Remember the days of running to the shops to pick up the last-minute items on Christmas Eve? For many that has now become a distant memory (or some would say nightmare) thanks to Black Friday, which this year falls on 23 November. A few years ago, Black Friday was a foreign US concept, something to do with Thanksgiving, we believed. But like all good US trends, it made its away across the Atlantic and now packages containing discounted Christmas presents are arriving through our postboxes before December even arrives. It has made many of us more organised and more frugal, but Black Friday can also make us a little mad with over €100m spent in Ireland on that one day last year. So before you start typing that 16-digit credit card number, our advice helps you benefit from the deals without going overboard.
1 Make a list: Santa may be making a list and checking it twice, so, when it comes to Black Friday sales, you need to do the same. Make out a clear budget for your Christmas spending and stick to it. The benefit of Black Friday really comes into its own when you find the product you want at a reduced price. So, for example, if you are planning on spending €50 on jewellery for your mother and you find the product you like for €40, you’re saving €10 and she is still getting a quality present. Without a list and a budget, you could end up in financial hot water before December begins.
2 Prioritise spending: Once your list is made, do some research to see who is running Black Friday deals and who isn’t. Then prioritise your spending. So, for example, if you have €100 to spend this week and another €100 to spend next week, make sure you are prioritising the products on offer now.
3 Is it really a deal? Speaking of research, try and do some shopping around before you hit the shops to ensure that the item with the big ‘sale’ sign is really a good discount.
Another retailer might not be running an obvious Black Friday sale but perhaps they have it at a better price.
Also, some of the discounts can be a bit misleading. The recommended retail price (RRP) for a television might be €450 but it is advertised as €350. That doesn’t mean that the company was selling it at €450 last week or that it will be going back up to that price next week.
Ask some questions about the real value of your purchase. Also, look at the spec of the model. Deals created for Black Friday tend to have fewer features and reduced specs.
4 You can’t put a price on customer service: We all love a good deal, but you can’t put a price on customer service, especially when buying expensive electrical items. What happens if you can’t figure out how to work the TV? How long is the delivery waiting time, and what is your guarantee?
These are all important questions and going with a trusted company that you have had a good experience with in the past could be worth far more to you than a €50 saving with a retailer who isn’t quite as reputable.
5 Shopping abroad: That’s not to say that we aren’t attracted by companies overseas and you may find that you can get a unique product abroad or for a better price. If you are shopping within the EU, you are protected under the Consumer Rights Directive. However, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is advising consumers that when shopping outside of these areas, you do not have the same level of protection, so check the website’s physical address to see where it is based. If it’s outside the EU, read the terms and conditions carefully and check what their returns policy is.
6 Look at smaller retailers: In fact, some of these trusted companies may be closer than you think. We may be influenced by the big brands who have the big budgets to grab your attention but don’t forget that smaller, Irish independent retailers are also getting in on the Black Friday promotions.
As well as getting a good deal, you could be supporting an Irish business in a rural area that is intrinsic in the community. If you find the product you want at a good price, then it’s a good deal for everybody.
7 Deliveries from overseas: There are some very reliable websites outside of the EU that are perfectly safe to shop on. However, they may not deliver to Ireland. An Post has a service called AddressPal (addresspal.ie) which allows you to avail of a proxy address for the delivery of online shopping from the UK, US and beyond, enabling purchases from websites that don’t typically deliver to Ireland.
Be aware though that you will have to pay customs. If you don’t declare it, you will be slapped with 23% and an additional €10 charge. All these costs need to be considered.
Top tips
Pay in cash where possible. It’s easier to budget and to really see how much you are spending when handing over real money rather than swiping plastic.If paying online though, pay by credit card as you will have more consumer protection.The CCPC says to try to shop from websites that are based in the EU, because you will then be protected under EU law. If a website’s web address ends in ‘.ie’, it doesn’t necessarily mean the website is based in Ireland. Make sure to check the postal address of the seller before buying. Always read the terms and conditions and know exactly what you are agreeing to before you buy.
