How to Navigate Black Friday Effectively and Safely

Black Friday is often seen as one of the best times of the year to bag yourself a bargain. However, predictions suggest that the UK’s cost of living crisis will put consumers off spending as much in 2024 as they have in the past. 

If you are planning on seeking out some of the best deals on Black Friday, now is a good time to start. Retailers, both in store and online, often start their Black Friday sales early from the beginning of November and throughout the month, so there’s plenty of time to find yourself a bargain. 

Alternatively, playing the waiting game and sticking out for Black Friday itself could pay off too as some retailers offer additional offers and savings on their sale items, meaning better deals for the consumer. There are various price comparison apps and plugins available that will send alerts to notify you where products are in stock and at what price to help you find the best deal. 

It’s worth noting that most Black Friday sales continue over the weekend and into Monday too, also known as Cyber Monday, giving you more time to find the right deal for what you are looking for. 

Whilst we all love a bargain, it is sensible to create a budget and stick to it, as it may save you from spending more than you intend. If you don’t need an item, then you aren’t saving money by getting it at a lower price just because it’s in the Black Friday sales.

Always do your research before making a purchase

Black Friday is usually a great time to grab a tech bargain, therefore it’s wise to do some research before you commit to buying. Reading customer reviews will give you a good idea of whether it’s a good quality product. Also, look at the age and spec of the product too, to ensure you’re getting something that will stand the test of time. 

Unfortunately items’ sale price can often be exaggerated to make it look like you’re getting a good deal so it’s a good idea to keep track of items you want before offers start. Don’t assume you’re getting a good deal simply because it’s Black Friday! 

Websites such as PriceRunner can be used to check the price history to help work out if the deal you’re getting is legitimate or not. If the item has been cheaper at different points in the year, the deal is likely to have been exaggerated for Black Friday and therefore not worth buying. 

How can shoppers prepare for the sales? 

The Black Friday rush can be stressful, with websites crashing due to increased traffic and retailers running out of stock. If you know what you’re looking for, create a wishlist of items you want and note multiple retailers that sell the product. Using this technique means that you have plenty of options to get the product you want, particularly if retailers are having technical difficulties with their websites. 

Consider setting up customer accounts on retailers ahead of time too, as these can make checkout time a lot quicker. Signing up to mailing lists or downloading apps of the retailers you want to purchase items from may offer you early access to offers or special deals as well.  

By being prepared you can avoid any impulsive purchases and make the most of the deals, whilst also ensuring you're not overspending.

Be aware of Black Friday Scammers

Black Friday is an ideal environment for scammers, where consumers are preoccupied with the prospect of an amazing deal. We usually experience an increased level of genuine emails hitting our inboxes from retailers around Black Friday too. That gives scammers the ideal opportunity to use tactics such as phishing emails, text messages or impersonating websites to advertise fake deals and ultimately steal your personal information. 

If you receive an email or text from a retailer be sure to double check the sender information such as the email address or number, to make sure it’s legitimately related to the brand and do not click on any links you might receive. If you are unsure you can double check by opening a new browser window and heading to the real website to check. You could even check on another device to be extra secure. Remember to check the URL for any typos as this may be a fake site.

If you do suspect fraudulent activity from an email or text, you should block the user and delete the message. Some email providers do enable you to report spam or phishing, which is always worth considering to stop scammers in their tracks. 

Ultimately, the best advice is to only buy what you planned and avoid getting caught up in spontaneous spending via random offers on the day. And again use protected payment methods such as credit cards, where possible.