Where to find the best Boxing Day deals right across Australia
Shoppers have swamped the Boxing Day sales, splashing billions of dollars and causing traffic jams. These are the best deals.
Traffic chaos has erupted across the country as bargain hunters flock to Boxing Day sales in droves to nab the best bargains.
With more than half of Australia expected to be on the hunt for sales today, roads in major cities are becoming gridlocked.
December 26 is still the nation’s supreme shopping event, despite November’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday offering large discounts.
In Melbourne, free coffee was on offer for crowds queuing up in the Bourke Street Mall and David Jones offered a $100 voucher to the first 100 in line.
Leading the queue was a woman who arrived about 2.30am, earning herself a $500 store voucher and the chance to ring the bell to mark the store opening.
“She drove up from the Mornington Peninsula, she was very keen,” David Jones spokeswoman Morgan Hill said.
The store, which had about 400 waiting in line before the doors flung open, expects to sell a million mens’ business shirts online and in store nationally on Wednesday.
For Sydney’s Craig Farrugia, the Boxing Day sales are so good that it’s worth skipping the giving of gifts on Christmas Day.
He and his partner Malika Orfanos left home at 4am on Wednesday to join a queue of dedicated shoppers outside Myer in Pitt Street Mall.
By 7am, they’d spent about $400, and Mr Farrugia said he was just getting started.
“We’ll probably spend close to a couple of grand today,” he said.
Adelaide suburban stores are open for the first time on Boxing Day as the row continues over the future of deregulated shopping in South Australia.
The new Liberal government promised to lift all restrictions on trading across SA as an election promise ahead of the March poll.
But efforts to get legislation through parliament failed when the measures were blocked by the Labor opposition and crossbench MPs.
Instead, Treasurer Rob Lucas has used the government’s regulatory powers to allow all shops to open on Boxing Day this year, something the Australian Retailers Association says will result in an “exponential” growth in sales for local stores.
WHAT WE’LL SPEND
New research has revealed 10 million Aussies will shop the Boxing Day sales this year — and will drop a staggering $3.2 billion dollars on the day.
The data, revealed by comparison site finder.com.au, found a huge percentage of us were preparing to shop during the Boxing Day sale period.
And the National Retail Association said it would be the biggest single spending day of a Christmas season that already had retailers raking in a record-breaking $50 billion in sales since mid-November.
“This is the largest Christmas we’ve seen in some time, which is great news for retailers, especially with those figures being quite flat across the year,” chief executive Dominique Lamb said.
But Ms Lamb and finder.com.au money expert Bessie Hassan said it was important to do your research before heading out for some retail therapy.
“If you plan on shopping in store, make sure you also compare prices online. Although you won’t have it right then and there, the wait might be worth the savings,” Ms Hassan said.
“Whether you’re shopping online or in store, one thing remains the same — the earlier you get in, the better savings there are to be had.”
Ms Hassan said some of the best deals included 30 per cent off selected Estee Lauder skincare, makeup and fragrance sets and 30 per cent off Clinique holiday sets.
Jurlique is offering 50 per cent off selected items and 20 per cent off Christmas gift sets, while Forever New’s sale, which is already up and running, includes up to 50 per cent off items both online and in store.
David Jones has clearances up to 50 per cent off online and instore. Women can save a further 20 per cent off already reduced women’s designer shoes and bags.
For coffee lovers, a Nespresso machine has been slashed to $319 from $649.
At Target the biggest savings can be had on Tontine pillows and quilts which are 50 per cent off.
If you’re after sleepwear, Peter Alexander has slashed prices ip to 50 per cent off, with online exclusives also being offered.
And JBL will also offer a 26 per cent reduction on full-priced headphones for Boxing Day.
eBay’s Boxing Day sale has savings on tech, home, fashion, toys and health and beauty.
Retailers such as Kathmandu, Dyson and Hasbro are also offering discounts on the site.
Ms Lamb said tech was flying off the shelves, as families got set for the shops armed with gift cards.
“Drones are very popular, tech is flying off the shelf, we know that manchester and apparel are something that is very popular and those high-end items that people wait to go on discount once or twice a year,” she said.
“Boxing Day is very much about getting your family together and getting in those lines and trying to bag a bargain.
“They really do wait with all their gift cards to come in and it’s becoming quite the family event … it’s quite extraordinary what Australians are prepared to spend.
