It’s that time of year again, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner so there’s never a better time to pick up a bargain.
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday which originated in the US has crept its way across the Atlantic in recent years. Black Friday which falls on the day after Thanksgiving started out as a one-day event and has developed into an entire weekend, in some cases, a week-long or fortnight event.
For those of us who prefer to swap the ques and pushy shoppers for browsing online in the comfort of our own home watch out for the Cyber Monday savings.
To take some of the stress out of this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping, here’s our survival guide for 2018.
Preparation is Key
To get the most out of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, preparation is key. Research the items you want to buy in advance rather than been influenced by impulse buys. If you’re shopping online, bookmark your favourite pages to make it easier to find products you have viewed previously. A lot of valuable time can be wasted going back to try and find products previously viewed.
Create a Shopping List and check it twice
Create a shopping list of items you actually need and most importantly stick to it. We can all get overwhelmed by the bargains but you need to ask yourself if its something you really need. A bargain is not a bargain if it’s left sitting in a box unused. Once you have created a shopping list its a good idea to prioritise your shopping list. Organise the list firstly by store and then by order of importance. This will put the high priority products to the top of the shopping list to avoid disappointment.
Shop on Secure Websites
When visiting any e-commerce website, look for SSL encryption
SSL certificates protect against payment card fraud, the bane of online retailers’ and shoppers’ existences alike. The encryption protocol makes it much more difficult for hackers to capture and collect usable payment card information in transit between consumers and retailers.
While SSL encryption is not foolproof, it is a positive measure to protect you when shopping online. A general rule of thumb is you should never enter your credit card information on a website without it. SSL-protected page URLs have “https” prefixes.
When you’re dealing with sensitive information, it’s better safe than sorry. Look into browsers with these protections if you are visiting a website for the first time. Also, if you are visiting a website for the first time make sure you have reviewed the returns policy and that contact information is readily available.
Get Social
One of the best ways to stay ahead on Black Friday is to follow your favourite brands on social or sign- up to their newsletter. Retailers will often show early preview deals or reveal secret coupon codes to their social followers.
Look at the Price, not the saving
We are all guilty of been swayed by big savings but don’t assume its a great deal just because of the attention-grabbing savings. Offers like ‘was €100, now €50’ often exaggerate the discount your actually getting. At Eurieka.ie we have the most competitive pricing on the market and have special offers all year round not just for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Create a playlist
If you are going to brave the crowds and ques, we would advise creating a calming playlist to get you through it unscathed. We would recommend some calming instrumental music to keep you in the zone or a playlist of your favourite tunes so you can keep your head while those around you lose theirs!
Be considerate of other shoppers
And finally, please be considerate of other shoppers.
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