Black Friday: Five ways to avoid getting ripped off

Black Friday sales are already in full swing and it can be easy to get caught up in the shopping frenzy and end up out of pocket – rather than looking for bargains.

Most Black Friday deals are cheaper or the same price as other times of the year, consumer groups say which one What is the warning?

We spoke to some experts who share their tips on how to shop Black Friday without getting ripped off.

“It’s only a deal if it’s something you genuinely wanted or needed before you saw the discount,” said Sarah Johnson, director of merchandise consultancy Flourish Retail.

She recommends making a list and budget to stick to to avoid impulse purchases.

“Use Black Friday to save on products you already plan to buy to make the deals work for you,” he said.

“If you stick to your list and stay within your budget, you’ll maximize your savings without unnecessary expenses.”

“When looking to make a purchase, it’s worth comparing prices at multiple retailers,” said Kiss magazine editor Harry Rose.

He also recommends using websites that allow you to check a product’s price history over the past 12 months.

“That way you’ll know a good deal when you see one,” he said.

which one investigated deals on 227 products across eight major UK home and tech retailers on last year’s Black Friday “fifteenth” between November 20 and December 1.

His research suggested that 9 out of 10 deals analyzed were the same or cheaper at other times of the year.

Mr Rose said you shouldn’t “feel pressured to do Black Friday shopping as those deals are usually repeated – if not beaten – at other times of the year”.

If you see something you want to buy in a Black Friday sale, look for it on secondhand platforms where you can get it even cheaper, says resale influencer Jess.

Resale platforms give you the option to offer a price that matches your budget, he said.

“If you make an offer and it’s reasonable, most sellers will accept,” he said. “So not only are you likely to get a good deal in the first place because it’s not new from the shop, but you can also offer a lower price.”

Vintage clothing influencer Vivian Tang also buys and sells on resale websites.

“I think it’s much easier to find nearly new or brand new items on secondhand platforms,” ​​he said. “The condition option on the listing is now mandatory so it makes it easier to filter for new items.”

If you’re using Black Friday sales to buy Christmas presents, you shouldn’t rule out buying secondhand, according to a new report.

According to a survey by research consultancy Retail Economics for Secondhand Marketplace Wanted, around 63% of people would be comfortable receiving secondhand Christmas gifts and another 26% would feel neutral about the idea.

Many people will use a credit card, or dip into their overdraft, when they buy bargain items on Black Friday.

But if you end up paying interest, it can outweigh any savings made on the Black Friday promotion.

Using a normal credit card to make a £300 purchase, then paying back £20 a month would take over a year to pay off and mean paying £55 in interest, financial According to the information service Moneyfacts.

Using an overdraft usually carries an even bigger interest bill.

A credit card offers more protection when buying something over £100, so there’s a greater chance of a refund if something goes wrong.

Paying off a credit card right away, perhaps from savings, before any interest accrues, is the safest option, say financial experts.

Criminals use the hype around Black Friday to try to steal from online shoppers.

Shopping scams are when someone is tricked into sending money via bank transfer to buy something – often advertised online or through social media – that doesn’t exist.

According to analysis by Lloyds Bank, the number of shopping scams around Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday increased by 29% last year.

The bank’s director of fraud prevention, Liz Ziegler, said: “When shopping online, the best way to stay safe is to buy from a trusted retailer, and always pay by card for maximum protection. If you’re unable to do this, that should be a big red flag that you’ve been scammed.”

You should be wary of fake websites and before entering any financial or personal information, check that the web address is from an official brand, according to Who?

Be wary of newly created social media accounts, or links to a recently created website. You can use Verified Domain Checkers to verify when a website was created, which? said.

He warns against buying at “too good to be true” prices because if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.