Ireland’s best Black Friday tips for 2025
From refund rights to spending rewards, here’s how to bag a Black Friday bargain without busting your budget.
Latest UpdateWhen is Black Friday 2025?
In 2025, Black Friday falls on Friday, November 28th, and Cyber Monday takes place on Monday, December 1st.
Black Friday is celebrated on the same date in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, marking the start of the festive shopping season.
Cyber Monday follows shortly after, focusing on online sales and digital deals.
With prices still high and Irish shoppers hunting for better value, Black Friday 2025 is shaping up to be another huge event, especially online. Whether you’re after tech, fashion, or a broadband deal, a little planning goes a long way.
What’s new for Black Friday 2025?
- Deals start earlier than ever: Retailers are kicking off sales from mid-November, with many launching ‘Black November’ campaigns. Sign up for store newsletters or app alerts to catch early-access discounts.
- Smarter shopping with AI tools: AI price trackers and browser extensions are making it easier to spot genuine bargains and avoid fake ‘was/now’ deals. Use them to check price history before you buy.
- Focus on sustainability: More Irish consumers are shopping consciously; choosing refurbished tech, local brands, and stores with carbon-neutral delivery.
- More broadband and streaming offers: Expect new Black Friday deals from major Irish providers like Virgin Media, Sky, eir, and Vodafone on broadband, TV and mobile bundles.
- Online shopping fraud is on the rise: With rising fraud, beware of scams and copycat sites always double-check URLs, look for the padlock symbol, and avoid sending money via bank transfer or crypto.
With these trends in mind, it’s worth thinking about how to plan your spending, spot genuine deals, and make the most of this year’s sales.
Here’s a set of practical Black Friday tips to help Irish shoppers shop smarter in 2025:
Set a spending limit
Before the sales begin, decide what you can realistically afford, set yourself a budget and stick to it.
Black Friday can offer some brilliant bargains but it’s easy to overspend, especially when you’re buying online or using a credit card.
Setting a clear limit helps you avoid debt and makes it easier to prioritise the things you really need. Remember:
- If you’re paying by credit card, try to clear the balance in full when your statement arrives.
- Any interest you pay could quickly wipe out the savings you’ve made.
- Use budgeting apps or your online banking tools to track spending in real time, so you can stay on target throughout the Black Friday weekend.
Create a wish list
A bit of prep can save a lot of money. Before you shop, make a list of what you actually want and compare prices ahead of time.
Here’s how to plan your Black Friday wish list:
- Jot down the products you’re looking for, along with an estimated price.
- Compare the total with your overall budget and adjust if it’s too high.
- Next, list the sites you plan to visit in priority order. This will prevent you from getting distracted, or tempted to buy things you don’t need.
- If you’re doing early Christmas shopping, make a list of who you need to buy gifts for, then assign an amount to each person.
Add items to online baskets or wish lists early. Many retailers will notify you if prices drop on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
Go online
Avoid busy shopping centres and consider shopping from the comfort of your own home. Other good reasons to shop online are:
If your internet is lagging while you’re bagging a bargain, it might be time to switch to a faster broadband plan.
Compare the latest Black Friday offers from providers like Virgin Media, Sky, eir, and Vodafone to find better value and speed.
Accelerate with AI
AI is changing how we shop, and it can help you find better Black Friday deals faster.
Use free browser extensions and apps like Honey, Karma, or ChatGPT plug-ins to:
You can even ask an AI chatbot to help you compare features, prices and reviews before you buy: ideal if you’re shopping for tech, broadband, or appliances.
Always double-check the retailer’s website and price history yourself before buying. AI tools can help you save time, but human judgment still wins on shopping safely.
Preview prices
Before the sales kick off, take a little time to research retail prices for the products on your wish list.
Not every ‘50% off’ deal is what it seems - some retailers might quietly raise prices before Black Friday to exaggerate discounts - so take note of pre-sale prices to ensure you’ve bagged a genuine bargain.
Check you’re getting a genuine deal, by:
- Trying browser plug-ins to see historical prices.
- Keeping screenshots or notes of prices a few weeks in advance.
- Compare offers across a few trusted Irish retailers before you buy.
Get social
Many of the best Black Friday deals in Ireland are shared first on social media.
Follow your favourite retailers on Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter) and TikTok to catch early alerts and exclusive offers.
It’s also worth signing up for newsletters. Some brands will send exclusive discount codes, special offers and sales info to their subscribers.
Tips for social shopping:
Be alert to scams
Black Friday can also attract fraudsters and copycat sites so if you find a deal that seems too good to be true, it could be.
Before parting with your cash, shop safely:
Reap rewards
Many credit cards or debit cards offer cashback or shopping rewards, which can make Black Friday savings even better.
To make the most of rewards:
- Use cards that give cashback on electronics, fashion, or online shopping.
