The Black Friday sales are already in full swing and it can be easy to get swept up in the shopping frenzy and end up out of pocket – instead of bagging a bargain.
The vast majority of Black Friday offers are cheaper or the same price at other times of the year, consumer group 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 budget 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 stay within your budget, you’ll maximise your savings without unnecessary splurges.”
Compare historic prices
“When looking to make a purchase, it’s worth comparing the price at multiple retailers,” said Harry Rose, editor of Which? Magazine.
He also recommended using websites that allow you to check a product’s price history over the previous 12 months.
“That way you’ll know a good deal when you see 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 price 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.”
