How To Find The Best Early Black Friday Deals in the UK?

Top Best Deals For Black Friday UK. Photo Getty

What date is Black Friday in the UK?

This year’s Black Friday will begin on Friday 26 November and will allow shoppers to purchase heavily discounted goods just in time for the festive period.

Last year’s event was drastically changed by Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in the UK.

However, with the success of the vaccine roll-out and easing of Covid restrictions stores are expected to be open this time around, with customers accessing deals first-hand.

As usual Black Friday reductions will also operate online for those who want to avoid in-person sale hungry shoppers, but who would still like to bag a bargain.

Where can I find the best Black Friday deals?

Photo KnowInsiders

It's no surprise that Amazon leads the pack, as it is not only responsible for bringing Black Friday to the UK, but offers the widest range of deals in the widest range of categories –including TVs, tech, mobile phones, appliances, laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, smart devices and more.

Both John Lewis and Currys PC World are also considered hot spots for Black Friday deals, and tend to launch a few big bargains before the day itself. Both stores also price-match many of their competitors' best deals, making Currys an easy one-stop-shop for tech and John Lewis a worthwhile destination for high-end lifestyle products.

Argos also gets in on early deals with big discounts. The store is a go-to for smart tech, video gaming and consoles, which can tick quite a few categories off the average Christmas shopping list, too.

Cross-category retailers such as Very and AO are also worth bookmarking, as they work hard to beat Amazon's prices every year – particularly for home appliances.

Last but not least, clothing and beauty retailers including Net-a-Porter and Boots typically offer site-wide discounts.

Are the Black Friday deals any good?

After the initial few years of excitement around Black Friday in the UK, we naturally moved to the apathy stage, as people began to question whether the offers were genuinely good deals. And it remains up for debate.

For example, it's not unusual to see discounted products rise in price in the summer months ahead of a "price cut" come Black Friday; naturally this means you're essentially just getting the original discounted price from earlier in the year. That said, there are always genuine deals to be had – it's just finding them amongst the onslaught of offers.

Luckily that's where our service will come in; we'll handpick the best TV, audio and AV deals across retailers to find the ones that are really worth your hard-earned cash.

We'd suggest having a rough idea of what you want in mind – whether that be noise-cancelling wireless headphones under £200, a discounted 55-inch 4K OLED TV or a cheap record player – but restricting yourself only to specific models will reduce your chance of being lucky in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Pick the features you fancy, then see what ticks your boxes and has the best Black Friday discount.

How can I find the best early Black Friday deals in the UK?

Photo KnowInsiders

Black Friday deals now start much earlier than the day itself – you can expect some retailers to introduce discounts from the beginning of November or even the last week of October. So, how can you keep abreast of the deals on offer?

The most savvy Black Friday shoppers bookmark a wish list of items in advance. That way, you can cut through the deluge of deals on the day and go straight to the discounts that most interest you.

Black Friday is especially useful for saving money on big-ticket tech items such as TVs, laptops and tablets – but beware that some retailers exaggerate discounts by comparing prices to RRPs that aren't reflective of how much the item costs for the rest of the year.

Will all retailers take part? No. Some retailers, such as Marks & Spencer, began ducking out of the occasion several years ago. However, experts believe that in the face of rocketing shipping costs, major delays to orders and a nationwide lorry driver shortage, more will face too many challenges to complete the stocking and restocking necessary for the late-November event. Logistics experts predict more businesses will bypass the promotional frenzy this winter because of the massive disruption it causes to operations, increased costs of recruiting extra warehouse workers and equipment, and diminished product availability across all sectors importing goods from South East Asia

The best early Black Friday deals

Traditionally Black Friday has taken place on 26 November, but for most retailers it now spans the entire weekend and finishes on 29 November – also known as Cyber Monday. However, each year the event increases in size, with many retailers choosing to share deals through the entire month of November.

Boots

Boots Black Friday deals are usually one of the most anticipated, which is probably why the cosmetics company launched their sale early this year and is available now.

Oral-B pro 3 3000 black electric crossaction ultrathin toothbrush: Was £90, now £35, Boots.com Revlon one-step hair dryer and volumiser: Was £69.99, now £46.66. Remington the works hair clipper gift pack: Was £49.99, now £24.99. Origins skincare superstars! limited edition must-have gift set: £35.

When will early Black Friday deals start? If you can’t hold out until Black Friday itself, there are some great offers available now across almost every category. Need a new toothbrush? You can save 50 per cent on the Philips 9000 diamondclean sonic electric toothbrush black (Was £340, now £170, Boots.com) which was hailed as the best one for achieving a “deep clean” in our round-up of the best electric toothbrushes.

Currys

The retailer is popular among Black Friday Shoppers who are looking to get some great bargains on items such as laptops, home appliances and console deals.

Their early Black Friday sale is expected to start on Tuesday November 9, and the retailer has already released some information for shoppers ahead of the sale.

Curry's are currently offering shoppers the chance to win a gift card up to £500 to spend in their Black Friday deals.

The online giant is one of the leaders of Black Friday as they usually offer some excellent deals throughout the whole month of November.

