Boxing Day sales
Chad England is a Content Lead
When do the Boxing Day sales start?
Boxing Day falls on 26 December every year. This year, it's a Saturday meaning that the bank holiday will be pushed to the following Monday. The sales usually begin on the day itself with some shops starting them earlier than usual, so consult your desired retailer's website. With some Boxing Day sales starting before the day itself it is hard to predict the exact time they will start, especially given that many will be taking place online and not depending on retailer store opening times.
In this guide, we'll explain how Boxing Day sales work and give you the best advice on how to find the right deals on products you love.
How long do the Boxing Day sales last?
While the name only refers to one day, the Boxing Day sales typically last for more than a 24-hour period. Each retailer will have their own time frame for the sales.
Due to Boxing Day sales lasting for longer than the 24-hour period many deals will be merged with January sales.
If you're in the market for a specific product you'll be checking multiple retailers to find the best deal. Read our guide on how to get the best price when shopping online to ensure you're getting the best deal for your budget.
Will the high street be open for Boxing Day sales this year?
With most shops reopening after the second lockdown the decision on whether to open for Boxing Day has been made on a retailer by retailer basis.
If you've decided to avoid the high street Boxing Day sales this year then read our guide on how to stay safe and shop smart online.
Best Boxing Day deals revealed
Before you hit the shops, make sure you do your research so you know which products are worth buying. After all, there's no point getting a big discount if you end up with a product that's not right for you.
Our product experts have searched the web to find the best deals for you. The most popular product categories are listed below:
- Best television deals
- Best laptop deals
- Best mobile phone deals
- Best washing machine deals
- Best headphones deals
Your rights in the Boxing Day sales
To make sure you know what to do if your sales item turns out to be a dud, we've rounded up the top five things you need to know about your rights when you're sales shopping.
1. What if the item I bought is faulty?
Hunting for the best deals can be stressful enough without discovering that you've bought something that's faulty.
We recommend that you go to the retailer in the first instance, rather than using a warranty. This is because there are strict rules under the Consumer Rights Act that retailers must follow. Move quickly, though, as you only have 30 days in which to reject something that's faulty and get your money back.
Your rights don’t end after 30 days but, from then on, the retailer has the option of repairing or replacing the faulty product, rather than having to give you a refund.
2. What if I change my mind about a purchase?
You can only return non-faulty goods for an exchange or refund if the retailer has a returns policy. It's worth noting that shops aren't required by law to have a returns policy but, if they do, they must stick to it.
Most shops' returns policies have time limits for returning non-faulty products, often 28 days. But sometimes they extend this period – especially around Christmas – so you might have more time than you think. Check when you buy.
If you buy online, you have additional rights under the Consumer Contracts Regulations. These give you 14 days from the time of delivery to return the product for a full refund, even if it's not faulty.
3. The digital content I’ve bought doesn’t work – what can I do?
In 2015, the Consumer Rights Act introduced new digital rights. This essentially means that anything you download or stream – including apps, music, movies, games or ebooks – is now covered by the legislation.
The retailer now has one opportunity to repair or replace any goods or digital content that are of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described, before you can demand a refund.
Crucially, for the most part, these rights only apply to digital content you pay for, not the free stuff. Click to find out more about your new digital rights.
4. What if there’s a problem with my delivery?
It’s always the the retailer's responsibility to deliver your goods to you so, if your parcel doesn't turn up on time, has gone missing altogether, arrives damaged, or is stolen from your doorstep, it needs to rectify the situation.
You shouldn't have to chase the delivery courier if there is a problem. Know your delivery rights and always speak to the retailer in the first instance
5. How do I avoid scams when doing sales shopping online?
There has been a huge increase in goods being sold by unscrupulous sellers on social media, as it’s easy to set up multiple accounts that don’t require too many details. According to the latest annual Intellectual Property Crime Report, social media has overtaken auction sites as the criminal ‘channel of choice’ for selling counterfeit and pirated products.
We advise caution if you see any special offers advertised on any social media that look too good to be true. Stay one step ahead of the criminals – use our guide on how to spot an online shopping scam.