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Don't get confused by these cunning sales tactics during Christmas and Boxing Day!
Dec 21, 2022

How to avoid sneaky sales tactics and get a good deal!

With only a handful of days to go before Christmas, you may be in a mad rush to buy presents! Or you may be gearing up for a big spending haul on Boxing Day! No matter what, this time of year always sees a huge spike in Kiwis getting out there and shopping. 

So, if you’re going to do some shopping this festive season, it’s important to make sure you are ACTUALLY getting the best deal as many shops will try to trick you with sales that don’t end up saving you money. 

Read on to discover some of the cunning sales tactics that you should avoid AND how you can get a great deal while shopping! 

Don’t be fooled during the holiday season!

During the lead up to Christmas, many retailers will be advertising prices and sales that sound incredible. However, these might not actually be all they cracked up to be. Many consumer experts like Consumer NZ warn Kiwi consumers to be careful of being exploited by retailers who are offering deals that seem too good to be true. As chances are, they are too good to be true. 

This is especially important to remember for Boxing Day. With Boxing Day always being perceived as a day where you can get huge bargains, it’s easy for Kiwis to get ripped off. So it’s key to remember to be vigilant and not get tricked by all the flashy signs and misleading stickers. 

But how do we keep our wits about us, you ask? Well, the first thing we can do is learn from the past. 

Learn from Black Friday

Alongside Boxing Day, Black Friday is a day when Kiwis expect to get the best sales all year. However, in 2022, we saw that not all the deals advertised during Black Friday were as great as they seemed. 

Consumer NZ spokesperson Jessica Walker mentioned some ways that retailers were deceiving customers. One example highlighted the importance of noticing whether a sale is against the regular market price or if it’s against the recommended retail price (RRP). 

Walker said, “Our test manager was thrilled to find a Kenwood model [benchtop mixer] in a Farmers sale for $520, rather than the RRP of $730.”

However, “At the time the mixer was purchased, the same model could be bought at Moore Wilson’s for $450, or for $500 at 100% Appliances. Those weren’t even sale prices.”

It’s clear that during Black Friday many retailers were already trying to take advantage of customers, so it’s likely that they’ll do the same during the Christmas and Boxing Day period! 

Some sneaky ways retailers will get you

To help you be more in control of your spending, here's a few ways retailers might try and get you this holiday season. 

As mentioned before, retailers may offer a discounted price off the RRP rather than the price they usually sell the product for. Also, you may come across online tactics like, “Just three left, get one now!” which is pressure marketing that makes you feel like you have to buy a product quickly or you’ll miss out. Or, websites may have a pop-up window that notifies you of other customers purchasing products, which entices you to trust the company and thus purchase something from them.  

These are just a few ways that companies can influence you while shopping.

How to get a great deal for Christmas or Boxing Day! 

There are heaps of easy tactics that you can employ when shopping in order to dodge any misleading sales. We’ve put together our top three to help you start! 

1). Use PriceMe

PriceMe is a product comparison website where you can compare different products or brands, investigate the prices of a certain product, read reviews and product specifications, and so much more!  There are over 1 million products on PriceMe to compare from laptops to clothing. 

PriceMe will show you all the information you need to know about a product and where you can actually get the best price. Also, since it lets you compare similar products, you may find an alternative brand or item that is cheaper and suits your needs better. 

VISIT PRICEME

2). Buy only what you need

Avoid making impulsive purchases by only buying what you need. Go in with a plan and stick to it. Too often shoppers will go in with no clue what to buy and end up heading home with heaps of stuff they don’t actually need. If you ever get lost, just ask yourself, “Do I need it or want it?” This will help you make informed and reasonable purchases. 

3). Pause and take a deep breath

A key way that shops get you to purchase their products is through creating a sense of pressure that you have to buy things quickly. Don’t let them stress you out! Pause for just a moment, take a grounding breath and then proceed. This will help you stick to buying only the essentials! 

If you want to shop stress-free, then head to PriceMe! What’s so great about the website is that you can relax in your own home and shop, knowing you're finding the best price with no pressure.

Head to PriceMe!

To get the best deals this Christmas and Boxing Day visit PriceMe!

It’s super easy to use: just head to the website, type in the product you’re looking for and then you’ll see all the information you need! 

Don’t fall for a terrible sale this holiday season, head to PriceMe instead!

JUMP ON PRICEME

For information about PriceMe, click here!