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

Posted:
News
House sale_Supplied_1800x1000

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

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

Adore Beauty Adore Beauty

Adore Beauty

Up to $50 off your orders at Adore Beauty

Ends

Adore Beauty Adore Beauty

Adore Beauty

FREE 6-piece goodie bag on orders $139+ at Adore Beauty

Ends

Bluetti Bluetti

Bluetti

Up to 47% off + 5% off sitewide at BLUETTI

Ends

LG LG

LG

Up to $1,000 off select 2024 OLED or QNED TV + sound bar bundles (code: LGTVSB1000)

Ends

Oz Hair and Beauty Oz Hair and Beauty
Exclusive

Oz Hair and Beauty

Up to 70% off sitewide + 5% off with code: FINDER5

Get deal
Exclusive
Bardot Bardot

Bardot

Up to 60% off + extra 30% off for Members at Bardot

Ends

Charles Tyrwhitt Charles Tyrwhitt

Charles Tyrwhitt

Buy 2, save $40 on pants at Charles Tyrwhitt

Ends

Designer Vertical Gardens Designer Vertical Gardens
Exclusive

Designer Vertical Gardens

10% off with code FINDERDVG10 at Designer Vertical Gardens

Ends

Get deal
Exclusive
Charles Tyrwhitt Charles Tyrwhitt

Charles Tyrwhitt

Buy 4, save $255 on shirts at Charles Tyrwhitt

Charles Tyrwhitt Charles Tyrwhitt

Charles Tyrwhitt

20% off suits and blazers at Charles Tyrwhitt

Ends

Endurance Endurance

Endurance

$300 off + extra $150 off Endurance SPT Treadmills

Ends

Inspiring Vacations Inspiring Vacations

Inspiring Vacations

March Madness Flights Frenzy at Inspiring Vacations

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

25% off Coway Airmega Mighty Air Purifier (White): $299

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

40% off Devanti Ice Maker Machine 2L: $129.95

Ends

Oz Hair and Beauty Oz Hair and Beauty
Exclusive

Oz Hair and Beauty

Up to 70% off + 5% off your orders with code FINDER5

Get deal
Exclusive
Amazon Amazon

Amazon

15% off Sunbeam On-The-Go Fresh Portable Air Purifier: $127

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

38% off Kitchenaid Gourmet Pasta Press Attachment (KSMPEXTA): $249

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

$61 off KitchenAid KSM-150 Artisan Stand Mixer (Almond Cream): $535

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

17% off Sunbeam Sleep Perfect Antibacterial Electric Blanket Queen: $165

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

Save 43% on Panasonic Compact 3 Blade High Speed Shaver: $169

Ends

Amazon Amazon
Exclusive

Amazon

15% off Philips One by Sonicare Rechargeable Toothbrush: $64.94

Ends

Get deal
Exclusive
Amazon Amazon

Amazon

20% off LEGO Harry Potter Diagon Alley Wizarding Shops: $239

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

$22 off Castrol Edge 5W-30 A3/B4 Engine Oil 10 Litre: $153.95

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

$12 off MuscleTech Nitro Tech Ripped: $107.95

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

64% off SanDisk 512GB Ultra microSDXC Card: $52

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

$7 off Yamaha TW-E3C True Wireless Earbuds: $122

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

53% off ASUS NANO Dual Band USB WiFi 6 USB Adapter: $61

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

29% off Amazon Fire TV Stick HD: $49

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

36% off Logitech Pebble Wireless Mouse 2: $35

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

65% off SANDISK and Nintendo SQXAO 128GB U3 C10: $27.30

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

37% off Bonds Women's Underwear Hipster Bikini Brief: $25

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

40% off Bonds Everyday Trunks: $28.19

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

46% off Bonds Men's Underwear Total Package Trunk - Large

Ends

Angara Angara

Angara

Get 10% Off* + Free Lab Blue Sapphire Jewellery Gift!

