Black Friday 2017 – retailers slash prices for whole weekend of deals but which shops best offers and deals?
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BLACK Friday, the shopping extravaganza, is happening ALL WEEKEND!
The monster shopping event, which started in the US, is a major date in the UK's shopping calendar as people snap up bargains in preparation for Christmas. Here's all the crucial info for finding the best deal...
What is Black Friday?
On Black Friday, shops' prices plummet for 24 hours in an attempt to get people splashing the cash in the run-up to Christmas.
But many retailers now spread out their deals over two weeks, with some now gearing up for Cyber Monday.
The day earned its name as it’s often the day shops "move into the black" – meaning they have enough money to cover their costs.
LIVE BLOG Black Friday 2017 UK deals LIVE – best offers and tips
And it works – as customers often queue for hours, even days, to get their hands on the best bargains.
Unfortunately, the shopping mania can sometimes descend into violence, as people argue over discounted gadgets and appliances.
Many shops release details of their sale items before the day, so there are plenty of ways to bag the best deals.
The trick is to be prepared and organised and to always know what you want before the sales start - to avoid unnecessary spending.
When is Black Friday 2017?
Traditionally, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving – an American holiday which falls on the fourth Thursday in November.
This year, the event falls on Friday, November 24 (TODAY).
To mark the festivities, retailers tend to have different discount days throughout the week.
Amazon - arguably the king of Black Friday sales - is running deals from November 17 to November 26. And then of course there's Cyber Monday on November 27.
In Britain, it's considered to be one of the biggest internet shopping days of the year, as retailers pack their websites with oodles of offers.
Which shops offer the best deals during Black Friday?
HERE are all the retailers running Black Friday deals:
How can you get the best Black Friday discounts?
Shop early in the day
Sadly, queuing up early in the day is the best way to get your pick of discounts.
Often, by the afternoon, the most exciting products have already flown off the shelves.
Don't just focus on Friday
While many will look to Black Friday for all the best deals, this isn't always the case.
Keep your eyes peeled all week (and on Cyber Monday) for bags more budget-friendly buys.
💷Black Friday: Earn £10 with Sun Savers💷
GET a perfect ten with Sun Savers' special Black Friday bonus.
You can earn a no-strings-attached £10 if you register before Monday and go on to collect 28 codes.
That is DOUBLE the normal reward of a fiver.
So what are you waiting for? Just...
- Sign up to Sun Savers before Monday
- Pick up a paper and scan in the unique code
- Collect 28 codes before Christmas Eve and Sun Savers will put £10 into your account instead of the usual fiver.
Do your research
Been waiting for the sales to purchase an expensive item?
Have a look around online to see the average price of the goods before you fork out for something on a whim.
Often, discounts won't be as impressive as they first seem.
Watch out for doorbusters
The majority of stores will use doorbusters to get customers through their doors on shopping events.
These stand-out items will be drastically reduced in price, but they tend to be few and far between.
If you're going to get your hands on one of these items, you may have to fight off some stiff competition.
When in store, try not to get suckered in by any other deals that aren't actually saving you much money.
BLACK FRIDAY DEALS AND TIPS
Prepare tonight
When placing online orders, heavily discounted items can sell-out in seconds.
To beat queues, it's worth creating accounts on your favourite retailers' websites in advance.
If you want to be extra speedy, try putting items that are set to be reduced in price in your basket before the sale period begins.
Then when you check-out, the items will be already reduced in your basket waiting for you.
Stack your vouchers
You may be stung with delivery fees when ordering a cheap item online.
Stacking vouchers, including free delivery or 10 per cent of sale items, can bring the cost of your shopping basket down further.