Top 6 shopping tips and hacks for sales season 2025

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Sales season is approaching, with huge shopping events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Boxing Day just around the corner. Shoppers across the country are getting ready for some serious bargain hunting, so it pays to be prepared so you don’t miss out.

You can already find popular brands on sale, with Click Frenzy running from November 11-14 and promising discounts of more than 50% off for members.

Here, we tell you how to prepare for the sales season to help you score a deal on your wish list.

Being the first to know when a sale goes live can help you lock in items on your wish list before they sell out.

Create a membership account: some brands or sales websites have free membership accounts that give you access to exclusive deals or early access.
Sign up for a newsletter: these emails are especially useful during sale periods, with some retailers offering benefits or personalised deals to subscribers.
Shop online and in-store: retailers might offer different discounts between their website and store front, so shop both online and in-store to see the full range of offers.
Use comparison websites: tools like Camelcamelcamel and Price Hipster do the hard work for you, comparing prices and sales on products over time.

2. Add items to your shopping cart early

Set yourself up for success by adding items to your shopping cart before the sales begin. Then you’ll be ready to check out quickly when discounts go live, reducing the risk of items selling out while you shop. This is especially useful for popular products, such as electronics and appliances, which often sell out fast during sales events.

3. Keep an eye on big-ticket items

Sales can a great time to consider buying big-ticket items you’ve had your eye on, such as electronics, tech and home appliances. Plus these often come with the biggest discounts. Some of the larger retail stores offer best-price guarantees, so shop around before tapping your card. If you find a cheaper price elsewhere, ask the store to match it—it’s an easy way to save even more.

4. Review return policies

Before you buy, check the retailer’s return policy for items on sale. Some stores have different return rules for sale items, and it’s helpful to know if you can get a refund or exchange. Pay attention to the condition the product has to be in qualify for a return and any exclusions that may apply.

5. Avoid these clever sales tactics

Retailers often use pressure tactics like countdown clocks or ‘low stock’ alerts to rush you into impulse buys. Be wary of inflated ‘was’ prices designed to make a standard discount look huge, as this is a common trick to manufacture value. It pays to pause and check the item’s price history elsewhere to ensure you aren’t falling for a hollow bargain.

6. Beware of scams

Scammers love sales as much as shoppers do, so keep your guard up with these checks.

Avoid unfamiliar websites: only go to reputable websites starting with https:// that have a padlock icon.
Don’t click on strange links: be wary of clicking on links in unsolicited emails or social media ads. Instead navigate to the retailer’s site directly.
See what other shoppers say: read product reviews to see if the item is legitimate and good quality.
Check contact details: verify the retailer’s contact details to confirm their credibility.

Rachel Bollerman

Consumer Content Writer

Rachel Bollerman is a Consumer Content Writer on Canstar's Editorial team. She covers a variety of content, including consumer goods and services, and energy and telco. After graduating with a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in Journalism at the Queensland University of Technology, Rachel has worked in a variety of public relations, marketing and communications roles. She has experience in community management, social media marketing, blog writing and other styles of copywriting.

Prior to joining Canstar, Rachel worked at the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health where she assisted with campaign management and communications across the organisation. When she's not working, Rachel enjoys doing arts and crafts projects at home and spending time with friends.

You can follow Rachel on LinkedIn.