UPDATE: Black Friday may be over, but Cyber Monday sales are still landing. If you want to see new discounts available today (November 29), head over to our dedicated Cyber Monday deals hub.
Black Friday is finally here, which means retailers have launched their biggest and best deals that you can shop right now. With so many great discounts on offer, it’s tricky to know where to start, and that’s why we’re here to help.
One of our highlights is the second-gen Apple AirPods going for NZ$197, a deal that’s available from PB Tech. Another standout is an offer on the Oculus Quest 2 from Amazon Australia. This Black Friday is the first year that Kiwis can shop for Black Friday deals on Amazon Australia, as it now ships to New Zealand from across the ditch.
But there are plenty more retailers getting in on the action, and we’ll be keeping you regularly updated on this page with the best deals on gaming consoles, TVs, tablets, laptops, smart speakers and so much more.
We’ll see plenty of sales this month, and they’re likely to keep going through to Cyber Monday and beyond. We’ll be keeping you updated with everything you need to know about Black Friday 2021 on this page, with the best deals and more.
Black Friday deals: quick links
- Amazon Australia: discounts on hundreds on items, now shipping to NZ
- Apple: iPhones, MacBooks, iPads and more
- Catch: save on electronics, small appliances, toys and more
- Dell: up to 25% off selected Alienware laptops and PCs
- Emma Sleep: save 50% on Emma Original mattress
- KitchenAid: save on KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixers
- Lenovo: up to 23% off IdeaPads, ThinkPads and Legion laptops
- Microsoft: save on select Surface bundles
- Mighty Ape: massive range of tech and gaming gear on sale
- Mobile Station: shop for smartphones, tablets and cameras
- NZgameshop: discounts on games for PS5, PS4, Xbox and Nintendo Switch
- PB Tech: save on Apple products, PC components and much more
- Secretlab: save up to NZ$45 on Secretlab gaming chairs
- Shaver Shop: up to 70% off oral care and grooming products
- TheMarket: get 10% off almost everything at TheMarket
Top 5 deals still available on Black Friday
Black Friday 2021: key information
When is Black Friday 2021?
Black Friday falls on the Friday following Thanksgiving in the US, and this year, it is on November 26, 2021 – that means you’ve got plenty of time to prepare.
Cyber Monday takes place on the Monday immediately after Black Friday, so that means this year, Cyber Monday is on Monday, November 29.
Although in theory the two days are individual sales, they have mostly merged into one major sale event. While retailers would traditionally start their sales a few days before the official date, it’s become increasingly common for Black Friday sales to begin a few days, if not weeks, earlier, and sales are often extended well beyond Cyber Monday.
With the sale period falling a few weeks before Christmas, it’s an ideal opportunity to bag bargain gifts for your loved ones (and yourself) before the last-minute rush hits.
What’s the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
In years past, particularly in the US, Black Friday meant physically going to a brick-and-mortar store to clamour for massively discounted items. Cyber Monday on the other hand was exclusively for online-only deals, and is a more recent addition to the retail calendar, following on the heels of the online shopping boom.
Traditionally, Black Friday in the US was more about lifestyle items, while Cyber Monday was geared towards electronics and other high-ticket items. These days, however, there’s barely a difference between what is available on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and most deals offered in-store can also be found online.
How do I get the best Black Friday deals in 2021?
While Black Friday discounts tend to start earlier than the actual day, and extend past Cyber Monday, we’ve found that the best deals drop on the day itself. Our number one piece of advice is to do your research before the sales start, and shop smart.
That means setting yourself a budget (and sticking to it) and keeping an eye on the products you want in the lead up to the shopping event. That’s because some retailers will jack up the price before the sale, so by the time November rolls around, a steep discount isn’t actually as great as it seems.
It’s more likely to happen with big-ticket items such as laptops, smartphones and TVs, so if those are something you want to buy on Black Friday, monitor their prices in the lead up to the sale. Trusted retailers are much less likely to do this too, but it pays to be savvy.
In addition to thinking about the products you want, consider some alternatives too. While plenty of tech gets discounted on Black Friday, not everything does, so think about the product you want, but also similar products with very similar specs and features from other brands. It’s good to have a few alternatives in mind to lessen the chance of a last-minute splurge.
