How to spot a deal and not get scammed

The Black Friday sales are already in full swing and it can easily happen that you get carried away by the shopping frenzy and end up having to spend money – instead of getting a bargain.

The vast majority of Black Friday deals are cheaper or available at the same price at other times of the year, Consumer Group Which? warned.

We spoke to some experts who gave us tips on how to shop on Black Friday without getting scammed.

“It’s only an offer if you really wanted or needed it before you saw the discount,” said Sarah Johnson, head of merchandise consultancy Flourish Retail.

She recommends making a list and budget to stick to to avoid impulse purchases.

“Take advantage of the deals by taking advantage of Black Friday to save on products you were already planning to buy,” she said.

“If you stick to your list and stick to your budget, you can maximize your savings without incurring unnecessary expenses.”

“If you’re looking to make a purchase, it’s worth comparing prices across multiple retailers,” said Harry Rose, editor of Which? Magazines.

He also recommended using websites that allow you to check a product’s price history over the past 12 months.

“That way you know a good deal when you see one,” he said.

Which? examined deals on 227 products at eight of the UK’s largest home and technology retailers between November 20 and December 1 during last year’s Black Friday “weekdays”.

The research found that nine out of ten of the offers analyzed were the same price or cheaper at other times of the year.

Mr Rose said you shouldn’t feel pressured to spend on Black Friday shopping, as these deals are usually repeated – if not beaten – at other times of the year.

If you spot something you want to buy during the Black Friday sale, look for it on a second-hand platform where you might find it even cheaper, says resale influencer Jess.

Many resale platforms allow you to offer a price that fits your budget, she said.

“If you make an offer and it’s reasonable, most sellers will take it,” she said. “So not only are you more likely to get a good deal in the first place because it’s not new to a store, but you can also offer a lower price.”

Vintage clothing influencer Vivien Tang also buys and sells on resale websites.

“I think it’s very easy to find almost new or brand new items on second-hand platforms,” she said. “The condition option for listings is now mandatory, making it easier to filter for newer items.”

If you’re taking advantage of the Black Friday sale to buy holiday gifts, don’t rule out buying second-hand, according to a new report.

According to a survey by research consultancy Retail Economics for second-hand marketplace Vinted, about 63% of people would feel comfortable receiving used Christmas gifts, and another 26% were neutral about the idea.

Many people use a credit card or access their overdraft when buying supposedly bargain items on Black Friday.

However, if you end up paying interest, this could exceed the savings from the Black Friday promotion.

According to financial information service Moneyfacts, if you make a £300 purchase on a typical credit card, it would take more than a year to pay off the £20 a month repayment and pay £55 in interest.

Using an overdraft would usually result in an even higher interest bill.

A credit card offers more protection if you’re buying anything over £100, so there’s a greater chance of a refund if something goes wrong.

Financial experts say paying off a credit card immediately, perhaps from savings before interest accrues, is the safest option.

Criminals are using the hype surrounding Black Friday to steal from online shoppers.

Purchase scams involve tricking someone into transferring money via bank transfer to purchase something – often advertised online or via social media – that doesn’t exist.

According to analysis by Lloyds Bank, the number of purchase fraud cases increased by 29% around Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday last year.

The bank’s fraud prevention director, Liz Ziegler, said: “When shopping online, the best way to stay safe is to buy from a trusted merchant and always pay by card for the greatest protection. If you can’t do these things, then doing this should be a big red flag that you’re being scammed.”

You should be wary of fake websites and check whether the web address belongs to the official brand before entering any financial or personal details, according to Which?.

Beware of posts from newly created social media accounts or links to a recently created website. You can use verified domain checkers to confirm when a website was created. Which? said.

It warned against buying at prices that are too good to be true, because if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.