How to wrangle the BEST deals this Black Friday

Brian from New Lynn

With just days to go until Black Friday, major retailers are getting ready to slash prices on everything from technology to homewares and fashion to kick off the Christmas spending period. Black Friday has been one of the busiest shopping days of the year in the US for over a decade. It started gathering steam in New Zealand around 2015 - and ever since then, the online deals have only become more popular. Price Spy, a price and product comparison service, has released new data showing Kiwis are strategic about when they shop, as online shopping traffic peaks around midnight the night before Black Friday, with many offers starting then. Black Friday is now three times larger in visitor numbers for PriceSpy, meaning they've put together their top give tips to give Kiwi shoppers the best deals, saving time money and energy - yay!
1. Check out the competition
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Many shops try to be fair by comparing prices when they discount goods. But there is every reason to be sceptical of a shop's own comparisons. Shops quite clearly have a lot to gain by making the difference between the regular price and the sale price appear as large as possible. The first thing to check if you're unsure if an offer really is as good as it sounds, is to suss out the competition. Is the same TV set available at an even better price elsewhere?
2. See through the 'normal price' bluff
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Shops have another trick to get discounts to look bigger than they are. A known approach is to raise the price shortly before the sale and then compare the sale price to this elevated standard price. The shop has a good chance of success if: Shoppers do not compare the sale price to a competitor's price. Shoppers do not compare with what the product actually cost in the past, before the shop did the 'bluff raise'. Be wary, and look around at prices. 
3. Compare the features
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If shoppers don't know exactly what they want, it's common to just buy up the biggest bargains during a sale. However, they may not be getting the best deal. A mobile phone for $200 may seem like a bargain, but if it has significantly poorer performance than a mobile phone for $400, shoppers may be fooled. Be sure to compare product features and characteristics of similar models. And go into sales with an idea of what to buy to avoid panic buying!
4. Preparation is key
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The best chance of finding a good bargain comes from preparation.
If shoppers know in advance what they are interested in and have a rough idea of the price, they're less likely to get carried away and buy the wrong thing during the sales event. Create a wish-list of products and keep it updated with different prices. Setting price alerts through the PriceSpy app will notify shoppers as soon as the prices drop, so they don't miss the boat.
5. Remember it's not just gadgets
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A lot of people still associate flash sales days with consumer electronics - TVs, tablets and mobile phones. This is no longer the case. In fact, a diverse range of shops discount their products. Buying products out of season is also a way to save money. Discontinued seasonal products can be snapped up during flash sales days for big reductions.
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