Black Friday itself, along with the immediate weekend and Cyber Monday, generally offers the best deals and lowest prices of the year, often beating pre-Christmas, Boxing Day, and January sales, according to Money Saving Expert 2024 and 2025 research and Independent 2025 analysis. While many "deals" appear early in November, research indicates that over 70% of tracked items hit their lowest price on Black Friday itself.
Prices are better the week before Black Friday (or 2 weeks before even). There are some doorbuster promos on Black Friday but they aren't worth it really.
We found that a massive 98% of products that were on sale on Black Friday 2021 were actually cheaper or the same as their Black Friday price at other times in the year.
Retail consultant Trent Rigby believes the best advice is to be patient and wait until the actual Black Friday weekend (November 28) itself. “Retailers push hard for customers to spend early because there's less competition for your wallet before the actual Black Friday-Cyber Monday weekend,” he said.
The biggest sales events in the UK are Black Friday/Cyber Monday (late November), offering massive discounts across tech, fashion, and home goods, followed closely by the post-Christmas Boxing Day sales, a traditional peak for deep discounts on everything from electronics to fashion. Other major sales include the Summer Sales (June/July) and January Sales, plus back-to-school deals in August/September.
Stop Overpaying: Track Prices Before You Buy on Black Friday
What is the downside of Black Friday?
One of the things people dislike the most about Black Friday is the huge crowds of people all vying for the same items. Some people wait outside in the cold just to save a few dollars. The biggest con of all may be the increasing trend of violence during Black Friday events in recent years.
A few weeks ahead of Black Friday and Black Week there are always a number of shops that increase the prices on their products only to drop it just in time for Black Friday, this gives the impression of a price drop when in fact you're paying the original price for the product.
In our experience, the later you get into a sale, the more likely it is for a product to sell out. So, depending on when you're buying, it really determines when you need to click "add to cart." If it's the week before Black Friday, you may want to wait to make a purchase.
What items are not typically discounted on Black Friday?
The Brief. WalletHub found that 36% of Black Friday items offer no real savings, though some categories still have strong deals. Experts say the best buys are consumer packaged goods, apparel, accessories, and jewelry, while appliances and electronics are less worthwhile.
research finds. Shoppers holding out for a Black Friday bargain on 28 November may not get the best prices, according to Which? research that found none of the offers on the day were at their lowest level over a 12-month stretch.
Is it worth waiting for Black Friday for phone deals?
Black Friday's the ultimate shopping moment, those once-a-year deals you don't want to miss. Brands slash prices across your favourite products, and tech companies typically offer 30–40% off. It's the perfect excuse to treat yourself to that phone upgrade you've been eyeing.
It's generally better to shop during Black Friday for the widest range of deals, especially on tech and gaming, but prices before Black Friday or even after Christmas can sometimes beat Black Friday prices for specific items, with many "Black Friday" deals appearing earlier in November. The best strategy involves tracking prices beforehand, buying mid-November if you find a great deal with price protection, or waiting for the main event, as Black Friday still offers significant discounts for many popular products, though you need to watch for inflated "original" prices.
The We Ain't Buying It campaign – organized by many of the groups behind the No Kings protests – is asking Americans to stop shopping at Target, Home Depot and Amazon on Black Friday, one of the busiest retail days of the year, while also encouraging people to shop local and support community businesses.
A more accurate explanation of the term dates back to the early 1960s, when police officers in Philadelphia began using the phrase “Black Friday” to describe the chaos that resulted when large numbers of suburban tourists came into the city to begin their holiday shopping and, in some years, attend Saturday's annual ...
Black Friday generally offers better deals, especially for tech and big-ticket electronics, with more items being cheaper in November, but Boxing Day can have deeper discounts on specific leftover items or for fashion/homewares as retailers clear stock post-Christmas, so the best time depends on what you're buying. Track prices to know for sure, but expect Black Friday for volume and Boxing Day for clearing unsold Christmas goods.
The 10-3-1 sales rule is a guideline suggesting that for every 10 qualified leads, you'll get 3 appointments/meaningful conversations, leading to 1 sale, emphasizing that high activity levels generate predictable results, originally popular in life insurance but adaptable to other sales. It's a classic ratio for setting expectations, showing that consistent effort (many 10s) is needed for success, turning an unpredictable business into a more manageable process.