As of now, the speedy delivery service are yet to announce any dates for 2021, but they usually offer lightening deals which are only available for a limited amount of time around November 22.

A haven for tech gadgets big and small as well as home and kitchen appliances, Currys is somewhere you’ll want to bookmark ahead of Black Friday 2021.

Last year’s deals included the Nespresso by Magimix vertuo next coffee machine in white (was £130, now £74.99, Currys.co.uk) which was £149, but came down to an impressive £74.

Smyths Toys

The Toy retailer usually goes big for Black Friday and has a range of deals that begin sometime before Black Friday, as last year's took place around November 10.

It is expected to begin even earlier this year on Tuesday November 9.

The online retail giant's Black Friday sale is the perfect opportunity for shoppers to stock up on Christmas gifts, appliances, fashion items.

They are yet to announce the official date, but the predicted date so far is around Friday November 5 - so, not far now!

Keep an eye on the Very Black Friday Page for more information and tips for shopping their deals.

Argos

In 2020, this Garmin fenix 6S pro smartwatch (£479.99, Argos.co.uk) had over £100 off – it was reduced from £599.99 to £449.99. Photo Garmi

Argos are one of the many retailers expected to host early deals this November.

Argos has been quite reliable for providing heavy discounts on some good products during their Black Friday Deals.

Argos is one of the biggest retailers that participates in the Black Friday bonanza – every year you’ll find savings across everything from TVs and headphones to fitness watches and furniture.

Last year started one week early, with this years event expected to take place on Friday 19 November.

Keep an eye on their website for further information and confirmation.

Pandora

Photo Eden Holiday

The Jewellery stores Black Friday sale is due to take place on Thursday 25 November this year, as they have a countdown calendar on their website.

Shoppers can sign up to get early access on any promotions and they have confirmed that their 20% offer is back this year.

You can check out their website for further information.

Matalan

Matalan is sure to have some decent deals and offers for shoppers ahead of the biggest sale event of the year, which takes place on Friday, November 26, 2021.

Last year's special buys were a huge hit with shoppers - and we are hoping for the same for 2021.

The retail giant also delivered Cyber Monday offers too.

With massively reduced price tags on some of their home, fashion and children's ranges in recent years for the annual deals day, we can imagine this year will be no different.

The retailer usually delivers every year and they are expected to deliver once again, with discounts on products such as clothing and homeware ranges.

Many retailers have already launched their sales ahead of Black Friday, and Matalan have also done so with 20% off homewares already available online.

The retailer treated its customers to 50% off clothing and homeware last year, so we can expect something similar for the 2021.

You can see more of their deals on the Matalan website.

2020 Apple devices (or older)

2021 was a busy year for Apple as the company managed to effectively refresh its entire product line. This means 2020’s devices are all fair game for major discounts:

Don’t forget that Apple also holds a 4-day Black Friday event every year. While it doesn’t slash prices on its products, it does bundle a gift card with select devices. Last year it bundled gift cards worth up to £120/$150/AUD$210.

With Apple’s push towards the AirPods line, you’re also likely to see big discounts on Beats headphones. In fact, Target has already announced it will sell the Beats Solo 3 headphones for just $99 – that’s $100 off.

Microsoft Surface devices

Photo Microsoft

Microsoft recently launched updates to a whole bunch of its Surface devices as well, so Black Friday season will be a great time to pick up discounts on the previous generation devices. We’re tracking all the best Surface deals of the month right here but these are the products to watch:

Black Friday deals on the Surface Pro 8 aren’t off the table, however. In 2019, Microsoft slashed £375 off a Surface Pro 7 and Type Cover bundle – though the Pro 7 was only launched the previous month. If we spot a similar Black Friday deal this year, you’ll see it reported first in our Microsoft Surface Pro 8 deals round up.

Samsung Black Friday deals: Galaxy S21 range

Black Friday deals on Samsung’s Galaxy S21 range are certain given the phones are nearly a year old (they launched 29 January, 2021). And if Samsung stays true to the predicted release cycle, the Galaxy S22 range should release at a similar time next year, if not sooner. That means, Samsung will want to get rid of old stock.

In fact, Samsung already has generous offers on the S21 range. Right now you can save £100 across the range and also get a free Galaxy Smart Tag. The purchase also slashes £297 off the Galaxy Watch 4 (4G, 40mm) if you buy both together. Head to Samsung to see its Galaxy S21 deals right now. See our reviews of the handsets below:

Also see the best deals on the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3 – which already have a promotion that bundles a free Galaxy Watch 4.

Black Friday Xiaomi deals

Photo Xiaomi

Xiaomi is no stranger to deals and often has sales running through the year. Its Mi Friday sale lasts until 10 October, where you can already save £10 with code 2021BF10. Admittedly, it’s not a massive discount but we expect Xiaomi to release more attractive offers closer to Black Friday.

Its popular handsets are the Xiaomi Mi 11 and Redmi Note 10 Pro series, which have had major discounts up to £150 off recently.

