Boxing Day shopping tips: How to spot a deal from a dud

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Avoid fake sales this Boxing Day and only purchase genuine deals by following these expert tips.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently conducted a sweep of Black Friday sales advertising and the results are pretty concerning.

It found multiple examples of discounts that were either exaggerated or blatantly false.

Red flags noted by the ACCC included "site-wide" sales that were not in fact site wide, potentially misleading was/now pricing and dubious claims about the size of a discount.

None of this is news to Finder Shopping.

Our national shopping survey conducted in November found that 52% of Aussie shoppers have noticed suspicious price hikes on retail products just before a sales period.

Needless to say, this creates a false sense of urgency about a so-called "deal" and may constitute false or misleading advertising.

With this year's Boxing Day sales fast approaching, it's crucial to know how to spot a genuine deal from a dud.

Here are some tips to help you navigate Boxing Day without getting ripped off.

Do your research and be prepared

Make a list of the items you want to buy and research how much they typically sell for in-store. (Do this at least a few days before Boxing Day.)

The purpose of this list is twofold. Firstly, it equips you with regular street prices so you're not relying on dubious sale RRPs. Secondly, it will cut down on impulse buying by keeping you focused on products you actually need.

(On a related note, be sure to set a Boxing Day sale budget and stick to it!)

Compare across multiple retailers

Don't settle for the first deal you see. Compare prices across different retailers to ensure you're getting the best possible price. Sites like eBay and Amazon can make this process easier by showing multiple sellers in one place. (More on which below.)

Check historical prices

Before you get excited about a discount, use price tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel, GetPrice and Price Hipster to see if the item has been sold at the same price or lower in the past.

This will instantly reveal if the deal is a genuine bargain or just clever marketing.

In the example below, we fed an Apple AirPods 4 deal from Amazon ​​​​​​​into CamelCamelCamel to see how the discount stacked up.

Picture not described

As you can see, the current price is around $8 cheaper than average, but there have been even bigger discounts in the recent past.

By using tools like the one above, you can quickly determine if a deal is worth your while.

Read the fine print

Pay close attention to the terms and conditions of the sale. Look for any exclusions or limitations that might apply to the discount. Sometimes, the fine print can reveal that sale items cannot be exchanged or refunded. (So make sure it isn't cheaper somewhere else before you buy.)

Be wary of flash sales

While online flash sales can offer great deals, they are often used as a way to drum up excitement and publicity with extremely limited stock.

As a general rule of thumb, your chances of landing a lightning/flash deal is directly proportional to the size of the discount - the bigger the saving, the more likely you are to miss out. To avoid disappointment, stick to regular sales instead.

Check reviews and ratings

Most reputable online stores provide a reviews and ratings section. This can give you insight into the quality of the product and the reliability of the retailer. You can also check third-party websites such as ProductReview.com.au for an unvarnished opinion.

Avoid dodgy websites

You should only shop from reputable e-commerce sites you've actually heard of. An unknown retailer is likely to have poor customer service and could even be a scam looking to rob you.

Never click on unsolicited links sent via text or email. If the deals on an unfamiliar store seem too good to be true, proceed with extreme caution.

Use curated deals

You can save a bunch of time by using trusted sites that collect the best deals from thousands of different retailers, handily sorted into brands and product categories.

OzBargain and Finder Shopping (that's us) both have sections dedicated to Boxing Day sales with handpicked deals, updated daily.

You can check out Finder Shopping's full list of Boxing Day deals below.


Finder Shopping consumer survey: What Australians Have Noticed

We recently surveyed 1,095 Australians about the before and after pricing during big sales periods.

Here are some of the key findings:

  • More than half (52%) have noticed a product go up in price ahead of a sale period.
  • 1 in 10 (11%) bought the product anyway, equating to approximately 2.3 million shoppers who were knowingly misled but went ahead with the purchase regardless.
  • 2 in 5 (41%) decided against buying the product.

Our survey also discovered that more Aussies think they get better bang for their buck online than by shopping in person.

Here's the full breakdown.

Have you noticed a product go up in price ahead of a sale period?

Yes, and I didn't buy the product41%
Yes, but I bought the product anyway11%
No34%
I don't know14%
Source: Finder survey of 1,095 respondents, August 2024

Do you think you get better deals in-person or online during big sales events like Black Friday?

Online37%
In-person27%
I don't know36%
Source: Finder survey of 1,008 respondents, October 2024

Which sale event do you think offers better deals?

Black Friday30%
Boxing Day26%
I don't know44%
Source: Finder survey of 1,008 respondents, October 2024

Boxing Day sales

You can check out a range of Boxing Day deals in the grid below, vetted and handpicked by our shopping crew. Use the filters to refine your search.

