Black Friday 2019
Black Friday Survival Kit
Here are their Black Friday essentials:
1. Shopping list – to jot down prices and do price comparisons.
2. Hand sanitiser – you don’t need to be a ‘germaphobe’ to be fastidious about personal hygiene!
3. Bottles of water – hydration is essential, especially as Black Friday happens during summer in South Africa.
4. Bank card – one of the women we interviewed advised that carrying a bank card would potentially be safer than trying to protect large amounts of cash.
5. Hair ties – it’s going to get hot, and you don’t want to have to battle with frizzy or unruly hair while trying to navigate the crowds.
6. Deodorant – there is not much worse than getting up and close to someone with bad body odour, so be considerate to fellow shoppers and take care of your hygiene needs.
7. Wet wipes – you will be handling trolleys and various other items throughout the day, so wet wipes are essential!
8. Headache medication and plasters – sore feet are almost mandatory in the Black Friday rush, so if you need some relief, keep these handy.
Black Friday don’ts:
1. Don’t take children shopping with you.
2. Try not to carry large amounts of cash, as you will be making yourself a target.
3. Don’t leave home without some snacks, if you plan on spending hours hunting for good deals.
4. Don’t lose track of your budget.
5. Don’t let your temper get the better of you while standing in queues.
Shopping online for Black Friday?
Here’s what you need to know:
If shopping online is a safer way for you to get those irresistible deals, here’s a few safety tips to keep in mind:
• Research retailers online to make sure they’re legitimate.
• Make sure the website is secure.
• Know your rights and the company’s returns policy.
• Keep software and virus protection up to date and use strong passwords for online accounts.
• Don’t use public Wi-Fi, which may leave you open to digital attack.
• Pay using a credit card, instead of carrying large amounts of cash.
• Be smart – if it seems to good to be true, it probably is!
Do you know how to plan, and stick to, a budget?
With Black Friday fever reaching South African shores this week, consumers have been cautioned against making reckless spending choices.
The National Credit Regulator (NCR) has urged consumers to be smart and responsible spenders to avoid future financial troubles.
The first thing you should do, according to the NCR, is to draw up a list of ‘needs’ and ‘wants’, and then look at your budget to see if you have enough to cover what you plan on buying.
If you do not have enough, and you have the option to buy on credit, you will need to consider any credit-related costs, your ability to repay the debt (which often accrues interest) and decide whether it’s worth buying on credit this Black Friday.
“If you did not plan and budget for Black Friday, you are cautioned not to use credit. This is because you will not be saving, as credit costs more,” said Advocate Kedilatile Legodi, Acting Manager: Education and Communication at NCR.
“When you buy on credit, you will be liable for related costs such as interest, monthly service fees, once-off initiation fees, credit life insurance and others.”
The NCR has advised consumers not to take the value of planning and budgeting for granted.
In a press release, NCR said the following:
By drawing up a list, you avoid falling into the trap of buying things you don’t need. By budgeting, you will be ensuring that your spending is within your means.
Buying on credit without a plan could lead to an inability to repay the credit you were granted.
If this happens, credit providers will take legal action and this will negatively affect your credit record.
Once you have a negative record as a consumer, not only will accessing future credit be a struggle, it will be expensive, because credit providers will charge you higher interest rates in comparison to those who have positive credit records.
This can also affect people seeking employment in cases where the job requires you to deal with cash and/or finances.
Adv. Legodi cautioned consumers to avoid reckless and impulsive buying on credit.
“Consumers must not allow Black Friday to lead to ‘Blacklisting’, because it will end in a one-day event leading to a lifetime of struggle.”
Adv. Legodi’s helpful tips for consumers for Black Friday:
1. Plan and draw up a list of what you need
2. Set a realistic budget of what you can afford to spend, and stick to it
3. Check the items and prices before Black Friday to do a comparison on the prices and to ensure you are getting a better deal
4. Should you decide to buy, stick to what is on the list
5. If buying on credit, consider the related costs – you may not be saving
6. If buying on credit, consider your ability to repay the debt – you may be signing up for financial troubles
7. Remember, cash is king
8. Remember that not everything is really a deal – some items may drop even further closer to Christmas
9. Avoid buying food on credit.
Insuring your tech gadgets and how to keep them safe
• Don’t advertise your new tech product on social media. You never know who could be watching.
