Black Friday 2018 and Cyber Monday 2018: the UK guide

Black Friday is probably the biggest shopping day of the year. It’s not uncommon to see queues lining up around shopping centres and even the odd scuffle break out as shoppers contest for the best deals.

You could also do your Black Friday shopping online and avoid all that but who are we to judge?

Black Friday is now just around the corner and presents the ideal opportunity for you to grab some amazing deals.

Here’s your guide on how to make the best of Black Friday 2018.

When is Black Friday 2018?

Black Friday, like most things retail, is an American idea. In the US, Black Friday traditionally follows Thanksgiving and is widely considered to mark the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. 

As Black Friday 2018 falls on Nov. 23 this year, just about a month before Christmas day, it makes perfect sense to grab an early festive bargain. The sale won’t be just for the one day however, as most retailers will be offering deals and savings in the weeks leading up to the big day.

What is Cyber Monday?

To the Black Friday newcomer, Cyber Monday might just seem like an after-thought. This certainly isn’t the case. Whilst a lot of the Black Friday deals stay put right the way through to Cyber Monday, there are usually also a bunch of brand new deals to get your teeth into.

It used to be the case that Black Friday was focused on consumer electronics, and Cyber Monday more on jewellery and clothing, but nowadays there isn’t really much difference in what is being sold.

The Black Friday sales are now spread across the preceding week and into Cyber Monday (and beyond) as retailers look to make the most of the national spending splurge.

How can you make the most of Black Friday?

As the saying goes: “preparation prevents poor performance”. When it comes to Black Friday this definitely rings true. To make the most of the sale and to guarantee you pick up the best deals, you need to be prepared. The golden rule when it comes to Black Friday is to heavily research the items you want to buy before you buy, rather than acting on instinct. Spontaneity is not rewarded. Careful planning is.

So stick tightly to a set list of wanted items that you really want and keep your eyes peeled for discount codes online.

Who takes part?

Pretty much every major retailer takes part in Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s a great opportunity for these retailers to clear stock and generate some publicity with great deals.

Amazon was the first retailer in the UK to go big with Black Friday, and remains a major player. The difference from Black Friday’s humble beginnings in the UK is that Amazon now has some serious competition.

The following retailers are likely to have a big say in where money is spent in Black Friday 2018:

• Amazon UK — last year Amazon offered 20% off Sony, Samsung, Motorola, Wileyfox, and Nokia smartphones, and up to 31% off TVs. Amazon UK also featured great deals on the Nintendo Switch last year. That could be a deal to keep an eye out for in 2018 too.

• Argos — in 2017, Argos made big promises to cut prices on more than 60,000 products, including up to half price off toys and a selection of offers on jewellery. They delivered on those promises. Some of the very best deals included a Dyson V6 Absolute Cordless Handstick Vacuum Cleaner for £229.99 and a Zinc Smart X hoverboard for £199.99.

• Boots — in 2017, there were deals on Remington’s Protect Hair Straighteners for £39.99, the the Oral-B Smart 6 Electric Toothbrush for £80, and the Beckham Classic Blue men’s fragrance 40ml for £10. Expect more of the same this year.

• Currys PC World — deals last year included the Dyson V6 Animal at £184, a Sony Bravia 43-inch Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR LED TV for £599, and a Fitbit Alta for £69.99.

• John Lewis — possibly the number one retailer for home items, including electrical products, technology, and interior design, alongside deals on fashion. If this is what you are looking for this year, then look not further than John Lewis.

What to buy on Black Friday

Appliances: Retailers like Argos and John Lewis, and electronics stores, such as AO.com and Curry’s PC World, go big on Black Friday, slashing prices on pretty much everything they stock. Alongside some impressive electronics offers, there are normally plenty of great deals on appliances.

Gaming consoles: Black Friday regularly produces large discounts on gaming consoles for one simple reason: they are on a lot of Christmas lists. They are so popular that when you find a good offer, you might need to pounce, as they will disappear before your eyes. You can also grab some games but these will likely come in the form of a console bundle rather than on their own.

Toys: Toys always seem to be a popular item on Black Friday. This may be because shoppers are thinking about Christmas and their families. The most popular toys will sell out fast in the run up to Christmas, so Black Friday presents a real opportunity to get the prized item without too much panic. The most popular toys will be sold out before Black Friday ends, so you simply can’t wait until Cyber Monday when it comes to toys.

TVs: Black Friday is about the massive savings. The once a year deals that blow every other deal out of the window. This type of deal is often dominated by TVs. These are the items that can cause the infamous panic and aggression that we see on the news the next day.

What to buy on Cyber Monday

Clothing: Leading clothing retailers like ASOS, Marks and Spencer, Boohoo, and others have built a tradition of supporting Cyber Monday. This support normally comes in the form of discount codes. So there’s no need to hunt for a specific item, just load up on goodies and enter the promo code for a discount on the entire cart.

Laptops/PCs: Cyber Monday is famed for its focus on technology. And that means laptops, desktops, and gaming PCs will be front and centre of any sale. Yes, Black Friday will also showcase a lot of deals on technology products, but you’ll see those deals again on Cyber Monday, and they might be improved.

Subscriptions and educational software: Think Audible and Udemy. In the past this has been the domain of Cyber Monday as the focus has remained true to the online world rather than products that are also available in store.

Travel: So you are thinking about getting away from it all this winter? Or maybe you are planning your big trip for 2019? Well save your online travel bookings for Cyber Monday. Airlines will be offering big discounts on tickets and travel sites will reduce holiday package deals. 

Top deals to expect in 2018

Hold on whilst we find our crystal ball. So there are no guarantees when it comes to what to expect in Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2018, but we can make some calculated predictions. Each year there are some big savings on offer on highly sought-after items, and this year will be no different. 

It’s usually a safe bet that there will be discounts available on products that are no longer the latest version on the market. Here’s looking at you iPhone X and Xbox One.

4K HD OLED TVs

Black Friday is the place to be if you want a new TV. There always seem to be major price drops available on some pretty new products. This year there will likely be a bunch of offers on OLED TVs, so if that’s your thing, be warned.

OLED technology is still pretty pricey as it’s relatively new and exciting, but you can make a significant saving on RRP in Black Friday.

Amazon devices

Amazon is famous for using Black Friday and Cyber Monday so chop prices on its own devices. 

Last year the Amazon Echo, the Echo Dot, and the Echo Plus were all reduced. It’s highly likely that there will be more of the same this year, particularly as Amazon has bolstered its product range with the Echo Show and Echo Spot. If you have been eyeing up any one of these devices, hold on and stay patient because you could be set to save big.

The Kindle Paperwhite and the Fire HD 10 tablet were also on sale last year, alongside the Fire TV and Fire TV stick, so if you are looking for a new tablet or e-reader, stay frosty. 

iPhone

So if Black Friday 2016 and Black Friday 2017 are anything to go by, you should be able to expect reductions on last year’s Apple handsets. So that’s the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X in case you are interested.

If you are after the iPhone XS, XS Max, or iPhone XR, then look away now because there is a slim to none chance of any reduction. Those models are just too new to warrant a discount.

PS4 and Xbox One

Much like the Apple situation, once a newer model is released, the older version goes on sale. There are growing whispers that a PS5 is on the horizon, so the PS4 needs shipping. There will also be some cool bundles on offer to keep you entertained.

So there you have it. There is no excuse to not get the most out of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2018. Refer to this guide, revisit it, and memorise it. Go well friends.