A third of Black Friday shoppers say they buy electronic gadgets just to keep up with the latest trends
Brits are set to splash out over £3.5billion on unnecessary tech in this year’s Black Friday sales, according to a recent poll.
The average Black Friday shopper plans to spend £202.11 on electronics, totalling over £5billion nationwide. However, only 30% claim they ‘very much’ need the item with a fifth likely to use their new gadget for only four months after purchasing.
The OnePoll.com survey found that six in 10 have up to eight unused items sitting in their home, with 35% admitting they buy new just to keep up with the latest tech.
Despite this, a study commissioned by second-hand electronics specialist CeX found that 48% wouldn’t consider buying second-hand electrical items as an alternative.
Quality concerns and limited warranty or return policies were cited as the main reasons why 57% prefer to buy electronics new.
A spokesperson for CeX said: “Black Friday is when people are often tempted by discounts, but it’s also an opportunity to consider the impact of what we buy.”
The brand made a bold statement about the issue of wasted tech by sending a rubbish lorry through London’s busiest shopping areas, emblazoned with the message ‘Black Friday is a load of rubbish.’
“Our research shows that much of what’s bought ends up discarded within months, and over £3.5 billion worth of unnecessary items are destined to gather dust,” they added.
Among those who would contemplate purchasing second-hand gadgets, a whopping 64% do so to save money, while 43% are mindful of their environmental footprint.
However, over three-quarters of Brits are predicted to buy brand new items during Black Friday, with headphones, laptops, smartwatches, and mobile phones being the prime targets.
A staggering 79% confess they get thrilled by spotting a bargain, and 31% reckon most deals offer genuine value for money.
The spokesperson for CeX chimed in: “There can be a worry attached to buying second-hand products especially in huge sales such as Black Friday.”
“We want to remind people that there’s a smarter way to purchase by shopping around for quality, second-hand tech that can save money, reduce waste, and keep gadgets in use for longer.”
