How to handle sales season
The sales season is approaching fast. Here are some tips on how to navigate it.
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Australians are about to enter one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. Black Friday falls on 27 November in 2026, followed by Cyber Monday on 30 November.
Christmas and Boxing Day sales will follow in December, although many retailers will begin promoting offers well before the traditional sale dates.
For shoppers, particularly those buying Christmas presents or replacing an essential appliance, these sales may provide worthwhile savings. However, the constant advertising, countdown clocks and “limited stock” warnings can encourage people to spend first and think later.
Start with what you need
Before looking at the sales, make a list of the things you genuinely need and set a spending limit. Research the normal price of each item now, rather than relying on a retailer’s advertised “was” price or percentage discount.
Ask yourself:
- Would I buy this if it were not on sale?
- Can I afford it without using money needed for bills or essentials?
- Is this the exact product I want?
- Have I compared the total price, including delivery and other charges?
- Would repairing or continuing to use what I already own be better value?
A $1,000 television reduced to $700 is not a saving of $300 if you did not need a new television.
Do not allow a countdown clock, pop-up message or salesperson to turn a retailer’s deadline into your emergency. If you are unsure, close the website or leave the store and reconsider the purchase later.
Look beyond the discount
Check the exact model number and specifications, especially when buying televisions, computers, phones and appliances. A heavily discounted item may be an older model, discontinued stock or a product with fewer features than its newer-looking counterpart.
That does not necessarily make it a bad purchase. An older model can be excellent value if it meets your needs, has appropriate support and comes with a full warranty. However, compare it with the current model before deciding. A newer product with better energy efficiency, security updates or accessibility features may represent better long-term value even with a smaller discount.
Also make sure the photograph, headline and description all refer to the same product. Check its size, capacity, included accessories, colour and compatibility with equipment you already own.
Buy now or wait?
Black Friday and Cyber Monday can be useful for purchasing planned Christmas presents early, particularly if you need time for delivery. However, there is no guarantee that every Black Friday price will be lower than a pre-Christmas or Boxing Day offer.
Waiting may produce a better price, but popular sizes, colours and models could sell out. Delivery delays also become a greater risk as Christmas approaches. If the item is needed by a particular date and the present price is genuinely competitive, buying earlier may provide greater certainty.
Check whether the retailer offers price matching or a price-protection policy, and read the conditions carefully. Keep screenshots of the product description and advertised price, as well as your receipt and order confirmation.
Online or in person?
Online shopping makes it easy to compare products and prices without travelling between stores. It can be especially convenient for people with limited mobility or those living some distance from major shopping centres. Online ranges may also be larger.
The disadvantages include delivery costs and delays, difficulty judging a product’s quality or size, and the inconvenience of returning unsuitable goods. Marketplaces can also make it harder to identify who is actually selling the item.
Shopping in person allows you to inspect a product, ask questions and, in some cases, take it home immediately. It can nevertheless involve crowds, travel and pressure to make a quick decision. Prices may also be harder to compare while standing in a store.
Whichever method you choose, remember that online businesses have the same responsibilities under Australian consumer law as physical stores. The usual consumer guarantees apply, and businesses must not make false or misleading claims about prices, products, shipping or delivery times.
A store cannot remove your rights concerning a faulty product simply by labelling it a “sale item” or displaying a “no refunds” notice. However, a business does not generally have to provide a refund simply because you changed your mind, so check its change-of-mind policy before buying. The ACCC sweep of online return policies found potentially misleading conditions, including blanket statements that sale items could not be returned and arbitrary time limits for reporting faulty products.
Watch for fake stores
Scammers exploit major sales by creating websites and advertisements that imitate well-known retailers. Warning signs include prices far below those offered elsewhere, a lack of contact details or an ABN, only glowing and vague reviews, and requests for unusual payment methods.
Scamwatch advises shoppers to find the retailer’s official website rather than assuming the first search result or social-media advertisement is genuine. Check independent reviews, the website address, returns information and contact details. Secure payment options such as a credit card or PayPal may also provide avenues to dispute a transaction, subject to their terms.
Finally, keep receipts, emails, order confirmations and copies of product descriptions. If something goes wrong, contact the seller promptly and clearly explain the outcome you are seeking.
The smartest sale purchase is not necessarily the one with the largest red discount sticker. It is the item you genuinely need, at a competitive price, bought from a reputable seller after you have had time to think.
Disclaimer: This article and any links provided are for general information only and should not be taken as constituting professional advice. National Seniors Australia is not a financial adviser. You should consider seeking independent legal, financial, taxation, or other advice to check how any information provided relates to your unique circumstances.
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National Seniors Australia Ltd ABN 89 050 523 003, AR 282736, is an authorised representative of AWP Australia Pty Ltd, ABN 52 097 227 177, AFSL 245631, trading as Allianz Global Assistance (AGA), and acts as AGA's agent and not as your agent. nib Travel Services (Australia) Pty Ltd (nib), ABN 81 115 932 173, AFSL 308461 acts as third party administrator on behalf of AGA, managing claims, complaints, enquiries and sales. This is general advice only. Before you buy, you should consider whether the product is appropriate for you, the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Financial Services Guide (FSG) and Target Market Determination (TMD) is available from us. This insurance is underwritten by Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd, ABN 83 169 311 193, AFSL 523921.
