Black Friday sales don't live up to hype

Friday, 23 November 2018

Black Friday in NZ isn't quite like it is in other countries.

OPINION: If you went looking for a Black Friday deal, it might have been bit underwhelming.

You could ask why we expect anything at all, seeing as Black Friday is a shopping event based around Thanksgiving, a holiday we don't have in New Zealand.

A bit like how we used to feel about Halloween (and some of us still do).

But it's hyped to the point where shoppers expect a deal.

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A survey by price comparison site PriceSpy found 35 per cent of New Zealanders intended to buy something on Black Friday, with 23 per cent of Kiwis expect to receive a 30 percent saving on Black Friday, whilst a more optimistic 42 per cent believe they can save between 31 and 60 per cent.

But Kiwis aren't elbowing each other in the aisles for a slashed-priced flat-screen. There are no massive queues. And there's a reason for that.

It's been billed as a replacement for Boxing Day sales, but most of the deals on offer were nothing out of the ordinary.

Briscoes had 35 per cent to 70 per cent off, (isn't that just normal?), Farmers had 30 per cent off children's clothing, 25 per cent off toys and 25 per cent off women's clothes. It also offered 50 per cent off furniture.

Noel Leeming was doing 30 per cent off whiteware, and Rebel Sport home of the always on sale sale, had 30 per cent off. So far so meh.

Liisa Matinvesi-Bassett, New Zealand country manager for PriceSpy, said shoppers should check 'specials' carefully.

While Mighty Ape promoted a lego sale, some products were still cheaper at The Warehouse.

'What appears to be a really good percentage saving from a retailer on Black Friday, may not be. This is because some products receive a price hike ahead of a big sale day, so the percentage discount appears to be more attractive than what it actually is. We therefore advise consumers should look for the lowest price, rather than the 'actual' discount offered,' she said.

'Based on last year's figures, we found 10 per cent of all products listed on PriceSpy received an increase in price on Black Friday. One way to avoid getting caught out by these price inflations is to keep an eye on the historical price of a product.'

But hey. We did spot one deal we thought was decent.

Its a stainless steel fridge/freezer by LG for sale for under $1000, that's 45 per cent off. And it just so happens my fridge is making a weird noise.

Maybe there is something to these deals after all.