Black Friday Shopping Tips For Australians


Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the biggest shopping events on the US calendar, with retailers offering discounts of up to 90 percent on big ticket items. If you’re stuck here in Australia, there’s no reason why you need to miss out on the action. Here are seven online shopping tips for Black Friday and Cyber Monday bargain hunters.

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/11/ten-early-black-friday-deals-you-need-to-know-about/” thumb=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/09/Drone-410×231.jpg” title=”Ten Early Black Friday Deals You Need To Know About” excerpt=”G’day! Here are today’s sneak peek Black Friday deals for Lifehacker readers, including: cheap DJI drones, two-for-one sunglasses, 80% off PC games and more!”]

The following tips come from the retail cashback site Cashrewards, which is predicting a surge of online retail activity this weekend as Aussies look to snap up Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals in force. Last year, the site reported a 250% percent increase in sales over the same period.

“Although Black Friday and Cyber Monday are traditionally US sales days rooted around the holiday of Thanksgiving, the nature of online retail being more global than ever means that both Aussie consumers and retailers are now cashing in on the biggest sales weekend around as though it is their own,” Cashrewards CEO Andrew Clarke said in a statement.

In addition to local retailers getting caught up in the action, shoppers can also take advantage of online deals in the US provided they ship here.

Here are Cashrewards’ top seven tips:

#1 Factor in the time difference

“For US sites, Black Friday is actually Saturday for us down under. However, some retailers try to jump the gun and offer deals on Thanksgiving day (Thursday) which is Friday in Australia. So aim to start scoping the sales on Friday morning, local time!”

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/11/black-friday-video-game-deals-ps4-xbox-one-pc-and-switch/” thumb=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/11/spiderman-ps4-1.jpg” title=”Black Friday Video Game Deals: PS4, Xbox One, PC And Switch” excerpt=”Damn, it feels good to be a gamer. Over the next few days, online retailers will be slashing the price of hundreds of video games with up to 90% off select titles. Here are the best deals so far on PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch!”]

#2 Know your sales days

“Traditionally, Black Friday sees stores offering more deals on tech and electronics, while Cyber Monday, being solely for online shopping, has more of a fashion focus.”

#3 Think Christmas gifts, birthdays and beyond

“Don’t just shop for yourself – this is a great opportunity to save a lot of cash on all those Christmas gifts you need to buy anyway, plus every other upcoming birthday or special occasion. Just remember to check shipping delivery times to Australia to make sure gift purchases reach you in time.”

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/11/catchs-best-black-friday-deals-for-2018/” thumb=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/11/fujifilm-410×231.jpg” title=”Catch’s Best Black Friday Deals For 2018″ excerpt=”Aussie deals site Catch (formerly Catchoftheday) is always good for a bargain, but with Black Friday bearing down on us, the deals are better than ever. While the official sale doesn’t start until Friday, you can already get some ripper discounts, so get in quick.”]

#4 Make a strategic list of wants and needs

“It’s easy to get caught up clicking away through various stores and spend hours being distracted by great deals that you don’t really need. Approach the sales with a strategic list of those coveted items you’ve been longing for and waiting to go on sale, plus practical things you’ve been meaning to get. Snap those up first, and then you can have fun with random finds.”

#5 Be mindful of shipping costs

“There’s no point buying an electronic drum kit online if overseas shipping costs amount to as much as your savings. Stick to lighter goods or shop stores with free shipping. Also look for ‘Click and Collect’ from local retailers, which may be convenient for you.”

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/11/5-great-microsoft-surface-deals/” thumb=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/07/Surface-Laptop-410×231.jpg” title=”Black Friday Deal: Save Up To $2400 On Microsoft Surface PCs” excerpt=”Microsoft is having a big clearance sale on Surface products in the leadup to Black Friday. There are some great deals on offer, including a massive $1400 off Surface Studio desktops. Here are five of the best Surface deals on offer.”]

#6 Keep track of your spending, and don’t go crazy

“Sales are fun, but credit card debt is not. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t spend more than your means; even the best of deals doesn’t make sense if you can’t genuinely afford it. Be sure to pay your credit card bills before interest kicks in, or spend through payment gateways linked to a savings account, like PayPal.”

#7 Start your shopping mission at cashback sites

“Look for those that have a large range of retailers across categories, and give online cashback straight into your bank account. For example, Cashrewards has over 1000 big name international and local retailers, where you’ll be able to bag bargains from eBay stores, Saks Fifth Avenue, Forever 21, Oroton, Nike store, and many more – PLUS get online cashback on everything you buy.”

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/11/black-friday-laptop-deals/” thumb=”https://www.gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/06/surface-laptop-4.jpg” title=”Revealed: The Seven Best Laptop Deals For Black Friday” excerpt=”Looking at replacing your laptop? With great Black Friday deals on tech popping up left and right, now’s the best time to upgrade, so jump on in and check out the sale season’s best deals on laptops, from top-range machines to budget-friendly ones.”]


Seeing any good early-bird online deals? Share the links in the comments section below!


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