Ends

Groupon Groupon

Groupon

Up to 40% off selected dining experiences at Groupon

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

32% off Days of Wonder Ticket To Ride board game: $53.99

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

13% off DEERC D20 Mini Drone with Camera for Kids: $69.99

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

49% off Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: $409.99

Ends

Myer Myer

Myer

Up to 50% off homewares at Myer

Dyson Dyson
Top Pick

Dyson

Up to $600 off vacuums, purifiers and beauty range at Dyson

Get deal
Top Pick
Amazon Amazon

Amazon

$92 off Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 5G AI Tablet: $1,456.26

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

20% off Philips Essential Air Fryer (6.2 L): $239.20

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

41% off Sunbeam Rice Cooker and Steamer: $44

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

16% off ASUS ROG Chakram X Origin Gaming Mouse: $225.36

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

65% off NBA 2K25 - PlayStation 5: $38

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

25% off Fossil Women's Bag: $246.17

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

22% off ASUS ZenWiFi XD4S AX1800 WiFi 6 Mesh Router (3 Pack): $239

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

24% off AgfaPhoto Realishot Compact Digital Camera: $266.53

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

30% off Oral-B 3D White Luxe Advance Seal Whitestrips: $31.49

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

34% off Shark MessMaster Vacuum Cleaner (Blue): $199

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

25% off Blink Outdoor 4 wireless smart security camera: $299

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

26% off Moto g85 5G (Urban Grey): $297

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

20% off ECOVACS DEEBOT N20: $429

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

40% off Ring Battery Video Doorbell: $89

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

30% off Sennheiser TV Listening Wireless Headphones: $349

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

34% off Sigma 4412955 DG HSM Art Lens for Nikon: $999

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

45% off Versuni Philips 5000 Series Air Fryer XXL: $248

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

55% off Listerine Freshburst Zero Alcohol Mouthwash 500mL: $3.60

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

28% off Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones: $398

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

30% off Fossil Men's Buckner Convertible Backpack: $384.30

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

56% off Panasonic Deep Bass Wireless Headphones: $155

Ends

Grow My Money Grow My Money

Grow My Money

50% off first 6 months of the Unlimited Plan at Felix Australia (code: FELIX6)

Ends

The Oodie The Oodie

The Oodie

30% off almost everything at The Oodie

Ends

HelloFresh HelloFresh
Exclusive

HelloFresh

Up to $200 off first 6 boxes with code FRESHFINDER

Get deal
Exclusive
Amazon Amazon

Amazon

$229 off Sony SEL50F14Z OSS lens: $2,070

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

41% off Echo (4th Gen): $99

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

41% off Samsonite Tote-A-Ton 82cm duffel bag (Black): $47

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

16% off JBL Bar 300 260W 2.0 Channel Virtual Atmos soundbar speaker: $445

Ends

EveryPlate EveryPlate
Exclusive

EveryPlate

Up to $181 off your first 5 boxes with code FINDERPLATE

Get deal
Exclusive
Under Armour Under Armour

Under Armour

Up to 20% off outlet items at Under Armour

Chief Nutrition Chief Nutrition

Chief Nutrition

Up to 20% off healthy snacks bundle

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

$110 off KitchenAid 5.6L Artisan Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer: $639

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

64% off Fairy Platinum Plus Dishwasher Tablets 168-pack: $65.70

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

30% off Thrustmaster ESWAP XR Pro Controller Forza Horizon: $231.76

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

42% off Rockland 20-inch expendable carry-on spinner luggage: $111.79

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

Up to 30% off Helly Hansen rain jacket

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

18% off Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Deluxe Edition - Xbox Series X

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

50% off Miele Scout RX3 Robot Vacuum Cleaner: $499

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

30% off Garmin Fenix 7S Pro Sapphire Solar: $1,072.40

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

15% off DJI Mavic 3 Pro Fly More Combo with DJI RC: $3,569

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

15% off DJI Mavic 3 Pro Fly More Combo with DJI RC Pro: $4,529

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

45% off NETGEAR Orbi Quad-Band WiFi 6E Mesh System (3 pack): $1,529.15

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

$870 off Fujifilm GFX100S II Camera Body: $7,829

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

19% off Singer M3335 Special Edition Sewing Machine: $321.65

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

18% off Fossil Pearl Disc Rose-Gold-Tone Pendant: $98

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

34% off Ring Stick Up Cam Battery by Amazon: $99

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

41% off Fossil Harlow Linear Texture Hoop Earrings: $100.75

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

41% off Echo Show 5 3rd Gen (Charcoal): $99

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

23% off Lenovo 2024 Yoga Book 9: $3,459

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

25% off Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic 43mm (Black): $597

Ends

Amazon Amazon

Amazon

52% off Samsung Galaxy Fit3 (Grey): $71.99

Ends

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

Go to site