy something – often advertised online or via social media – that doesn’t exist.
The number of purchase scams soared by 29% around Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year, according to analysis by Lloyds financial institution.
The financial institution’s fraud prevention director, Liz Ziegler, said: “When shopping online, the best way remain secure is to buy from a trusted retailer, and always pay by card for the greatest protection. If you’re unable to do those things, that should be a large red flag that you’re about to get scammed.”
You should be wary of fake websites and check the web address belongs to the official brand before you enter any monetary or personal information, according to Which?.
Beware of posts from a newly-created social media accounts, or links to a recently-created website. You can use verified domain checkers to confirm when a website was created, Which? said.
It warned against buying at “too excellent to be factual” prices because if something seems too excellent to be factual, it likely is.
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