Black Friday versus Cyber Monday – what’s the difference?

Black Friday is a relatively new event in South Africa, but it’s fast becoming a sort of unofficial national holiday as savvy shoppers realise just how much money they can save on a whole range of items. This year, Black Friday falls on November 27 – just over two months away!

If you’re serious about shopping and saving, you’ll know that Black Friday is closely followed by Cyber Monday (this year, it’s November 30) – perhaps the only time you’ll wish that the weekend would fly by!

Two days, two great chances to save, but do you know the difference?

Black Friday, Big Tickets

Black Friday began as an event in malls, but due to long queues, overcrowding and now worries about the coronavirus, most of the best bargains can now be found online. Black Friday has traditionally been a great chance to make massive savings on expensive items like TVs and domestic appliances, but these days you can get Black Friday deals on almost anything.

As the name suggests, this started out as just a one-day affair, but many retailers and ecommerce sites have extended their Black Friday sales to be several days long. Of course, the best deals are likely to get snapped up first, so make sure you’re prepared.

It’s time to get digital

Cyber Monday – which is always the Monday after Black Friday – began as a way for ecommerce sites to compete with Black Friday deals in stores. The name comes from when the internet was still known as “cyberspace” and Cyber Monday is a much more recent development – it first took place in 2005, while the first Black Friday sales were in the 1980s.

Originally, Cyber Monday was only an online event, and it focused on technology products and smart devices. That’s no longer strictly the case, but there’s definitely still a techy feel to Cyber Monday. Black Friday, in contrast, can see almost any product get reduced in price.

Whereas Black Friday has expanded and can now be almost a week long, Cyber Monday is still pretty much restricted to that one day. So, if you’re keen to get a bargain on a smartphone, laptop or other device, you don’t have time to waste!

If you’re wondering why the best digital deals were on a Monday, that’s because back in the day, most people had better internet connections at work than at home, so they would do their online shopping in the office. Now that bidorbuy also offers a great mobile experience, you can shop our deals wherever you are.

So, which day is better?

To be honest, there’s probably no real answer to that question. Black Friday lets you save on a range of goods, while Cyber Monday is more tech focused. Black Friday happens online as well as in stores, while Cyber Monday is pretty much an online-only deal.

For Black Friday 2020, the shopping experts at bidorbuy are predicting that all the best deals will be online. After all, why stand in a queue in a store wearing a mask, when you can be checking out the deals on bidorbuy and chilling on your couch at home? Whether you’re looking for technology or towels, get ready for superb online savings this November!

Be the first to know

One of the best ways to save money is to get early notice of all the biggest savings. To find out about the best deals on bidorbuy, visit www.bidorbuy.co.za/blackfriday and sign up to receive our updates. You should also download the bidorbuy app to stay informed about chances to save while you’re on the go.