There's nothing quite like a good deal when it comes to shopping - especially with inflation rates currently increasing making the products we love all that more pricier.
But whether you're after a new phone, a new outfit or in need of an updated washing machine, there's always a deal to be made whether online or in-store.
And soon the day of deals, also known as Black Friday, will be taking place and whilst it's great for grabbing essentials at a reduced rate, people should also be aware of scams and when a deal may not be a good deal after all.
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But when is Black Friday and how do you know if you're getting a good deal? Here's what you need to know.
When is Black Friday 2022?
This year Black Friday will take place on November 25. Usually deals can start up to a month before so it's always worth keeping an eye on deals as they could start at the beginning of the month and end on the 26th.
How to tell if it's a Black Friday deal or a scam?
Have a hunt around
According to experts at Which?, the first thing you should do is check other websites. Don't just go for the first item you see either - have a search around the internet until you are comfortable that you have found the right deal and that it's from a legitimate website.
They added: "This is the most basic check you can do. We've often found that more than one shop will sell a product at a similar price, but only one claims that the price is a special offer. For example, if four shops are selling the same washing machine for £250, but only one is claiming it's a special offer at 'Now £250, was £300', it's a pretty good indicator that the price is not a particularly special deal.
"Of course, if you're happy to pay £250 for that particular washing machine, that's fine. But don't snap it up thinking you're getting a bargain."
Check the price history
The consumer comparison website is urging customers to look up any Black Friday deals on websites such as Pricerunner, PriceSpy and CamelCamelCamel (Amazon only) to find out their price history. They explain: "This will enable you to know whether Black Friday prices are genuinely worth getting excited about.
Be wary of 'was' prices
Which? say that shopping deals which make claims such as 'was £100, now £50' are "abundant" at this time of year adding people shouldn't "let these 'anchor prices' mislead you. Retailers shout about savings - often in red to grab attention - as a way of influencing customers and they can be quite misleading.
"When we looked at items on special offer across major retailers for the first half of 2020, we found that several products were listed at their lower price for longer than they were at their full 'was' price. We've also found retailers using old RRPs (recommended retail prices) as 'was' prices, so they reflect the value of the item when it was first released, not its current value."
Look out for notes or signs explaining offers
In their final tip, they ask that consumers read the offers in detail. They explain: "In some instances shops can get away with using 'was' prices that haven't been in place for a long time if they put up a sign explaining the deal.
"Tactics such as this can make offers look better than they are. We've seen notes that explained the product was actually only at the higher price for a fortnight, six months before the current offer. Sometimes these notes are well flagged, but sometimes they're completely buried - meaning we've had to scroll through masses of small print to uncover vague wording - so it's worth doing some thorough research if you want to be confident you're getting the best deal.
"When we checked promotions in 2020, AO.com had its explanations below the item description, specification and customer reviews, while at Currys they were in a small grey font. Not all manufacturers have RRPs, but some do and choose to display them on their own websites. Before you buy a product in the sales, check the manufacturer's website to see if you're getting a decent discount on the RRP."
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