The countdown is on to Britain’s biggest shopping event – Black Friday – and with many high street retailers struggling, shoppers can expect to bag some good bargains.
This year Black Friday falls on 23 November. It originated in the US, where stores mark the start of the festive shopping season after the Thanksgiving public holiday with big price cuts and promotions.
Some UK retailers have jumped the gun and released their deals early, including Amazon, which is billing this year’s wave of promotions as its “biggest-ever Black Friday sale”. It has tens of thousands of “lightning deals” that offer bargains in limited quantities.
Other retailers with sales already under way include Argos, Carphone Warehouse and Currys PC World.
Much of the shopping will be done online again, with shoppers preferring to bargain hunt on their phones or laptops at home, rather than queuing up outside shops in the early hours. However, some offers can only be had in stores, for example, at Morrisons.
Here is the Observer’s handy guide to how to snap up a bargain and stay out of the red.
Consumer experts advise shopping around (you can use comparison websites such as idealo or Amazon price tracker Camelcamelcamel) and checking retailers’ returns policies before buying.
Here’s what the retailers are offering – we’ll update it as new deals come in.
Amazon UK
What’s happening? Amazon’s 10-day Black Friday sale runs until 25 November. There is also a pop-up event in east London on 22-25 November, with prize giveaways and cocktail, jewellery and candle-making workshops (doors open for 24 hours on Black Friday).
Where? Go to Amazon’s Black Friday page.
What? There will be “deals of the day” and “lightning deals” – products that are discounted for a short period of time.
The biggest reductions include a 55in Philips 4K Ultra HD TV for £1,199 – a £300 discount – and more than £100 off DeLonghi coffee machines.
AO
What’s happening? The AO.com sale started early.
Where? Find out more here.
What? Promotions include a Lenovo 15.6in laptop reduced by £30 to £269 and a Toshiba smart 4K ultra-HD TV discounted by £90 to £279.
Argos
What’s happening? Argos launched its discounts on 16 November.
Where? The Argos Black Friday website is here.
What? Deals include 30% off Hive smart cameras at £129 and a Fitbit Blaze smart watch for £109, reduced by £20.
Asos
What’s happening? The online fashion retailer kicks off its sale on 23 November.
Where? Find out more here.
What? Asos promises big discounts on coats, jeans, shoes and more.
Boots
What’s happening? The Boots sale has started and runs through to Cyber Monday.
Where? In stores and online.
What? Offers include a Ted Baker Stately Collection at £22.50, off 50%, and a No7 Mega Collection at £150, off 61%.
What?
Carphone Warehouse
What’s happening? The “Black Tag” event at Carphone Warehouse runs for almost a month until 4 December.
Where? You can shop online here.
What? Pay monthly deals include a £200 saving on a Samsung Galaxy S9. which comes at a monthly cost of £26.99, and £100 off an iPhone 7, which comes in at £25.99 a month – both without upfront fees. Pay-as-you-go deals include a Nokia 6 for £159, £60 off.
Clarks
What’s happening? The shoe retailer has a Black Friday sale on men’s and women’s party shoes with the code DRESSBF.
Where? The Black Friday deals are here.
What? Clarks is offering 25% off adults’ party styles.
Currys PC World
What’s happening? The electrical retailer launched its sale two weeks early, offering discounts of up to £600 on hundreds of products in store and online.
Where? “Why Wait?” deals can be found here.
What? Deals include a Sony Bravia 55in smart 4K Ultra HDR OLED TV for £1,899, a £400 saving; £500 off a 55in LG 4K ultra-HD TV at £1,299; £200 off HP laptops; an LG American-style fridge-freezer for £899, £400 off; and a Hotpoint 8kg 1400 spin washing machine for £239, a £110 discount.
eBay
What’s happening? eBay has a four-day sale from Black Friday.
Where? You can find offers here.
What? Offers include £2,000 off an LG 65in smart 4K ultra HD HDR OLED TV to £2,499.
Halfords
What’s happening? Black Friday started early at the bike and car parts retailer, and runs for a month and a day until 2 December, online and in store. New offers will be released on 20 and 23 November.
Where? Customers can find out more here.
What? Deals include discounts on bikes from the adult Carrera and Pendleton ranges; more than half price off some tool and socket sets; and 20% off all kids’ bikes and some scooters.
Gap
What’s happening? The US retailer has two days of deals billed as a Black Friday warm-up.
Where? Online only here.