Tips for Black Friday shopping online

IndyBest has mastered the art of finding the very best bargains and will be bringing you the top offers throughout the event, so make sure to bookmark this page and IndyBest’s other Black Friday content to ensure you’re always up to date.

It’s also a good idea to set up accounts with all the big-name retailers, from Amazon, John Lewis & Partners and Currys to Very, Next and Argos, as this makes shopping on the day easier and quicker. If you’re after next-day delivery, don’t forget to sign up for Amazon Prime or start a free 30-day trial, too.

You can also sign up for newsletters from brands or retailers, as this will mean you receive all the latest updates as they happen, be among the first to know when the sales start and have access to any discount codes. If you don’t tend to check your e-mails regularly, consider downloading the apps of your favourite shops and following them on socials instead.

As with any sales event, we’d also suggest making a shopping list beforehand, checking the RRP of any products you’re looking for, so you know it’s a real deal, and reading the retailer’s returns policy if you’ve not shopped there before.

Buying large appliances or items of furniture? Make sure to check any warranties or guarantees and measure up your space, as well as the dimensions of the entrance and doorways.

When is Cyber Monday 2021?

Cyber Monday is the Monday following the Black Friday weekend and falls on 29 November this year.

Traditionally it has always been exclusively online, and especially so in 2020 due to the pandemic – the UK was mostly under lockdown, with non-essential shops remaining shut throughout November.

Cyber Monday is your last chance to bag a bargain before Christmas, and there’s often a broad range of retailers that slash prices across smart TVs, laptops, fashion, mattresses and more.

What were the best Black Friday deals from last year?

All the best deals last year were found online, as many retailers encouraged customers to shop from home rather than visiting stores due to the nationwide lockdown in place.

IndyBest hand-picked all the biggest deals to shop and below are a selection of the savings that we found across big-ticket items – some of which we can expect to return for 2021.

Top 10 predictions for Black Friday

1. More shopping in-stores

It’s the moment retailers have been anticipating for nearly two years: in-store shopping.

Now that more people are vaccinated, and high streets are open again, you can be sure retailers will welcome shoppers back with song and dance (read: very competitive discounts).

2. Rise of click and collect

We expect click-and-collect to take off – in fact, research from Business Insider shows this form of purchasing more than doubled in 2020 and will only continue to grow until 2024.

With the increasing strain on delivery drivers in the UK, retailers might incentivize buying or reserving online and collecting in-store. This might include incentives like discounts or bundles.

The benefits of C&C is that you can jump the queue, have a look and feel of the item before you pay for it (if you pay on collection), and save on delivery costs.

3. Free next-day delivery

In the same vein, retailers may entice shoppers with free next-day delivery to limit people from crowding stores.

It’s also one way retailers online can compete with Amazon, which often becomes the go-to for shoppers with a Prime membership. Prime allows unlimited next day delivery on eligible items for free. Sign up for a free 30-day trial or check out our full guide to Amazon Prime ahead of Black Friday.

4. QVC-style live shopping deals (especially on social media)

Earlier this year Currys PC World introduced its live-shopping service called LiveShop. At its launch, which coincided with Amazon’s Prime Day, LiveShop allowed customers to tune into a livestreamed demo of Google Nest and Pixel devices, while gaining an exclusive discount on the devices.

5. More ways to pay: Buy Now Pay Later

2020 also saw the rise of Buy Now Pay Later services such as Klarna, ClearPay, AfterPay and PayPal Credit. These services allow you to split payments into 3-4 chunks or delay payments without interest (or late fees in some cases).

6. Slower delivery times

While we mentioned that free next day delivery is likely to be on the cards for many retailers wanting to attract customers, it’s also likely that delivery bottlenecks may make this option unviable.

The global supply chain crisis that’s leaving warehouses short-staffed and under-resourced means your orders may take longer to arrive. In the UK, matters are only made worse by Brexit and the shortage of HGV drivers.

7. Expect more refurbished offers and Black Friday trade-in deals

The refurbished market has skyrocketed since the pandemic, and for good reason. Refurbished devices (if you buy smart – here’s how) are repaired to work just like new, are cheaper, and save the planet from electronic waste.

8. Lottery deals

This Black Friday, we expect retailers to drum up excitement by giving away discounts by lottery systems. Currys has already started via its Currys Perks sign up, which gives customers the chance of winning up to £500.

9. More exclusive deals online and better offers

Expect to see more “online exclusive” Black Friday prices, codes, and vouchers.

Retailers wanting to compete with Amazon online are likely to offer big discounts online, some of which you may not see in-store. These are typically earmarked as “online only”.

10. Slower online experience

Photo Getty

With more offers online, you can expect incredibly high volumes of traffic on your favourite retailers’ sites. Brace yourself for being pushed into virtual waiting rooms like Queue-it – especially if you’re after consoles like the PS5 (here’s where to look for stock).

This means you will just need to be more targeted with your shopping. Shop by the product instead of the retailer, so you have other options if the site you’re looking at has any difficulties. Better yet, add those items to your cart now so when Black Friday approaches, you simply have to head to checkout when the price goes down.

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