How many times did you try to buy something online during a sale period, only to find out that everyone else also had the same bright idea and the website crashed? Frustrating right? Not half as frustrating as standing in a long queue in a shop on Black Friday though! Yet another reason why online shopping is so convenient. It’s also safer if you don’t want to be pushed around in those long lines. That’s being very subtle. I’ve seen the photos on social media of previous Black Friday sales and all I can say is that I will never want to be in any of those queues, even if you were going to give me something for free! It was chaos.  Thanks to Superbalist’s Black Friday Mega-Sale, we won’t just have just one day for Black Friday deals! They’ve also very kindly supplied us with some tips to make the most of the upcoming Black Friday.

Superbalist.com – the online fast fashion site famed for its sneakers, brands, bespoke pieces and basics – is supersizing Black Friday 2017 with a four-day mega sale from Friday 24 to Monday 27 November. The sale will include major discounts on big names and leading brands – from G-Star through to Missguided and Cotton On.

Last year Superbalist was the only online fashion retailer in South Africa to offer 25% off all products, site-wide. And discounts went as high as 85% off certain items. . Klyne Maharaj, Head of Brand at Superbalist.com says “2017 will be even bigger and better!”

Superbalist offers the latest fashion trends and a slew of essentials for women, men, kids, sports and home. It boasts the largest international brand selection in South Africa as well as a broad range of local brands – more than 500 in total.

Maharaj said shoppers can start compiling their wishlist very early in November. “Our app, social channels and site will be awash with sneak peeks from early in November. On Black Friday, the sale starts at midnight and there’ll be push notifications throughout the four days to alert shoppers to new offers or caution when items are starting to run low.”

He said the beauty of taking advantage of sales online is that instead of being out there in person, you can shop discreetly. “Unlike mall shopping, buying online means you won’t have to squish through a doorway with hundreds of other shoppers trying to get what you want. You can go a little crazy when you bag a bargain, but this can be done in the privacy of your home. Your dignity will stay well in tact!”

Klyne Maharaj, I so agree with you on that!

Superbalist’s Black Friday top tips for winning at the  sales are:                            

Tip 1: If you are shopping online, set your clock for midnight on Thursday 23 November

Most sales start as the clock strikes 12 so make sure you have data and your Wi-Fi isn’t past its cap. Get into bed early and set a few alarms. By the time the rest of the world wakes up you can have done your shopping and be catching some restful winks before heading to work.

 

Tip 2: Create a wishlist so you can checkout ASAP on the day

The prices may change on goods for Black Friday but the goods will already be there. Go online, create your wishlist in advance and then when the sale starts, quickly go to your list, see which items are marked down enough and press ‘checkout’ to beat your shopping competitors to the bargain!

 

Tip 3: Do your homework

Get your hands on as many newsletters and flyers as you can. Like the Facebook pages and Twitter feeds of all your beloved retailers and monitor their bargains closely. From early November, retailers will start to release their Black Friday weekend specials. Start your plotting and planning as early as possible and draw up a plan of action.

Tip 4: Have a plan of action on Black Friday

Some of your purchases may be in the real world and some in cyberspace. A good plan is to start with cyberspace early and then head off to the physical shops once you’ve done the calm and peaceful online shopping. Chances are, once you’ve been involved in a three-person scrum over the last Christmas Turkey in the supermarket, you may only be capable of heading home and lying down…

Tip 5: Make sure your details are up-to-date

If you are shopping online, you won’t want to be messing around updating details as everyone around you is checking out what should have been your goods… It is worth logging into the sites you love before Black Friday and checking your details are 100% accurate.

 

Tip 6: Get the app

Download the app for your favourite online retailers early.

This will allow you to browse much faster and they’ll also send you push notifications of the big discounts to look out for.

Tip 7: Check in advance if you can return your purchases

Most outlets, both online and physical, will accept returns for Black Friday purchases but this is not a guarantee. It is worth checking terms and conditions in advance to make sure that any purchases made ‘in the moment’ can be returned.

 

Tip 8: Set a budget

Decide ahead of time what you plan to spend on the Black Friday sales and stick to it. You could quickly find yourself shopping for Christmas 2018, 19 and 20 if you are not careful. Be responsible and remember that the expensive festive season is coming up so you’ll need a bit left over for this!

---

Well, there you have it. I’d call these tips a survival kit for Black Friday shopping! So, if you know anyone who loves sales or is going to indulge in Black Friday shopping, feel free to share this with them, they will be so glad you did.

If you’re going to partipcate in Superbalist Black Friday Mega-Sale, I wish you well and hope that you will find amazing bargains! Happy shopping! I’m also very curious, would you prefer to physically go to a store on Black Friday or do you prefer online shopping?