Black Friday is the new boxing day. The pre-Christmas sales bonanza that we have inherited about 5 years ago, from our friends in the US, isn't supposed to begin until Friday 25 November- the day after Thanksgiving. However retailers have already started offering deals ahead of the date.
Black Friday was originally an American tradition, dropping on the day after Thanksgiving each year. Retailers offer massive discounts on a masses of products in an attempt to persuade you to spend your hard earned in the run-up to Christmas.
But UK retailers have jumped on the bandwagon in recent years so bargain hunters over here get the chance at some festive deals.
Top tips to making sure you get the best deals this Black Friday:
Which? Has explained that shopping online, shops must guarantee a 14-day returns window for non-faulty goods, however on the high street your rights can differ from store to store.
If you change your mind about something you buy, it’s important you know how to find out about your consumer rights and how to exercise them. According to a report in Mirror, here's some top tips from Which? to get you started:
- Your return rights may be stronger if you shop online - you are legally entitled to a full refund for a non-faulty, online purchase if you change your mind within 14 days of delivery, but this may not be the case if you bought it in store.
- The delivery period may be way longer than usual- so if you are shopping for Christmas, expect the risks involved.
- Be aware of online scams - it’s always best to double-check the domain name of the website you’re buying from and beware of unusual payment methods, like bank transfers.
- Your return rights for non-faulty products may vary from store to store - whilst some stores may choose to offer a full refund for a product you no longer want, others may disappoint consumers by offering a credit note, an exchange or nothing.
- If you’re shopping on the high street, make sure you check the individual return policy, warranty/guarantee policy at the till.
- Not all products will be the cheapest on Black Friday itself - research found that only 8% of the Black Friday deals we checked from last year were cheapest on Black Friday itself.
