25.11.22

Black Friday (BF) is in full swing here in Oz. The tradition, which originated from the US, marks the biggest shopping event in their calendar. This occurs during the weekend after Thanksgiving. Stores are known to significantly reduce their prices, so there are oodles of bargains to be had. In the last decade or so, Oz has adopted this tradition. Boxing Day (26/12) remains the headline act. However, BF is giving it a run for its money. Two weeks ago, there was Click Frenzy the Main Event, which had some lovely deals as well. Singles Day, the Chinese equivalent of BF, also sported a few sales. I ordered two Xiaomi chargers during Singles Day. I (mistakenly) thought that they could fast charge my devices.

This year’s weekend coincides with the men’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar. While Americans are drawn to Thanksgiving football, the rest of the world is tuning into the action on the pitch. Last Saturday, the Kangaroos routed Samoa to win the Rugby League Word Cup. It’s been three on the trot for us, while we’ve also extended our record number of titles to twelve. The Cup, supposed to take place last year, was rescheduled due to COVID. End of sports tangent.

Get in early

Before BF, there have already been some early bird offers. For instance, Myer One members previewed the discounts on Thursday or a day earlier. That day, I ordered a couple of items from them. Similarly, rival David Jones was likewise on the ball, with up to fifty percent off fashion on Thursday. They also had decent reductions on iPads and other gadgets. Furthermore, catch.com.au had an early start. From clothing to shoes, watches to bags, there was something for everyone. With Catch, I bought two items: cotton Mitch Dowd pyjamas and a raglan pullover. Both items have arrived already. Having my fifty-dollar Catch gift card came in handy. Speaking of pyjamas, there was this black Star Wars combo that was reduced to $36. By Wednesday afternoon, only the small size was left. I guess people still go for Yoda.

Changing times

While people should appreciate these bargains, the latter betray the signs of our changing times. For instance, a couple of years ago, Myer had a November VIP shopping night. They had forty percent off fragrances. That’s when I bought this Calvin Klein perfume. I ended up with no out of pocket cost as we were given two $25 gift cards. Moreover, Myer was giving these free green shopping bags. This year, my mum went to the event. The Levi’s blouse she purchased was forty one dollars, a mere thirty percent saving. Good thing she had $30 in gift cards. Additionally, the scents were now twenty percent off.

The bargain list

Aside from the aforementioned retailers, Chemist Warehouse is also hawking a further ten percent off. In addition, The Iconic has some nice reductions across fashion and accessories. EBay is currently having a massive sale, with further savings across eligible items. Discount department stores, Target, Kmart, and Big W, have also gone in on the act. The latter had an online preview starting Wednesday, with bonus Woolworths points on some purchases. Earlier in the week, Target had twenty percent off their linen range. Perfect for summer.

Last week, Jeanswest commenced their sale late, with 30% off store wide. This is much better than Cotton On, which only offers thirty percent off full-price. Medium sized chains like Tarocash, Superdry, and Yd have all partaken. Strandbags, Australia’s largest luggage store, has up to fifty percent off on bags. Larger retailers like JB Hifi have continued the trend. Apple has offered gift cards with select purchases. Even furniture stores are hawking ten percent price drops. The frenzy has even made its way to gastronomy, with Pizza Hut promoting some juicy offers. Meanwhile, Macca’s have been unloading their thirty days of deals for the whole month of November. You can bet that even premium stores and brands like Dyson, Lacoste, Fossil, Peter Alexander, and Rodd & Gunn are bucking the trend and seconding the motion.

Four-day shopping spree

As reported on the news, Australians are expected to spend $60 billion during the four day bonanza. To be clear, this coming week would begin with Cyber Monday, where the frenzy shifts online. For those who could wait, Boxing Day is the next big tick on the calendar. Regardless, expect significantly more traffic in store, with COVID rules relaxed and even discarded. Of course, there’s been rumblings of a fourth wave. Yet with about nine out of ten Sydneysiders being fully vaccinated, it’s been business as usual around town. Travel, both domestic and international, is slowly picking up.

This year’s sales would be a marked improvement over the past two years. If the Sydney Royal Easter Show is any indication, it would be bumper to bumper at the shops. Keep hydrated, go in early, and pack a lot of patience. You’ll need it.