As Black Friday sales dominate the UK retail landscape, new research provides definitive evidence that November offers superior discounts compared to traditional Boxing Day sales events.
Black Friday emerges as clear winner for bargain hunters
According to comprehensive analysis conducted by The Independent's consumer team, Black Friday consistently delivers better prices than the post-Christmas sales period. The investigation tracked 50 expert-recommended products across multiple categories, revealing that more than half (52%) were cheaper during Black Friday 2024 than during Boxing Day sales.
Consumer writer Molly Greeves, who led the research, explained: "Having monitored bestselling product prices for months, I can confirm that while some Black Friday deals might appear misleading, many products genuinely reach their lowest annual prices during this November sales event."
Tech and gaming products shine during November sales
The data reveals particularly compelling savings in technology and gaming categories. Fifty-two percent of gadgets – including laptops, tablets, gaming consoles and smart watches – proved cheaper on Black Friday than during Boxing Day sales.
Notable examples included the Nintendo Switch OLED, PS5 slim standard, and Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds. The Ring doorbell demonstrated one of the most significant price differences, available for £54 at B&Q on Black Friday compared to £67.99 during Boxing Day sales.
Alex Lee, senior tech critic, emphasised the timing advantage: "As someone testing new technology throughout the year, I've observed how prices plummet during Black Friday then increase as Christmas approaches. Unlike fashion, technology doesn't experience seasonality, making Black Friday the optimal purchasing period."
Beauty and household items follow similar pattern
Beauty products mirrored the tech trend, with 54% of items cheaper during Black Friday. The Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood flawless filter demonstrated a substantial 33% price difference between the two sales periods.
Lucy Smith, beauty writer, advised shoppers: "Beauty gift sets typically offer the most significant savings during Black Friday. When combined with existing discounts, shoppers can achieve total savings of 40-60% on premium brands like Clinique, Estée Lauder and Olaplex."
Household items showed slightly different patterns, with 45% cheaper on Black Friday and the majority maintaining consistent pricing across both sales periods. The Hotel Chocolat velvetiser exemplified the potential savings, dropping to £74.99 during Black Friday before increasing to £94.80 by 20 December.
How to verify genuine deals
The research utilised publicly available price tracking tools that all consumers can access. Greeves recommends using PriceRunner, PriceSpy, or camelcamelcamel to verify whether current discounts represent genuine savings.
"These platforms allow shoppers to view historical pricing data and identify which retailers currently offer the best prices," Greeves explained. "For instance, while Amazon reduced the Kindle Paperwhite to £124.99 during their Black Friday event, PriceRunner revealed Very offered marginally better pricing."
The investigation also highlighted that 34% of products maintained identical pricing across both Black Friday and Boxing Day sales, while only 14% proved cheaper during the post-Christmas period.
This comprehensive analysis provides UK consumers with evidence-based guidance for maximising their festive season shopping budgets, confirming that strategic Black Friday shopping typically delivers superior value compared to waiting for traditional Boxing Day sales.
