Yahoo Finance Is Black Friday really the best time to buy?
It’s one of the biggest shopping days in the year, with one in five Aussies planning to take advantage of the massive sales.
However, 23 November – Black Friday – isn’t necessarily the best time to buy everything.
We spoke to experts about what to buy now and when to wait.
Wait!
Cars
“Black Friday isn’t typically the time to purchase a new car but there are a number of times throughout the year when savvy shoppers can save big,” MG Motor Australia product planning manager, Pavel Meck said.
“The end of financial year is the most popular time for car manufacturers to offer heavy discounts but December and January also see many brands advertise lower prices. We’ve got some amazing offers around the corner with our upcoming OMG sale, which will include significant savings across our range!”
Additionally, buyers can also pick up a bargain deal when car manufacturers are updating or refreshing particular models. That’s when the ‘run out’ deals will begin.
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“The newer model may boast better features, but the upgrades can often be small while the savings huge!”
Even so, buying a car is a major investment, so buyers should make sure they carry out their research and compare deals.
Holidays
The best time to book a holiday is when sales open for a new season, Club Med general manager in the Pacific, Rachael Harding said.
However, that will also depend on the destination and the company.
“Affording the annual family holiday doesn’t have to break the bank, you just need to be smart about two things: when you book and when you travel.
“For overseas travel, the old adage ‘early bird gets the worm’ is almost always true. Christmas holidays are fast approaching so if you’re only just booking a trip now, you’ll likely foot the bill for being last minute as most places are almost full.
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“That said, there are still some amazing last-minute finds out there – particularly when it comes to package deals.”
She argued package deals often offer the best value as they factor in food, drinks, activities and entertainment.
Furniture
While some brands do offer Black Friday sales, it’s generally better to buy furniture in February and August as that’s when brands will begin trying to clearspace for new stock.
Jewellery
Again, many brands will offer sales on jewellery. However, it’s a good rule of thumb to avoid buying jewellery in peak periods like Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Christmas.
Buy now!
TVs and whitegoods
“If you’re looking to spend and save big on electronics and whitegoods, November is a great time to do so – particularly with the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Items like TVs, fridges and washing machines do come with a price tag so it’s worthwhile taking advantage of the discounts if you can,” Hisense Australia product specialist, Chris Mayer said.
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“If you’re looking for a great deal and miss out on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, the good news is there are multiple opportunities at major retailers throughout the year when you can save some serious money on TVs, fridges and washing machines.”
Fashion
Finder.com.au has pulled together a list of 350 brands offering Black Friday sales, and it’s jam-packed with fashion brands like asos, Cotton:On and Missguided.
Skin-care
Priceline, L’Occitane, Crabtree and Evelyn all off Black Friday promotions.
Tech
Dell, Microsoft, JB Hi-Fi and CyberLink have Black Friday sales, while the major mobile companies will also begin targeting shoppers in a bid to increase their market shares.
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How to make the most of the sales
Australians are set to spend $320 million on the Black Friday sales, finder.com.au analysis reveals, with 4 million Australian planning to shop the sales.
“Like Halloween and Thanksgiving celebrations, Black Friday is a tradition making its way to our shores,” finder’s Bessie Hassan said.
“Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the last big sales before Boxing Day, so it’s the perfect time to do your Christmas shopping for a fraction of the cost.”
She said retailers have frequent sales, so shoppers should never pay full price.
“The trick is to start browsing now. Jump online and check out your favourite sites, then start bookmarking or adding what you’d like to buy to your shopping cart.
“Once the sale starts, you can easily see if the goods on your wish list are reduced, and quickly check out.
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“Some brands will even kick off earlier than Friday, so keep your eyes peeled.”
Shoppers should do their homework and get a rough estimate of costs before the sales begin so they can see how good the sales really are.
Hassan said it’s important to check the retailer ships to Australia to avoid disappointment, and if you’re buying clothing or anything you’re unsure of, understanding the return policy is also critical.
Savvy shoppers should sign-up to their favourite brands’ newsletters to find out when the sales begin, she added.
