The biggest shopping event of the year, otherwise known as Black Friday, will take place on Friday 27 November this year.
As the event originally hails from America, the date always falls the Friday after Thanksgiving, and then is followed by Cyber Monday (30 November) which is traditionally the online-only day of the sale.
Although this year, because of coronavirus, more shoppers are likely to buy online on Black Friday rather than in physical shops.
With a range of retailers set to slash their prices on big ticket items like TVs and coffee machines, it’s the best time of the year to find a deal and of course, get your Christmas presents sorted.
Since Amazon first brought the event online in the UK, it has overtaken other big annual sale events like Boxing Day and the January sales.
Traditionally, the Black Friday sale has extended in length every year, and 2019 saw the event last for more than two weeks, with pre-sale deals happening earlier than expected. We would usually see the trend continue into this year, but as 2020 has been far from a normal year, we won’t know until closer to the time.
But what we do know is that whether you’re after a new television, a laptop, your favourite perfume or kids’ toys, you’ll be able to find a great deal during the mammoth sale event.
Here’s everything you need to know about getting the best deals.
Our IndyBest team hand-picks every deal we feature. We may earn some commission from the links in this article, but our selections have been made independently and without bias. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday has nothing to do with the UK’s traditional winter sales, but originates from America. In the US, it traditionally follows Thanksgiving and is widely regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Since Amazon introduced the event to the UK, the sale will run across the same dates here.
When is Black Friday?
This year, Black Friday will fall on Friday 27 November, and the event will run over the weekend until 30 November, which is Cyber Monday. We’re expecting the sale to last far longer than a few days though, as last year’s event ran for a whopping two weeks, with retailers launching pre-Black Friday deals far earlier than the year before.
Which stores are taking part this year?
Amazon usually sets the tone for Black Friday each year, with its sale lasting a mammoth 15 days in 2019. This year, we’re expecting a similar “Black Friday Countdown” event from the retailer, which could start around Friday 13 November.
When it comes to tech and home appliances, other big retailers that host impressive Black Friday sales include John Lewis & Partners, Currys PC World, Very and Argos, while fashion and beauty retailers like Asos, Nike, Superdrug and Debenhams also take part.
For more details, read our extensive guide to all the stores we expect to take part this year.
How can I get the best deals?
When it comes to making the most of Black Friday, preparation is key and, with 98 per cent of the UK’s shoppers planning to buy online, that’s where you can expect to find the very best deals.
But, whether you’re shopping in-store or bargain hunting from the comfort of your sofa, it’s important to shop around and research items you want to buy well in advance rather than splashing out on a whim.
We suggest sticking to a shopping list of items that you know you actually want, setting yourself a budget and watching out for additional discount codes online.
It’s also a good idea to check retailer’s returns policies before buying and to check terms and conditions for sites you’ve not used before.
For your one-stop shop of all the very best deals, make sure to keep checking our Black Friday pages where we will be constantly sourcing and updating the best offers.
How long will the discounts last?
Black Friday 2019 was the longest running event to date, which saw sales covering more than two weeks. Previously the event ran for just a weekend, while before that it had been only days.
This year it could be longer, but at the moment it’s not clear how long it will last due to the pandemic.
What were the best deals last year?
Last year, there was some impressive deals on a range of tech, including games consoles like the Nintendo Switch and a number of discounts on smartphones, including the iPhone X, the Google Pixel 2 and Samsung Galaxy S8.
Amazon’s own product range – including Echo devices, Fire tablets and Kindles – had massive discounts too, as did PS4 and Xbox One bundles, OLED TVs, vacuum cleaners, IPL hair removal machines and kids’ scooters.
What’s the best way to get a Black Friday deal?
Although there will be thousands of good deals available, the key to getting the best value for your money is to be prepared well in advance of the sales.
Our IndyBest team will be doing most of the hard work for you, finding the best offers on everything from TVs and fashion to furniture and home appliances, as well as providing extensive guides on how to bag the best bargain. As a result, it’s worth checking The Independent closer to the time for our top tips and deals.
When it comes to preparing for the big day, first of all, think about what you actually want. Is it a new winter coat from The North Face, a pair of wireless Beats headphones, an iPad or a Foreo Luna beauty gadget?
The key is not getting drawn into seemingly “good looking” deals that you don’t actually want or need.
Once you know what you want, make sure that you shop around to find the best price for it before the Black Friday sale begins. That way, you’ll know if a sale deal really is a bargain or not.
Deals will be available both on the high street and online, so whether you can face shopping centres and the likes of London’s Oxford Street, or prefer to search from the comfort of your own home, everyone can benefit from the offers.
Tips for Black Friday shopping online
Make sure you’ve already got an account with big retailers like Amazon or John Lewis & Partners to make shopping easier and quicker (that way, there will be no time wasted entering all your details as a new customer), and if you want next day delivery, register for Amazon Prime.
Sign up to newsletters from brands that you like and might want to shop from so you’ll be the first to know when their sales start and will have access to any discount codes you might need.
Download the apps of retailers you use and follow them on Instagram and Twitter for deals, too.
To find the original price of a product, use PriceSpy or CamelCamelCamel – the latter is especially useful for Amazon.
Don’t forget to check retailer’s returns policies before buying and to check the terms and conditions for sites you’ve not used before.
To make sure you are shopping safely online, check any sale emails you receive properly before clicking links to make sure they’re legitimate.
If you’re shopping from a computer, it’s also a good idea to ensure your anti-malware software is up to date.
Can I get cashback on Black Friday deals?
This all depends on your debit or credit card provider. During the Black Friday period, a number of companies offer cashback on purchases while websites such as Quidco also offer cashback for new customers of big brands.
Am I protected on Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
As well as genuine deals, Black Friday and Cyber Monday can bring out fraudsters so it’s important to be vigilant.
Make sure you check any emails you receive properly before clicking links to make sure they’re legitimate.
If you’re shopping from a computer, it’s also a good idea to ensure your anti-malware software is up to date.
Read more on Black Friday 2020
Best Amazon Black Friday deals – There will be millions of deals, so check in here for our pick of the best
Best Currys PC World Black Friday deals – For everything from TVs to laptops, and kettles to coffee machines
Best John Lewis & Partners Black Friday deals – With great deals on fashion, beauty, tech, kids and homewares it will be a go-to for many
Best Argos Black Friday deals – Covering everything from kids to homewares and fitness to DIY
Best Apple Black Friday deals – The tech giant is notorious for not participating in Black Friday, so how can you find deals on Apple products? Find out in our guide
The stores taking part in Black Friday – Our predictions based on last year, which we’ll be updating as the deals begin
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