Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping: Top tips

Black Friday is properly below manner and the deals will waft thick and speedy all weekend - proper up till the following income peak on Cyber Monday.
Analysts Kantar expect uk customers will spend on average £246 ($327) every at some point of the large event this 12 months, with those in the US splashing out a marginally more constrained $298.
As continually, tech hardware deals are proving famous on Amazon with the retail massive naming the Nintendo switch, a combi-drill from Bosch and of direction its own fire television Stick among its most popular gadgets to this point.
John Lewis stated it became averaging 19 sales according to minute of a smart speaker by means of Sonos at some point of Black Friday morning.Black Friday is well under way and the bargains will flow thick and fast all weekend - right up until the next sales peak on Cyber Monday.
Analysts Kantar predict UK shoppers will spend on average £246 ($327) each during the big event this year, with those in the US splashing out a marginally more restrained $298.
As always, tech hardware bargains are proving popular on Amazon with the retail giant naming the Nintendo Switch, a combi-drill from Bosch and of course its own Fire TV Stick among its most popular items so far.
John Lewis said it was averaging 19 sales per minute of a smart speaker by Sonos during Black Friday morning.
Here's a quick guide to making the most of the sale extravaganza.
1 Don't be dazzled by deals
website price tracker CamelCamelCamelImage copyrightCAMELCAMELCAMEL
Before you buy, it is always worth checking if the same product is cheaper somewhere else, and if so, finding out whether firms will price-match.
Some specialist sites can tell you if the product has been discounted more heavily before.
For example, Camelcamelcamel.com shows the price history of Amazon products - allowing shoppers to see if they have been offered more cheaply in the past.
Also bear in mind that just because a store claims to have huge discounts, it might not be the case, warns MoneySavingExpert.
"Some retailers may bill their sales as "up to 70% off" and only have one or two items at the highest amount off," warns the website's Jordon Cox in a blog post.
"What's more, just because an item says it has £100 off, for instance, it doesn't mean it's a steal. It could've been a ridiculously high price to start with and cheaper at a rival - which is why it's important to do your price comparisons beforehand."
2. Remember delivery costs
Amazon warehouseImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
"Look at a company's delivery costs in advance to make sure you don't get a nasty surprise at the checkout," advises consumer watchdog Which?
"Some retailers offer a buy online and pick up later service. This allows you to save money on any delivery fees and avoid busy shops on the Black Friday itself."
Which? has also opened up its app for free for the next 30 days so bargain hunters can check its reviews before buying.
3. Know your rights
Sale sign, people queuingImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
"The Consumer Rights Act, which is the law that covers this activity, clearly says that it doesn't matter if you buy something in the sales, your rights are the same," said Dean Dunham from Retail ADR, a non-profit organisation offering advice about retail disputes, on its website.
"If something goes wrong in the first 30 days, you have an automatic right to a refund. Thereafter, up to six months, you have a right to exchange/refund or to have it repaired, but unfortunately, the retailer gets to choose which one and after that you have to prove why it went wrong," he wrote.
In the UK, the Consumer Contracts Regulations gives online shoppers extra rights - for example you have 14 days to decide whether to cancel your order in addition to a 14 day returns period once your goods arrive, says Which?.
4. Avoid website crashes
online shoppingImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Inevitably the huge amount of website traffic will result in some shopping sites being unable to cope.
Speaking to the BBC last year, MoneySavingExpert's deals editor Gary Caffell suggested keeping shopping sites open on more than one device, which might also help you keep your place in the online queues.
Many experts agree that the morning tends to be peak time, so afternoon shoppers may have an easier time - although by then some of the biggest bargains may have been snapped up already.
5. Hit the shops
Black Friday shopping crowdsImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
If you can face the crowds, consider stepping away from the internet - according to payment processor WorldPay, this year's Black Friday could be worth as much as £1.35bn to UK high streets.
One advantage of heading out is that shop staff are also primed with knowledge about the best deals on the shop floor, says Olga Kotsur, CEO and founder of in-store technology firm Mercaux.
"Although Black Friday deals are largely advertised online, there are terrific deals to be found in-store," she said.
"Our advice to shoppers would be to not underestimate sales associates whose role has become increasingly intelligent and data-driven.
