An expert has shared some simple tips that will help shoppers get the most out of Black Friday.
With the discount frenzy about a week away, consumers will want to make sure that they get the best possible deals. One way to do so is by opting for a refurbished device, which is already cheaper than a new equivalent, once the sales arrive.
Many use the Black Friday sales for Christmas shopping, and with a new phone being on many youngsters' lists, parents could reportedly save hundreds on "nearly-new" devices.
Catherine Hiley, telecoms expert at Uswitch, explains: "This Black Friday promises to have some great deals on refurbished devices, in particular mobile handsets. These nearly-new items are often indistinguishable to full-price models and come with a guarantee for added peace of mind.
"On flagship smartphones, you can save hundreds of pounds by going down the refurbished route. And pairing one with a Black Friday SIM Only deal is a cost-effective alternative to a standard pay-monthly contract."
She also suggested planning ahead of time, stating: "Whether it's a scribbled list or a detailed spreadsheet, writing out exactly what you want to buy during Black Friday is a good way of focusing your mind and avoiding overspending."
The telecoms expert added: “If you're looking to buy a particular item, research how much it costs across different retailers in the run-up to Black Friday to make sure you're getting the best available price.
"For smartphones, some of the best bargains are likely to be found on older handsets by tech giants, like Apple, Samsung and Google. If a new flagship device has been launched this year it is likely to push previous models down in price, as companies look to shift their stock."
Catherine says that both Black Friday - and the following Cyber Monday - are also great opportunities to get more than just presents - with better broadband rates and bundle deals also available.
She said: "Gadgets are a large part of Black Friday but many consumers can find the biggest savings by looking at their household bills. Some of the best deals on broadband and mobile contracts are available this month.
"So if you're at the end of your contract, it could be the perfect time to switch. In particular, if you're out of contract on a pay-monthly mobile phone deal, you might be able to move to a cut-price SIM Only deal and keep your handset, which could save you £321.”
Catherine points out that Sky now includes a Netflix subscription bundle with many of its standard TV deals, so if you’re already paying for both separately, you could save at least £6.99 on your monthly bills.
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