• Make security a priority in your home. Always check your doors are locked and windows are closed when you’re out or going to bed at night.
• Always keep your receipts and take a photograph of the serial numbers of your devices. You will need this in the event of a claim.
• Be discreet when discarding packaging. Those big boxes might draw unwanted attention.
• Insure all your tech gadgets.
Security tips and guidelines for this Black Friday
As we all know, Black Friday is a very chaotic time of the year and many people will be out and about looking for the best deals and bargains. Taking safety into consideration, there are a few factors one should think of.
As many shopping centres and malls will be buzzing with many residents, you might come across aggressive drivers or even experience road rage. Also be aware that parking lots can be dangerous too.
How can I be safe in the car?
1. Park your vehicle in a well-lit area.
2. Be patient and take your time when looking for a parking spot.
3. It’s advisable to keep your shopping bags and any valuable items out of plain sight, or even in the boot of your car.
How can I protect myself in the store?
Shopping on Black Friday can bring about chaos as well as a few safety risks. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:
1. If shopping with young children, inform them of the risks involved with masses and large crowds. Devise a safety plan for if you are separated – an example could be to meet at a specific area within the shopping complex. Also remember to make sure they are aware to report to a security guard or an employee if they get lost.
2. Make sure to keep your purse or wallet close to you and out of sight.
3. Don’t argue over a specific item.
4. Keep an eye on your banking cards’ activity.
How can I keep myself safe online?
1. Refrain from making any use of public Wi-Fi to purchase items.
2. It would be best to stick to retailers you are familiar with and can trust, and if you want to purchase from a new retailer, do your research first.
3. Never commit to a purchase that sounds too good to be true.
Interesting stats around Black Friday in SA
Black Friday is happening on 29 November. According to the continent’s largest automated payments clearing house, BankservAfrica, in 2018 it processed a total of 581,189 online transactions.
A recent survey by Finder.com found that 42% of South Africans plan to shop on 29 November. The younger you are, the more likely you are to shop. Almost half (47.98%) of Gen Zers plan to shop this Black Friday, while just 28.07% of those aged 65+ said the same.
Some people are willing to wait long hours for a good bargain
How long are people willing to wait for that bargain? 16% of shoppers in Gauteng are willing to queue all day, with 11% happy to queue overnight too. In the Western Cape, almost 15% of shoppers said they’d queue overnight and over a quarter (25.69%) said they’d queue all day. Just under 35% (34.72%) said they’d only shop online.
Majority of South Africans think Black Friday sales are of good value
A second poll found 65% of South Africans think Black Friday sales are good value, with millennials the most likely to say so. However, of that 65%, 27% don’t always think it’s worth the hassle of shopping.
More men than women think Black Friday is of good value
40% of men in the poll thought Black Friday sales were of good value while 35.34% of women thought the same.
The Eastern Cape is the most sceptical province on Black Friday
Almost a third (31.48%) of the respondents in the Eastern Cape think Black Friday sales are good value, but that it’s not worth the hassle. They’re also the most likely to think retailers inflate prices leading up to discounts (16.67%).
The USA is no longer the country with the most Black Friday shoppers
Even though Black Friday is synonymous with hordes of American shoppers, Brazil is the country with the highest search interest in Black Friday, according to an analysis of historical search data from SEMrush. Interest in the shopping holiday peaked in November 2018, jumping 83% from the previous year, and remains at the same level as at October 2019. The USA shares the second position with France.
The top ten most popular retailers in SA during Black Friday
South Africa has bucked global trends, with none of the top ten most popular global retailers ranking in the top ten in South Africa. As far as the top three are concerned, South Africans are most likely to look for Black Friday deals from Game, Makro and Takealot. Here are the top ten popular retailers in SA:
Game
Makro
Takealot
Checkers
Pick n Pay
Shoprite
Dion Wired
Incredible Connection
HiFi Corp
Edgars
The PS4 is the most popular product in SA and abroad during Black Friday
While the PS4 was one of the most popular Black Friday searches both in South Africa and abroad, one surprising trend unique to South Africa was people searching for telecom deals from retailers such as MTN, Vodacom and Telkom.