- Pay your balance in full, as interest can quickly outweigh any rewards.
- Some cards provide extra consumer protection, with a better chance of getting a refund if things go wrong.
Shop trusted brands
If a deal seems too good to be true, it might be. Check for any hidden catches, as you don’t want to be saddled with a faulty product or a delivery no-show at this time of year.
Stick to reputable retailers with verified contact info, clear delivery policies, and customer care number or online chat.
Shopping with a credit or debit card also means you’re protected by the chargeback scheme.
Try older tech
If you’re hunting for gadgets like smartphones, laptops, or smartwatches, consider slightly older models.
You can often clinch the best iPhone or Samsung deals by choosing a last year’s model with a bigger price cut.
Plan big-ticket items
For major purchases like electronics, travel packages, or appliances, arrange your gadget insurance or mobile insurance as soon as you buy to be protected.
The same applies for a holiday bargain. Getting travel insurance right away means you’re covered if anything goes wrong, like a travel company going bust.
To help spread the cost of a major purchase, you could also consider applying for a purchase credit card with a 0% introductory rate.
Know your refund rights
Shopping online has lots of advantages, including extra refund rights that you don’t get on the high street. Remember:
- Right to a refund: If you cancel your purchase within 14 days, you’re entitled to a full refund. This applies even if the item is not faulty. Refunds must be processed within 14 days of cancellation, using the same payment method you used to purchase the goods.
- Consumer Rights Act 2022: This recent legislation strengthens consumer protections, including rights to a repair, replacement, or refund for faulty goods. It also clarifies that goods must match the description, be of satisfactory quality, and be fit for purpose.
- Six-year protection: You have the right to seek a remedy for faulty goods up to six years after purchase, provided the issue was present at the time of delivery.
- Card payments: If you paid by credit or debit card, you may have additional recourse through chargeback schemes, which can help recover funds if the retailer fails to provide a refund.
Before you start your shopping, bookmark our guide on refund rights to be prepared before Black Friday hits.
Bag Black Friday deals
The early bird gets the worm and planning ahead is key to snapping up Black Friday deals in Ireland 2025. While offers change each year, you can usually save on tech, toys, beauty, fashion, and more, if you act fast.
Expect big-name brands like Smyths, Arnotts, Easons, JD Sports, and others to slash prices on selected items.
Keep your wish list handy, check retailer apps, and watch out for flash deals online.
Have fun
Once you’ve done all your planning it’s time to make a brew, pour a glass of wine or crack open a beer.
Shopping should be fun and if you set a budget and stick with stores you trust, you can save money, shop without stress and hopefully pick up some great bargains too.
Black Friday FAQs
Do I have the same refund rights on Black Friday?
Yes. If you shop online, you’ll have the same consumer protection on Black Friday as you do any other time of the year.
If you shop in-store, you will be legally covered by the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, but check at the shop counter before you buy because individual stores may have different return policies.
Our refund rights guide can tell you all you need to know about returning goods and getting your money back in Ireland.
Do Apple do Black Friday deals?
You won’t get an official Black Friday discount directly from Apple, but other retailers like Amazon will offer Black Friday discounts on older Apple iPhone models.
Is it worth using a 0% credit card on Black Friday?
It’s worth considering a credit card if you are making a major purchase like a sofa suite or car and you don’t have the cash to pay the full price upfront. However, make sure you can repay the debt within the 0% finance period or you will be saddled with repaying extra at high interest rates.
If you want to take this option, the retailer will need to check your credit history. You’ll need a good credit rating to prove you’re a reliable borrower.
If you want to know more about how to check your credit record read our guide.
What is Cyber Monday?
The term Cyber Monday was coined around 2005 in the US by marketeers to encourage people to shop online. It became the online equivalent to Black Friday and is now a marketing term used by online retailers across the world.
The day always takes place the Monday after Black Friday and sales often take place through the weekend.
The date for Cyber Monday is 27th November 2023
What is cheaper, Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
It depends on what you’re shopping for, but generally:
- Black Friday (Friday, 28 November 2025) often has the biggest overall discounts in stores and online, especially for tech, toys, fashion, and home appliances.
- Cyber Monday (Monday, 1 December 2025) focuses on online-only deals, particularly for electronics, gadgets, software, and subscription services.
If you’re hunting for major tech items, check both days, some retailers will offer price matching or exclusive online bundles on Cyber Monday even if Black Friday has bigger advertised discounts.
Why is it called Black Friday?
The last Friday in November was often the day that shops “move into the black”, meaning they began to make a profit and therefore could start shifting old stock at reduced prices.
The concept originated in the US as a popular shopping day, the day after Thanksgiving and found it’s way over the pond in 2010 when Amazon started promoting deals and discounts on that date.
Now many countries around the world hold sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
