Survey finds more than half of Australians experience Black Friday buyer’s remorse

Research by Choice suggests 53% of people either regretted a purchase or had a negative experience during the sales, as other experts warn against overspending and scams

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More than half (53%) of Australians have regretted a purchase or had a negative experience during Black Friday sales, a Choice survey has found.

The consumer advocate warned shoppers to be wary of unmissable" deals and other strategies that create a false sense of urgency, with businesses already rolling out early discounts before Black Friday sales officially start on 28 November.

Misleading store-wide" or site-wide" claims, when sales actually involve exclusions.

Fine print or disclaimers that seek to limit headline claims about the sale, including member-only deals or excluding a range of products.

Deceptive up to X% off" offers, with the up to" text almost illegible and few products at maximum discount.

Misleading was/now" or strikethrough" pricing.

False urgency through inaccurate countdown timers and phrases like three days only" that don't align with the true duration of the sale.