If you haven’t already, it might be time to start thinking about your Christmas shopping so you can feel organised for the big day and best budget your money. Black Friday, plus Cyber Monday and the days leading up to Christmas is one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.
It’s also the perfect time to save some extra cash on popular and expensive items, from tech to beauty and fashion. But before rushing to your favourite websites or high street stores, a personal shopper is warning people to be vigilant – and why she thinks that waiting until a later date to shop might be a better idea.
Nabihah Ahmed, who is a personal shopper, has shared several reasons why she thinks waiting until after the biggest shopping day of the year, could be beneficial. The New York City resident, who boasts 198,700 followers on TikTok, shared some some truths behind Black Friday – starting with “price manipulation”.
Nabihah claimed: “Retailers raise prices in the weeks leading up to Black Friday, but discount them on the day itself. This gives the illusion of significant savings.”
She also said that stores claim that they have limited stock, adding: “Stores promote doorbuster deals with limited quantities to sell stock at a faster rate. This scarcity tactic creates a sense of urgency and competition among shoppers.”
The fashion enthusiast also wants consumers to be aware that some products featured in Black Friday deals may be of lower quality. “This allows them to offer lower prices without sacrificing their usual profit margins,” she added.
The professional shopper believes the best time to shop for clothing is at the end of each season. Therefore, if you’re buying winter clothing, you should purchase them between February and April, and summer items should be purchased between August and October.
She explained: “When a season is ending, they [stores] want to clear out the current season’s inventory to prepare for the next one. This helps prevent overstocking and frees up shelf space. Also, some items may not have sold well during the season due to changing fashion, so end-of-season sales provide a final opportunity to sell these items.”
She also pointed out that there are many returns and refunds from Black Friday purchases as people often buy impulsively. Several people commented on her tips video, with one saying: “My motto is: if you need or want something and you can wait till Black Friday, then you wait to buy. Don’t buy things for the sake of buying things.”
“I love the end of season sales,” said another.
“I never knew this thanks,” wrote another. A former retail worker shared: “I used to work in Bershka and they didn’t rise up the price, it was items that were already discounted that nobody wanted to purchase.”
“I feel like it depends on the store to be honest,” added another.
ave you bought anything this Black Friday yet? Comment below.
