How Aussies can find best Black Friday deals
With the festive season three months’ off, now’s the time to think about who you need to buy for and shop around for the best deals.
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The global shopping event Black Friday kicks off November 25, with millions of dollars of savings.
With current labour shortages and supply chain disruptions, ’tis the season to shop early, said Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra.
“People are more conscious about their household budgets with the cost of living going up and interest rates on the rise, so the Black Friday and Cyber Weekend sales are an ideal time to save on Christmas purchases,” he said.
With the festive season three months’ off, now’s the time to think about who you need to buy for and shop around for the best deals.
Nick Larcher of ShopFully Australia said it’s wise to have a clear budget in mind.
“Allocate budgets to your gift-giving and strictly stick to them to avoid splurging,” he said.
“ShopFully’s ‘My Savings List’ feature enables you to create a personalised shopping list, save deals from retailers and have real-time awareness of the cash going back into your wallet.”
Old school catalogues can be the secret to saving hundreds of dollars.
“If you have your eye on something, research and plan ahead to assess which retailers are offering the product at the best competitive price,” Mr Larcher said.
“It’ll also help you understand what’s a hot, can’t-be-missed offer, and what’s merely a small discount wrapped in smoke and mirrors.”
Most retailers will also reveal Black Friday offerings in advance either online or through loyalty programs – so sign up.
“Retailers often reward loyal customers with early access to sales, meaning you can be done and dusted before items sell out,” Mr Larcher said.
“The best way to stay updated with offers is to sign up for newsletters and push notifications of retailers where you’ll be spending.”
Founder of The Sales Dr, Ingrid Maynard, recommends using cash or debit cards instead of store or credit cards.
“With interest rates on the rise again, a $1000 item may end up costing you way more.
“Avoid Afterpay and other buy-now-pay-later services if you’re also applying for loans as they impact your credit score.”
Check out energy ratings on major appliances to ensure a ticket price is not at the expense of higher energy bills, Ms Maynard said.
If you want to give yourself a quick cash boost, consider a snap sale of unwanted household items.
“With 11 million unique monthly visitors, you’re likely to sell your pre-loved fashion and collectables on eBay ... you can list an item in just 60 seconds,” eBay Australia’s Sophie Onikul said.
BIG SMILES FOR FAMILIES
Electric Confetti’s Natalie Jarvis is one of many online shoppers finding Black Friday bargains.
“With the price of everything increasing so much, it’s important to get bargains where possible,” she said.
“The money saved can be put towards other areas such as groceries and the petrol pump.”
As well as scoring toys and other fun gifts for her children Matilda, 9, Stella, 7, Hugo, 5, and Rosie, 3, Ms Jarvis will be on the hunt for domestic products.
“As we own a business, we’re always in need of office and home appliances,” she said.
“We have a staff of seven, so this year we’re looking at office chairs and desks. We also need a new microwave for staff meals.
“I always see the merit in buying pre-used furniture … it’s often better quality and is timeless in style.”
It’s important to know how to shop safely online this holiday season.
Be wary if you see a deal that seems too good to be true. Take a few moments to do a Google search on the company.
Often, this search will turn up scams, fraud, or complaints against the retailer.
Budgeting tools such as Buddy, MoneyBrilliant and YNAB can help shoppers bag a bargain.
TOP GADGETS
Tech guru Geoff Quattromani’s top gadgets expected to bring bigsavings during Black Friday sales.
Smart watches: Withings, Fitbit and Samsung have a rolling range of smart watches with great features that should have excellent prices.
Headphones: Bose, Sony, and Skullcandy will be popular throughout the sales as their range is likely reduced for these sales. A good pair of headphones on a flight is important and for those getting back into fitness.
Robot vacuums: Ecovacs and Roomba are sought-after items as many look to offload a chore in the home that adds convenience.
Smart speakers and displays: More homes in Australia now have at least one smart speaker or display. When prices are reduced, many will consider expanding their footprint to other rooms and bedrooms to answer family members’ questions or control other smart home devices.
Security cameras and doorbells: The latest cameras from Arlo, Eufy and Uniden have a new level of intelligence to recognise people and objects while also having better vision at night and longer battery life.
Originally published as How Aussies can find best Black Friday deals
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