Remember the days of running to the shops to pick up the last-minute items on Christmas Eve? For many that has now become a distant memory (or some would say nightmare) thanks to Black Friday, which this year falls on 23 November. A few years ago, Black Friday was a foreign US concept, something to do with Thanksgiving, we believed. But like all good US trends, it made its away across the Atlantic and now packages containing discounted Christmas presents are arriving through our postboxes before December even arrives. It has made many of us more organised and more frugal, but Black Friday can also make us a little mad with over €100m spent in Ireland on that one day last year. So before you start typing that 16-digit credit card number, our advice helps you benefit from the deals without going overboard.
1 Make a list: Santa may be making a list and checking it twice, so, when it comes to Black Friday sales, you need to do the same. Make out a clear budget for your Christmas spending and stick to it. The benefit of Black Friday really comes into its own when you find the product you want at a reduced price. So, for example, if you are planning on spending €50 on jewellery for your mother and you find the product you like for €40, you’re saving €10 and she is still getting a quality present. Without a list and a budget, you could end up in financial hot water before December begins.
2 Prioritise spending: Once your list is made, do some research to see who is running Black Friday deals and who isn’t. Then prioritise your spending. So, for example, if you have €100 to spend this week and another €100 to spend next week, make sure you are prioritising the products on offer now.
3 Is it really a deal? Speaking of research, try and do some shopping around before you hit the shops to ensure that the item with the big ‘sale’ sign is really a good discount.
Another retailer might not be running an obvious Black Friday sale but perhaps they have it at a better price.
Also, some of the discounts can be a bit misleading. The recommended retail price (RRP) for a television might be €450 but it is advertised as €350. That doesn’t mean that the company was selling it at €450 last week or that it will be going back up to that price next week.
Ask some questions about the real value of your purchase. Also, look at the spec of the model. Deals created for Black Friday tend to have fewer features and reduced specs.
4 You can’t put a price on customer service: We all love a good deal, but you can’t put a price on customer service, especially when buying expensive electrical items. What happens if you can’t figure out how to work the TV? How long is the delivery waiting time, and what is your guarantee?
These are all important questions and going with a trusted company that you have had a good experience with in the past could be worth far more to you than a €50 saving with a retailer who isn’t quite as reputable.
5 Shopping abroad: That’s not to say that we aren’t attracted by companies overseas and you may find that you can get a unique product abroad or for a better price. If you are shopping within the EU, you are protected under the Consumer Rights Directive. However, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is advising consumers that when shopping outside of these areas, you do not have the same level of protection, so check the website’s physical address to see where it is based. If it’s outside the EU, read the terms and conditions carefully and check what their returns policy is.
6 Look at smaller retailers: In fact, some of these trusted companies may be closer than you think. We may be influenced by the big brands who have the big budgets to grab your attention but don’t forget that smaller, Irish independent retailers are also getting in on the Black Friday promotions.
As well as getting a good deal, you could be supporting an Irish business in a rural area that is intrinsic in the community. If you find the product you want at a good price, then it’s a good deal for everybody.
7 Deliveries from overseas: There are some very reliable websites outside of the EU that are perfectly safe to shop on. However, they may not deliver to Ireland. An Post has a service called AddressPal (addresspal.ie) which allows you to avail of a proxy address for the delivery of online shopping from the UK, US and beyond, enabling purchases from websites that don’t typically deliver to Ireland.
Be aware though that you will have to pay customs. If you don’t declare it, you will be slapped with 23% and an additional €10 charge. All these costs need to be considered.
Top tips
Pay in cash where possible. It’s easier to budget and to really see how much you are spending when handing over real money rather than swiping plastic.If paying online though, pay by credit card as you will have more consumer protection.The CCPC says to try to shop from websites that are based in the EU, because you will then be protected under EU law. If a website’s web address ends in ‘.ie’, it doesn’t necessarily mean the website is based in Ireland. Make sure to check the postal address of the seller before buying. Always read the terms and conditions and know exactly what you are agreeing to before you buy. 
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