Gymshark Gymshark
Exclusive

Gymshark

Up to 60% off + $15 off orders over $175

Exclusive
Myer Myer

Myer

Up to 50% off fashion & homewares at Myer

LEGO LEGO

LEGO

Up to 40% off: End of year sale

The North Face The North Face

The North Face

Up to 30% off select styles

Ends

Myer Myer

Myer

Up to 50% homewares, fashion, beauty and more

Robins Kitchen Robins Kitchen

Robins Kitchen

Up to 70% off RRP + extra 20% off sitewide

Decathlon Decathlon

Decathlon

Up to 50% off Clearance Sale

Origin Mattress Australia Origin Mattress Australia

Origin Mattress Australia

Up to 20% off Origin Mattresses + FREE delivery

Fossil Fossil

Fossil

40% off watches and more

Temu Temu

Temu

Up to 90% off electronics

Wine Selectors Wine Selectors

Wine Selectors

Buy one, get one 50% off

Ends

adidas adidas

adidas

Extra 30% off outlet

Ends

Cherry Banana Cherry Banana

Cherry Banana

Up to 70% off adult toys

My Perfume Shop My Perfume Shop

My Perfume Shop

Up to 38% off luxury fragrance

Wine Selectors Wine Selectors

Wine Selectors

Up to $140 off premium wines

Ends

BritBox BritBox

BritBox

Watch 100s of FREE TV shows for 7 days

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

$445 off Apple 2024 MacBook Air (15-inch with M3 chip): $1,754.10

Ends

THE ICONIC THE ICONIC

THE ICONIC

Up to 30% off your orders

Ends

Kenwood Kitchen Appliances Kenwood Kitchen Appliances

Kenwood Kitchen Appliances

50% off Cooking Chef XL Stand Mixer

Ends

Superspares Superspares

Superspares

5% off your next order

JSHealth Vitamins JSHealth Vitamins

JSHealth Vitamins

Up to 25% off + a chance to WIN a Galentine's Glow Up

Ends

LG LG

LG

Up to 20% off: End of Summer Sale

Ends

RedBalloon RedBalloon

RedBalloon

Up to 20% off hot air balloon and luxury supercar rides

Ends

Vans Vans

Vans

Extra 20% off sale footwear

Ends

Adore Beauty Adore Beauty
Exclusive

Adore Beauty

Further $20 off on $99+ orders upon signup

Get deal
Exclusive
Dyson Dyson
Top Pick

Dyson

Up to $550 off Dyson vacuums, purifiers and Beauty range

Get deal
Top Pick
Lekker Bikes Lekker Bikes

Lekker Bikes

Up to $550 off eBikes

Ends

David Lawrence David Lawrence

David Lawrence

20% off dresses

Ends

Interior Secrets Interior Secrets

Interior Secrets

16% off everything

Ends

Motorhome Republic Motorhome Republic

Motorhome Republic

10% off selected motorhomes from top brands

Ends

Dyson Dyson

Dyson

$301 off Dyson Cyclone V10™ vacuum

Ends

THE ICONIC THE ICONIC

THE ICONIC

Further 50% off exclusive styles

Ends

Kalaurie Kalaurie

Kalaurie

10% off first orders at Kalaurie

Ends

Dell Dell

Dell

5% off with code

Ends

eBay Australia eBay Australia

eBay Australia

10% off luxury watches from Rolex, Cartier, and more

Ends

Dyson Dyson

Dyson

$221 off Dyson Supersonic Nural Intelligent hair dryer

Ends

FILA FILA

FILA

Up to 60% off outlet

eBay Australia eBay Australia

eBay Australia

10% off motor parts, tools, and accessories

Ends

Supre Supre

Supre

30% off wardrobe refresh

Ends

Dyson Dyson

Dyson

$200 off Dyson Hot+Cool™ Jet Focus

Ends

Dyson Dyson

Dyson

$550 off Dyson Gen5outsize Complete cordless vacuum

Ends

Dyson Dyson

Dyson

$322 off Dyson V8 vacuum

Ends

Remedy Drinks Remedy Drinks

Remedy Drinks

25% off sitewide

Ends

MyHouse MyHouse

MyHouse

Up to 50% off new arrivals

Ends

The North Face The North Face

The North Face

Up to 30% off select styles

Ends

Dyson Dyson

Dyson

$161 off Dyson Airstrait straightener and dryer

Ends

Clearly Clearly

Clearly

15% off all contacts

Ends

Clearly Clearly

Clearly

Up to 50% off clearance frames

Ends

Europcar Europcar

Europcar

Up to 20% off car rentals

Ends

House House

House

Up to 50% off everything

Ends

Renogy Renogy

Renogy

6% off sitewide

Ends

Robins Kitchen Robins Kitchen

Robins Kitchen

Up to 50% off RRP + extra 15% off all cookware

Ends

Nat'v Basics Nat'v Basics

Nat'v Basics

51% off Cheeky G Marle Grey

Ends

Baccarat Baccarat

Baccarat

Up to 70% off off cookware, knives and more

Ends

Nat'v Basics Nat'v Basics

Nat'v Basics