Not to toot our own horn, but we’ll also be scouring the web for the best discounts and deals during Black Friday. So stick with us, and we’ll highlight all the discounts worth your time (and money) on this page.
Five of the best Black Friday deals from last year
Where can I find the best Black Friday deals?
This year is the third time we’re covering Black Friday in New Zealand. We have been covering the sale event in Australia for a few years now, so we have an idea of what deals to expect and where to find them.
We’re anticipating competition between retailers both big and small to gain momentum, particularly given Amazon Australia’s recent entry into the market. Discounts will grow from one-day flash sales to being spread over an entire week – if not longer.
With Mighty Ape well and truly establishing itself as a major player in the online retail market, local brick-and-mortar stores could be stepping up their online sales game, and may try to tempt shoppers by offering higher discounts on goods.
TheMarket is also one to watch, as it curates a large range of Kiwi retailers into one location, and offers great coupon discounts you won’t find at the retailers themselves.
While we can’t be certain what will be on offer this year, here are our early predictions:
- Amazon, TheMarket and Mighty Ape will push hard to dominate the online retail market
- It will be wise to wait on purchasing a new laptop, as these always get a decent discount during Black Friday sales
- If you’re looking to upgrade your home entertainment system, we expect prices to be slashed on TVs and soundbars
- There will almost certainly be great deals on big name headphones
- Cameras across the range will have savings in their sights
Black Friday 2021 FAQ
Are Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales held in New Zealand?
Most definitely. Black Friday may have started off as an American tradition, but it’s become increasingly popular in New Zealand over the last five years or so, with major retailers such as Mighty Ape, TheMarket, Dell and Microsoft offering big bargains on a wide variety of products, usually kicking the sale off before the actual date and extending well beyond Cyber Monday.
How did Black Friday start?
Let’s take a Black Friday history lesson: the first known mention of Black Friday related to this shopping experience was in November 1951, when the journal Factory Management and Maintenance used it to describe people calling in sick the day after Thanksgiving so they could have an extra day off work.
At the same time, US police were using the phrases ‘Black Friday’ and ‘Black Saturday’ to describe the horrendous traffic that crowded the streets at the beginning of the pre-Christmas shopping season. In 1961 there was a movement from the local governments to change the shopping season to ‘Big Friday’ and ‘Big Saturday’, but it clearly never caught on.
How did Cyber Monday get its name?
The term was coined by Ellen Davis and Scott Silverman of the US’s National Retail Federation and Shop.org, and it was a deliberate move to promote online shopping back in 2005 when the internet was made of wood and powered by steam. It was intended to help smaller retailers compete with the big names who were harping on about Black Friday, although of course those big names promptly jumped on the Cyber Monday bandwagon too.
Are Black Friday deals real?
Generally speaking, yes – although there are two kinds of deals. The first has been pre-agreed between brands/retailers and suppliers, so they’re not as off-the-cuff as you might expect. The other is sudden price drops, whether that’s an algorithm working out the best way to attract users to buy (as brands like Amazon often will in countries where it’s well established) or just the big names price-matching one another.
As with any sales, you’ll see a mix of genuine bargains, discounted end-of-line stock and mysterious things found in the back of a warehouse somewhere.
Can I get cashback on Black Friday deals?
Sometimes, yes. Your credit card may offer cashback on purchases, and some big brands, particularly for cameras, often offer cashback even when you purchase from a retailer (provided the retailer is a registered and authorised one).
Am I protected when I buy on Black Friday?
Yes. In New Zealand, anything you buy from a business online is covered by a wealth of consumer protection legislation which gives you the same rights as with any other online purchase.
How can I stay safe on Black Friday?
Black Friday brings out the scammers as well as the sellers, so be wary of unsolicited emails or links to deals on social media, no matter how legitimate they look: anything asking for card details or login details may be a scam. Phishing sites do big business on Black Friday, so be extra suspicious – and if you’re on a PC, make sure your security software is up to date. Many security suites automatically block known scam sites.
- Best New Zealand tech deals: top online discounts you can buy right now
