– Announcement –
Black Friday Deals: Worth the Hype?
Consumer group that has warned people about buying products during the so-called Black Friday.
Black Friday deals have been live all week, but Consumer Group Which has said to take Black Friday deals with a “pinch of salt” and we agree.
– Announcement –
A study carried out by Which? suggests that shoppers should approach Black Friday deals with caution. According to their research, only a small percentage of the products in the Black Friday deals were at their lowest price.
This raises questions about the true value of these offers and why trading standards don't investigate big brands that try to mislead consumers.
Which one? analyzed 208 Black Friday deals from major home and technology retailers last year, tracking their prices for six months before and after sale day. Surprisingly, they found that only five of the deals were the cheapest on Black Friday.
This indicates that the perception of Black Friday as the ultimate day to find the best deals is not true. The study also expanded the sales period to include Cyber Monday and found that a staggering 86 percent of products were the same price or cheaper at other times of the year.
It's not just what he's been researching. Here at I dailytoptimesToday News, we've visited outlets in Manchester, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Skegness, Lincoln, Liverpool and Boston to check prices before and during Black Friday week.
We only found 10% of products that were priced slightly cheaper, which is shocking. In addition to visiting stores, we also searched online and found that only 5% of the products we tracked were cheaper, but not by much.
For example, we looked at Currys and found that their Black Friday deals were not real Black Friday deals and products they say have been reduced in price could be bought in Argos for the same price before Black Friday.
TUI was another company that claimed its prices had dropped. However, we found that some prices increased, while others remained the same.
Which one? offered some telling examples of why people should be very careful when participating in Black Friday.
One such example is the Apple Airpods (2nd generation), which were discounted from £139 to £119 at both Argos and Currys.
However, research revealed that these headphones were cheaper than their Black Friday price on several occasions between May and September, with prices ranging from £99 to £109.
The price only increased in September and then dropped back to £119 during Black Friday week.
Another example during the investigation was the Garmin Lily Sports Edition smartwatch, which was discounted from £199 to £149 on Black Friday on Amazon.
However, which one? found that the watch had been cheaper 58 days before Black Friday, including during Amazon's Prime Day sale, when substantial discounts are often offered.
The watch was priced as low as £114.99 during this sale, indicating that waiting until Black Friday may not always yield the best value.
Which one? He urged shoppers not to feel pressured to shop on Black Friday. They have warned consumers to make sure the product is giving them the best possible deal.
Ele Clark, which one? Retail Editor, said: “Retailers are not unaware of the extra pressure on household finances this year and will be keen to use Black Friday to attract shoppers looking to get the most bang for their buck.
“Although they are rare, there are some genuine deals to be had – just make sure you do your research and don't be afraid to buy.”
Ele added that checking a product's price history is key to knowing whether something is a good deal or not.
Sites like PriceRunner or PriceSpy help you compare the price of various retailers as well as their history.
Amazon has responded to Which's investigation. An Amazon spokesperson said: “Which? has looked at fewer than 30 products in its analysis.
“Our Black Friday 2023 sale will bring hundreds and thousands of deals to customers, including our lowest prices of the year on a range of top brands including Ninja, Braun, ghd and our own Amazon devices “.
The research carried out by Which? serves as a reminder to consumers not to fall for Black Friday deals. It is essential to take the time to assess whether a product is of good quality and really offers value for money.
Here are some shopping tips to help you get the biggest discounts on November 24.
Avoid impulse buying and make a list of what you want and need to buy during Black Friday and stick to it!
Check the RRP of the items you're interested in a few weeks before the sale starts to compare discounts when they launch.
Compare item prices between retailers as it may be cheaper elsewhere and save yourself some extra cash.
Use websites like PriceRunner to check the cost of coveted items beforehand.