What? It is offering 50% off sleepwear and loungewear and 30% off the rest of the order on 19 December.
Hamleys
What’s happening? The Hamleys sale runs until 26 November in stores and online with savings of up to 50% on hundreds of toys and games.
Where? The online sale is here.
What? Half price offers include an Angler Attack Drone at £35 and a Maisie & Jack My Little Supermarket Set at £25; while the supersize soft toy Unice the Unicorn is reduced to £30 from £70.
John Lewis
What’s happening? John Lewis is running a Black Friday event on its website. Because of its “never knowingly undersold” promise, the department store will also be price-matching some competitors again throughout the Black Friday sale period.
Where? Customers can find out more here.
What? Offers include a Samsung Galaxy Tab A tablet discounted by £39 to £159 and a Bosch washing machine reduced by £80 to £349.
Laptops Direct
What’s happening? The tech website offers more than 40% off on laptops, drones and other gadgets.
Where? The sale is here.
What? The website has an HP Pavilion x360 laptop for £299.97, £100 off; and three electriQ smart lighting wi-fi bulbs reduced to £30 from £44.91.
Lidl
What’s happening? Lidl took part for the first time last year. Its second foray into Black Friday starts on 23 November.
Where? In stores while stocks last.
What? Offers include £150 off a Toshiba 43” full HD smart LED TV, to £199, and a Nutribullet blender discounted by £20 to £39.99.
Marks & Spencer
What’s happening? M&S will not be participating in Black Friday again this year but will be releasing details on any promotions before Christmas later.
Morrisons
What’s happening? Morrisons kicked off its sale early, on 14 November. Most of the deals are time limited – “when it’s gone it’s gone”.
Where? In stores – customers can find out more here.
What? Offers include a magnum of prosecco for £10, a £30 beer advent calendar with 24 bottles and a pack of four British steaks for £10.
Mothercare
What’s happening? The Mothercare sale runs until 26 November.
Where? In stores and online.
What? Mothercare offers up to 60% off all toys, up to 50% off some car seats, bedding and nursery furniture; and 25% all clothing, footwear and accessories.
Natural History Museum
What’s happening? The Natural History Museum shop has a different offer every day between 22 and 27 November.
Where? Online deals can be found here.
What? Deals include a Shackleton Signature jumper reduced by half to £62.50 and 50% off some toys.
Notonthehighstreet
What’s happening? The online marketplace launched its “One Day Wonders” on 18 November with discounts of up to 30%. The actual Black Friday sale runs from 23 November until 26 November, with savings of up to 50% on thousands of products.
Where? On the website.
What? Deals include 30% off handmade zodiac necklaces and family advent calendars.
PlayStation
What’s happening? The sale lasts until 2 December or until stocks run out.
Where? In stores and online.
What? The PlayStation VR Starter Pack + Astro Bot sells for £179.99 at participating retailers, a saving of more than £90. Marvel’s Spider-Man PS4 game is reduced by £20 to £34.99.
Superdrug
What’s happening? Superdrug kicked off its sale early for its loyalty card holders in store and online. Deals are now generally up for grabs until 27 November, or until stocks last.
Where? Online promotions can be seen here.
What? Deals include a Philips Sonicare ProClean toothbrush reduced to £59.99 from £179.99; and savings on fragrances, only in stores from 21-27 November.
Ted Baker
What’s happening? Ted Baker’s technology partner, Proporta, is offering up to 60% off on its website.
Where? The Black Friday sale runs on 21-25 November here, followed by a Cyber Week sale from 26 November until 3 December here.
What? Deals include Ted Baker folio cases for iPhone X/XS, reduced to £23.97 from £39.95.
Virgin Experience Days
What’s happening? The Black Friday Weekend sale runs from 23 until 26 November.
Where? Go to the website.
What? There will be discounts of up to 75% on supercar track days, afternoon tea treats, Segway adventures and football stadium tours.
Wayfair
What’s happening? The Wayfair sale is under way and runs until 3 December. Surprise flash deals launch on Black Friday every three hours, until Cyber Monday.
Where? The sale is here.
What? Offers include beds from £70, sofas from £150, rugs from £19 and kitchenware from £5.
Wiggle
What’s happening? The sports retailer’s sale lasts for almost a month until 26 November.
Where? You can find deals here.
What? Deals include 50% off an X-Tools bike tool kit at £24.99 and a Castelli Aero Lite jacket at £87.50.
