Are you planning to shop on Black Friday?

Black Friday is just around the corner, and we are now being bombarded with adverts ensuring we are aware there are bargains to be had … but are they really bargains?

Some retailers are pre-empting Black Friday and reducing the price of stock now whilst many retailers in the UK are planning to launch sales both online and in-store.

This American tradition made its way to the UK in the last several years. The sale traditionally takes place over Thanksgiving weekend stateside, and people are known to line up outside shops as early as five in the morning to get their hands on incredible bargains.

The idea of Black Friday has received a mixed response in the UK – some people relish the opportunity to get big discounts on items just before Christmas, while others believe these sales are not worth the effort of the large crowds and early start times.

Shopping online has made Black Friday more appealing to many – big retailers like Amazon, Argos and John Lewis will all host sales next week.

The discounts might not always be what they seem however; Which? reported that 60% of the deals available last year were available at other times.

Just one in 20 so-called Black Friday “deals” are cheaper during the shopping bonanza than at other times of the year, an investigation from Which? has found.

Ahead of this year’s Black Friday on November 29, the consumer group said it had found “few genuine discounts” after monitoring sales pricing around the event last year.

It tracked the prices of 83 products on sale on Black Friday last year – starting from six months before the day itself to six months afterwards.

What are your views? Do you feel positive about Black Friday?  Will you be doing any Christmas shopping on this day? How can you be sure you are getting a bargain?