75% off Racer Crops

Ends

Vistaprint Vistaprint

Vistaprint

50% off select mugs and canvas prints + up to 25% off personalised products

Ends

Lovehoney Lovehoney

Lovehoney

$40 lingerie deals: Up to 50% off

Vistaprint Vistaprint

Vistaprint

Up to 40% off + 50% off select signage & mugs

Ends

Dell Dell

Dell

15% off selected XPS Laptop

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

$317 off Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: $1,582.40

Ends

Vistaprint Vistaprint

Vistaprint

Up to 50% off Valentine's Day gifts

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

$202 off Apple 2024 MacBook Air (15-inch with M3 chip): $1,824.80

Ends

RedBalloon RedBalloon

RedBalloon

Valentines Gift for Couples from $30

Ends

Princess Cruise Lines Princess Cruise Lines

Princess Cruise Lines

Up to 40% off, free room upgrades, and free 3rd & 4th guests

Ends

Lovehoney Lovehoney

Lovehoney

Up to 70% off clearance

Shark Clean Australia Shark Clean Australia

Shark Clean Australia

$100 off Shark Stratos Cordless Pet Pro Vacuum with Clean Sense IQ

Ends

Ninja Kitchen Australia Ninja Kitchen Australia

Ninja Kitchen Australia

Bundle and save up to $148 on Ninja appliances

Ends

Adrenaline Adrenaline

Adrenaline

20% off Jet Boat Ride for 30 Minutes - Circular Quay

Ends

Motorhome Republic Motorhome Republic

Motorhome Republic

Up to 40% off motorhomes across Australia

Ends

GoDaddy GoDaddy

GoDaddy

Extra 10% off sale

Ends

Swarovski Swarovski

Swarovski

Receive a Swarovski mirror with a comb

Ends

Shark Clean Australia Shark Clean Australia

Shark Clean Australia

30% off FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System

Ends

Lovehoney Lovehoney

Lovehoney

3 for 2 on sexy panties

Culture Kings Culture Kings

Culture Kings

20%+ off the biggest brands

Ends

Shark Clean Australia Shark Clean Australia

Shark Clean Australia

$50 off Shark Steam & Scrub with Steam Blaster

Ends

Lovehoney Lovehoney

Lovehoney

Buy one, get one 50% off on selected Essentials

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

$212 off Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (256 GB): $1,987

Ends

Shiels Shiels

Shiels

Up to 60% off storewide at Shiels

Ends

Amazon Amazon
SALE

Amazon

Up to 50% off clearance limited edition wines and spirits

Get deal
SALE
Amazon Amazon

Amazon

Up to 70% off select designer women's watches

Ends

LSKD LSKD

LSKD

Up to 70% off sale + FREE shipping on all orders

Lack of Color Lack of Color

Lack of Color

Up to 70% off: Online Warehouse Sale

Ryderwear Ryderwear

Ryderwear

Up to 80% off outlet

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

26% off De'Longhi 360° Cooling Pedestal Fan

Uber Eats Uber Eats
Exclusive

Uber Eats

$10 off your first order when you spend $30 or more

Ends

Exclusive
Merry People Merry People

Merry People

FREE shipping and returns + 12-month warranty

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

$250 off Apple iPhone 15 (512 GB): $1,799

Ends

gorman gorman

gorman

50% off selected styles

House House

House

Up to 60% off + extra 20% off all sets

gorman gorman

gorman

20-50% off sale

Ends

Princess Highway Princess Highway

Princess Highway

$50 & under sale at Princess Highway

Shiels Shiels

Shiels

25% off Citizen and Tommy Hilfiger watches at Shiels

I Love Linen I Love Linen

I Love Linen

Up to 30% off storewide at I Love Linen

Kenwood Kitchen Appliances Kenwood Kitchen Appliances

Kenwood Kitchen Appliances

10% off your next purchase

Gymshark Gymshark
Exclusive

Gymshark

Up to 50% off + $20 off orders over $200

Exclusive
Coach Outlet Coach Outlet

Coach Outlet

40% off + buy 2, get 50% off at Coach Outlet

Sephora Sephora

Sephora

Up to 50% off sale + extra 10% off with code

Myer Myer

Myer

Up to 50% off fashion & homewares at Myer

East Coast Car Rentals East Coast Car Rentals

East Coast Car Rentals

Win an MG3 or $10,000 CASH

Ends

Want even more savings? Head over to Sales Finder or check out today's top daily deals.

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