"Customers should leverage the knowledge of sales associates so they can find the best offers that are suited to them personally."
Of course if the whole retail frenzy leaves you cold you can always embrace Buy Nothing Day and join a protest against consumerism that started life in Canada in 1992.
Its website describes Black Friday as "an absurd dystopian phenomenon". It suggests locking up your wallet and staying at home with a good book instead.
here is a brief guide to creating the maximum of the sale extravaganza.
1 don't be dazzled with the aid of deals
website charge tracker CamelCamelCamelImage copyrightCAMELCAMELCAMEL
before you purchase, it is constantly really worth checking if the same product is cheaper some other place, and if so, finding out whether or not corporations will fee-healthy.
a few specialist web sites can inform you if the product has been discounted greater closely earlier than.
for instance, Camelcamelcamel.com suggests the rate records of Amazon products - permitting consumers to look if they have been presented greater cheaply inside the past.
additionally endure in thoughts that simply due to the fact a shop claims to have big reductions, it might not be the case, warns MoneySavingExpert.
"some retailers may additionally invoice their income as "up to 70% off" and handiest have one or two gadgets at the highest amount off," warns the website's Jordon Cox in a weblog submit.
"what is more, simply due to the fact an object says it has £100 off, as an instance, it does not imply it's a steal. it is able to've been a ridiculously excessive charge initially and inexpensive at a rival - which is why it is crucial to do your charge comparisons ahead."
2. don't forget transport prices
Amazon warehouseImage copyrightGETTY photos
"look at a employer's shipping expenses earlier to make certain you don't get an uncongenial surprise on the checkout," advises consumer watchdog Which?
"a few retailers offer a buy on-line and choose up later provider. This allows you to shop cash on any shipping prices and keep away from busy stores on the Black Friday itself."
Which? has also unfolded its app totally free for the next 30 days so good buy hunters can test its critiques before shopping for.
3. recognize your rights
Sale sign, humans queuingImage copyrightGETTY photos
"The client Rights Act, which is the regulation that covers this hobby, surely says that it does not count number if you purchase something in the income, your rights are the identical," stated Dean Dunham from Retail ADR, a non-earnings agency imparting recommendation about retail disputes, on its internet site.
"If some thing goes wrong in the first 30 days, you have got an automated right to a refund. Thereafter, up to 6 months, you have got a right to change/refund or to have it repaired, however regrettably, the store receives to choose which one and after that you need to prove why it went incorrect," he wrote.
inside the uk, the customer Contracts regulations gives online consumers extra rights - as an instance you have 14 days to determine whether or not to cancel your order similarly to a 14 day returns length as soon as your items arrive, says Which?.
4. keep away from website crashes
on line shoppingImage copyrightGETTY images
unavoidably the big quantity of website traffic will result in some purchasing websites being not able to cope.
talking to the BBC remaining 12 months, MoneySavingExpert's offers editor Gary Caffell counseled preserving shopping sites open on a couple of tool, which may also assist you hold your place in the online queues.
Many specialists agree that the morning has a tendency to be peak time, so afternoon consumers may have an less difficult time - although by means of then a number of the biggest bargains may additionally were snapped up already.
five. Hit the shops
Black Friday shopping crowdsImage copyrightGETTY pix
If you may face the crowds, recall stepping far from the internet - in line with price processor WorldPay, this 12 months's Black Friday will be worth as a good deal as £1.35bn to united kingdom high streets.
One advantage of heading out is that save staff are also primed with understanding approximately the excellent deals on the store ground, says Olga Kotsur, CEO and founding father of in-keep era company Mercaux.
"despite the fact that Black Friday deals are in large part advertised online, there are super offers to be observed in-store," she said.
"Our advice to customers might be to now not underestimate income friends whose function has grow to be more and more sensible and information-driven.
"clients ought to leverage the knowledge of sales buddies so that it will locate the best gives which might be ideal to them personally."
Of course if the whole retail frenzy leaves you bloodless you may constantly embody buy nothing Day and join a protest against consumerism that started existence in Canada in 1992.
Its internet site describes Black Friday as "an absurd dystopian phenomenon". It indicates locking up your wallet and staying at home with a great ebook as a substitute.