Your views on Black Friday

As many of our readers said, the trick with Black Friday is to know what you’re looking for. Lois from Scotland told us she bought her exercise bike in a Black Friday sale and said “it’s been one of the best purchases I ever made,” while Gillian from the North West said she “got a great deal on cat food.”

Research is key. Richard from the South West said he “checks prices very carefully during Black Friday and has picked up some real bargains,” and that’s advice we recommend following.

As Kara from the East Midlands puts it: “Black Friday sales are fine if you do your research and have specific items in mind. It’s a good idea to track the prices of what you are after in the months leading up to the sales and then, if you see a bargain, pounce on it.”

She said she has “used this method to get a third off a high-end Samsung TV and other household items” in the past, advising that “discipline and research are the key things to remember.” We couldn’t agree more.

One thing to be aware of this year is the possibility of being targeted by cybercriminals. Read the Telegraph Money guide to how to avoid Black Friday scams for the best defences against that. Reader Diana Saville commented: “If I ever see anything advertised on social media that catches my interest, I log on to a different browser and search for the company. I never, never ever click on links.” Excellent advice.

With all precautions in place, including a healthy scepticism and an awareness of price manipulations, there’s no reason why you can’t shop happily on Black Friday. The deals may not be as big as advertised, but they do tend to be the lowest prices you’ll find all year. Read our guide to this year’s Black Friday sale for the best we’ve found so far – only on products we’ve tested and approved.