Black Friday shopping tips

November 5, 2021

A woman sitting on floor making a payment on laptop

Life’s finally returning to some kind of normality, and we can’t wait to see more people out and about this Black Friday.

Will you be heading to your local high street? Or will you be bagging some Black Friday bargains from your living room? Whatever your plans are, here are some tips on how to get ready for Black Friday 2021.

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday is on Friday 26 November and Cyber Monday is on the following Monday – 29 November.  But remember, lots of places start their Black Friday sales even earlier than that. So, keep an eye on social media and your email inbox for early-bird deals.

Black Friday deals on Three

Our Black Friday deals have landed early this year and are available from Friday 5 November. From deals on the latest phones to Home Broadband and business plans – we’ve got something for everyone.

Want a shiny new iPhone 13 Pro with Unlimited data for 6 months half price? Or to save £465 on the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G with 100GB data? Check out our Black Friday deals today.

Be prepared.

There’s no point rushing to grab something if it’s no good – no matter how much of a bargain it is. So, it pays to do your research and check things like online product reviews before you shop.

Got your eye on something in particular? We’d also recommend checking what normal prices are like. That way, you can gauge whether you’re actually getting a good deal or not.

It’s also a good idea to make a list of shops that sell the item you’re looking for. You can then compare prices, making sure you get the best deal. And having a backup option is always a good idea in case they run out of stock or if you’re shopping online, the website crashes.

Stay safe.

Heading to your local high street this Black Friday? It’s important to remember that things aren’t quite back to normal yet. Some Coronavirus restrictions are still in place in some areas across the UK and it’s important to respect them.

It’s also worth remembering that some people feel less comfortable than others when it comes to being back out and about. Being kind and courteous to other shoppers goes a long way, even when there are Black Friday deals to be had.

Want to find your local Three store? Head to our store locator.

Staying safe online.

Planning on doing most of your Black Friday shopping from the comfort of your sofa? There are a few online shopping tips worth remembering:

Only use websites that you trust.

Pay by credit card, if you can – they offer protection if something goes wrong with your purchase.

Use strong passwords – make them alphanumeric and avoid using the same one for every account.

Watch out for phishing emails – if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. For everything you need to know about phishing emails, check out our blog article – How to recognise phishing scams online.

Set a budget.

It can be easy to get carried away on Black Friday – there are bargains to be had everywhere. And suddenly, you’ve spent way more than you thought you had.

So, set a budget and stick to it. And try to resist those impulse buys.

Set up online accounts in advance.

If you’re not fast, you’re last – especially on Black Friday. And if you’re shopping online, you need to be quick off the mark. There’s no time to mess around with setting up online accounts. And chances are, the websites with the best deals will be running a little slower than normal too.

So, save yourself some valuable minutes and either check out as a guest or set up an online account well in advance.

Use social media and join mailing lists.

If you don’t already, it’s worth following your favourite brands or shops on social media. And it’s also a good idea to sign up to their email newsletter too. Why? Most places will give early access to their Black Friday deals to their followers or people who have subscribed to emails. So, you could get a head start on your shopping.

It’s not just about the ‘saving’.

Huge savings on a price tag can be dazzling. But it’s not always as good as it seems. That’s where doing your research pays off. Remember to bear in mind what normal prices are like. Does that big saving sticker really mean you’re getting the best deal?

Remember to check the returns policy.

Occasionally, your bargain purchase will arrive and it’ll either be not quite what you expected, damaged, or faulty. It’s not the end of the world. These things happen. But it’s a good idea to check the store returns policy before you buy. Just in case you need to send something back.

There you have it, our Black Friday shopping tips. We hope you put them to good use and bag yourself some savings. And don’t forget, Black Friday 2021 on Three is well underway. Go check out our Black Friday phone deals today.