“(They) take everyone along and they get to select what they want to buy, instead of getting a pair of socks from your aunty that you’re never going to use.”
Shoppers are urged to use public transport to avoid parking headaches, bring a bottle of water and wear comfortable footwear.
Here’s what we’re set to spend state by state:
$821 million NSW
$785 million Victoria
$420 million Queensland
$210 million Western Australia
$124 million South Australia
$55 million Tasmania
$53 million ACT
$26 million Northern Territory
That’s a 5.5 per cent increase nationally from 2017
Here’s a roundup of some other huge Boxing Day deals:
MYER
Myer retail operations director Tony Sutton said the Myer Sale, which starts instore on Boxing Day, was the company’s biggest trading day of the year with over two million customers expected to visit a Myer store on opening day and approximately 20 million across the Myer Sale period.
“It’s an Australian tradition that many families and friends enjoy each Boxing Day and our customers have plenty of time to shop with extended trade across our stores,” he said.
“Always plan ahead by preparing a list of what you would like to buy or have a look at and determine a budget.
“Wear comfortable shoes and take a shopping buddy to offer advice and help carry your bags.”
There will be savings of up to 70 per cent off a huge range of leading brands and products across all departments as well as special one day offers available on Boxing Day only including 20 per cent off MAC, 30 per cent off all children’s shoes, 40 per cent off suitcases from Samsonite and Antler and 50 per cent off manchester, cookware and dinnerware.
THE ICONIC
The online fashion powerhouse is offering up to 50 per cent off during the sale, plus 20 per cent off selected full-priced styles.
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KOGAN
Kogan’s Boxing Day sale kicks off after Christmas and will end at 11.59pm on December 31.
There will be more than 1000 deals across some of Australia’s favourite brands and most sought-after products including Samsung, Microsoft, Dyson and Kogan.
Top Boxing Day deals from Kogan.com include a Kogan 55-inch Smart HDR 4K LED TV with a special price of $499, a Dyson V6 Slim Vacuum Cleaner for just $279 and Nokia 8 (64GB) for $399.
CATCH
Catch Group CEO Nati Harpaz said there would be a slew of deals on offer.
“On top of our incredible existing deals we are going to have a huge Boxing Day sale with 50-90 per cent off selected products,” he said.
“It will span across beauty, sports, homewares, fashion, footwear, tech, toys, groceries, health, pets and even more categories.”
THE BARGAIN AVENUE
Discounts and coupons website TheBargainAvenue.com.au insider sales for Christmas and Boxing Day include $15 off Peter Alexander PJs, 10 per cent off every purchase over $49 at Cudo and $50 off any wine purchase over $120 at Cellarmasters.
DAVID JONES
The David Jones Clearance is on now — and shoppers can save up to 50 per cent on a range of fashion, shoes, accessories, homewares, manchester, electrical appliances and more.
SEPHORA
The makeup giant is holding an end of season sale with 30 per cent off selected items using the code 30OFF.
BONDS
There is currently 40 per cent off everything at Bonds. Sign up to the Bonds & Me online mailing list to hear about Boxing Day best buys.
REBEL
This year Rebel’s sales will start online on Christmas Day, and all Rebel stores will be open on Boxing Day for the first time.
Deals include 30 per cent off all clothing for men, women and kids, up to 50 per cent off a range of footwear including Nike, Adidas, Asics, Under Armour, New Balance and more, 40 per cent off all body boards, surfboards and inflatables and 30 per cent off all bikes and scooters.
JB HI-FI
You can grab 10 per cent off Mac computers and 20 per cent off a whole range of stuff, including DVDs, gaming accessories, home appliances and phones.
The electronics store is also offering hundreds of dollars off some TVs.
ZANUI
There will be up to 50 per cent off more than 7000 items during the online homewares and furniture favourite’s Boxing Day sale, which ends at 11.59pm on December 26.
TEMPLE & WEBSTER
There will also be up to 40 per cent off 25,000 items of furniture and homewares from now until January 5.
BOOKTOPIA
Save up to 30 per cent off books including bestsellers during the End of Year Sale.
ASOS
ASOS’s Boxing Day sale includes up to 50 per cent off select items and is available for all countries that ASOS ships to.
KIKKI K
The stationery chain has up to 50 per cent off selected styles from now until Boxing Day.
— with AAP
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