Black Friday 2023 most commonly asked questions: when is Black Friday? What is Black Friday? Is Black Friday worth it?

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday is better known to be one of the busiest shopping days in the calendar year. It started in the US but the promotion made it's way across the pond to the UK and the rest of Europe soon after. Many retailers will offer limited discounts on their products, mostly to get rid of old stock from the previous season, in order to make way for the new stock coming in. Nowadays, this event also takes place online, whilst shops still maintain their Black Friday sale in-store. 

At Back Market, you'll find offers of of between 30% to 50% off the cost of new items all year round. So for us, Black Friday is just like any other regular Friday as far as we’re concerned!

When is Black Friday? What are the dates of Black Friday?

In the UK, the official date for Black Friday this year is Friday, 24th November, 2023. In 2022, Black Friday fell on 25th November. It is normally the final Friday of the month in November so you can get prepared with your shopping list on this day.

However, at Back Market, you can avoid all the rush in-store and slow site rendering on the 24th, since you can have access to the same offers, 365 days a year. So no need to wait for Black Friday — and no need to remember the date of Black Friday either! 😊

When do Black Friday deals start?

Over the last few years, retailers have started offering their Black Friday deals a week earlier, meaning this year it will likely start from the 17th and end on the 27th (Cyber Monday).

How long do Black Friday sales last?

Black Friday traditionally used to last 1 day each year. However, it has evolved since it's inception to be at least the whole weekend and extend onto Monday (otherwise called as Cyber Monday). And it continues to evolve with the latest trend for Black Friday to last at least 10-days long now, with sales generally starting 1-week before the official Black Friday date for some retailers.

Why is Black Friday called Black Friday?

The term "Black Friday" first appeared around the 1960s in the United States. It refers to the Friday after the American Thanksgiving holiday. But the exact origin of why Black Friday is called Black Friday is still debated. 

One popular theory is when Philadelphia police officers used the phrase "Black Friday" to depict the carnage that came from the huge crowds of shoppers coming into the city to begin their holiday shopping . The huge numbers created a headache for the police who were forced to work longer shifts as a result in order to deal with the traffic jams, accidents, and shoplifting, among other problems.

When is the best time to buy on Black Friday?

If you want to buy a high-tech product (a smartphone, a washing machine, a new TV etc.), you don't need to wait until November 25th, 2022. In fact, the best deals are available every day, all year round. By buying a refurbished product, you can access prices that are 30 to 50% cheaper than new. 

For the most part, there’s no need to rush to the stores on Black Friday. Usually if you come across a good deal, you can find a similar one a few days or weeks later. 

👉 Reading tip: Is Black Friday a good time to buy mobile phones?

Where does Black Friday come from?

Black Friday originated in the United States and has spread throughout the world. In the United Kingdom, it first appeared in 2010 when Amazon started offering Prime deals. It is a commercial day when shops and online platforms offer discounts on all types of products: smartphones, make-up, clothes, etc.

What stores are having Black Friday sales

Any type of shop and brand can decide to do Black Friday sales. Whether it's Boots, Zara, Selfridges, IKEA, John Lewis, you will find many discounts on clothes, make-up, furniture and many other products during this sales period. For iPhone 11 Black Friday deals, iPad Black Friday deals, MacBook Black Friday deals, other laptop Black Friday deals – as well as all other tech products – Back Market offers great deals and discounts all year round! We don't do Black Friday because we have good deals 365 days a year. Since you won’t find any Black Friday deals or promotions from Apple, Back Market is the best place to find cheap iPhones, iPads, MacBooks or AirPods.

Black Friday vs Cyber Monday?

The main difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is of course the timing of the two events. One takes place on Friday and the other on Monday. In addition, Black Friday can take place in physical shops and online, while Cyber Monday is online only. Either way, there are deals to be had on both days. But here's the thing, at Back Market, we offer prices 30% - 50% off the price of new ALL YEAR LONG! 😄 No need to wait until the 24th!

Which is better: Black Friday deals or general sales?

During Black Friday and the generic sales periods (summer sale, autumn sale, winter sale etc.), you will obviously have access to many good deals and discounts. However, the difference between these two days is that Black Friday is a commercial operation carried out by retailers. On the other hand, sales are regulated periods that allow shops to clear their stocks. Finally, for your information, you don't have to wait for these periods because at Back Market we offer unbeatable prices every day, all year round. Up to 50% off the cost of new.

Black Friday 2023: How to limit your environmental impact on this day?

Black Friday is a commercial event. Retailers usually make more money on Black Friday than most other days of the year. To put it plainly, it’s a day of over-consumption where many goods are delivered around the world, causing massive pollution. 

To avoid over-consumption and limit your impact, avoiding tons of Black Friday purchases is the best way to do good for the planet. However, if you really need a specific product, consider retailers who deliver more environmentally friendly items such as second-hand clothes or clothes made from natural materials. You can also think about refurbished products! There are many ways to limit your online impact on this day, as well as throughout the year.