7 Black Friday shopping mistakes NOT to make in 2021!

Our Best Black Friday 2021 Tips and Deals!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are November’s #1 cause for mass mayhem in online and offline retail worldwide. We always want to help you score the best deals possible, simple, easy and hassle-free. So let us offer you some small Startselect advice, before you jump in the deep end of the Black Friday 2021 Freakshow and the Cyber Monday Madhouse. Now if you’re thinking “I’m just here for the best Black Friday gaming and entertainment gift cards”, you can just click here. 

1. Waiting too long 

A lot of Black Friday deals create a sense of urgency, but you know better! If you wait long enough, prices are bound to go down again. It’s always good to hold off for a bit, play a little ‘hard to get’, you know? But don’t wait too long! Most stores do have an actual ‘Final Round’ and once that’s done, it’s back to the regular old prices for you laggers out there. 

Time and consumerism wait for no man. Not even if you wear a fancy hat. 

Also take note of ‘daily deals’ and limited time offers. You could have your heart set on buying something, only for the sale to be over the next day. A lot of online stores - like us - place timers next to their products. That way, you can see exactly which offer is still active and how much time you have left to buy it - or change your mind about it. Which brings us to our next tip:  

2. Avoid impulse buying

This is basically the opposite of the previously mentioned mistake, and has a lot to do with Black Friday’s typical sense of urgency. Retailers worldwide want nothing more than for you to buy their stuff. Period. They get content marketers - yes, just like yours truly over here - to come up with the catchiest lines and call-to-actions to make you press that BUY-button without a second thought. Free will is a myth. 

“All these bags are just as empty as the deep, dark void in my life I’m so desperately trying to fill.”

But, that second thought will come, eventually. So before you buy, ask yourself questions like “Is this really such a great deal als they make it out to be?” or “Do I really need this right now?” to avoid splurging on something that wasn’t such an amazing offer after all. That said, you might find something useful AND worth it on our Black Friday 2021 page!

3. Buying from unreliable retailers

As soon as 2021’s Black Week rolls around you’ll see all types of vendors pop up on- and offline. All claiming to have the best deal or the lowest prices. Especially when shopping online, there’s a level of anonymity to take into account! First off, stick to the ground rule: If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Also, don’t follow strange men into a back alley. 

You’re saying you’ve got a PS5 hidden in that jacket? Seems legit!

Is some shady webshop offering you the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase something high-demand like ‘the last PS5 of the world’ including all Next Gen games? Does this offer have a ridiculous price tag attached to it? Pass on the offer, unless you’re willing to throw away your hard earned money. Not to brag, but we’re the official partner of all the products we sell. So if you’re looking for a reliable retailer for your digital gaming and entertainment codes, you found us! Just sayin’.   

4. Being careless with your personal- or payment info

You’re no dummy, we know that! But some online stores can be super deceiving. And who knows what might happen when your personal details or - maybe even worse - your bank- and credit card details are up for grabs? When you’re shopping online, Black Friday or the other 364 days of the year, always check if the website you’re buying from is safe. There are plenty of Browser Safety Tools out there to help you with this. 

A great example of what every online criminal looks like. Stay safe out there!

There are also some signs that might indicate you’ve ventured into the scammy side of the internet, such as: on-site spam, tons of pop-ups, suspicious redirects or warnings from the search engine you’re using. When in doubt, just log out! And know that we will never ask for your personal or payment details. Don’t hesitate to contact our friendly customer service if there’s anything on your mind! 

5. Keep your coupons handy

A lot of Black Friday deals and discounts are activated with the use of coupons, so make sure you have them all lined up! Sometimes it’s even possible to stack multiple coupons upon checkout. If you’re doing your Black Friday shopping with us, we’ll give you a heads up: some of our Black Friday discounts are deducted automatically, others by coupon. 

Someone who clearly forgot to add their coupon code before clicking “buy”

This means it’s very likely that you found yourself a sweet Apple deal automatically. But you also added one of our Xbox promo offers, which are activated with a coupon. If so, make sure to copy & paste this coupon during check-out. Oh and FYI, the coupon code is BF5 for -5% on selected Xbox subscriptions, you’re welcome! 

6. Don’t forget delivery time & costs

Being able to buy all the stuff you like without having to ever set foot out of the door is great. Welcome to the 21st century! Although you should keep in mind that all that stuff you buy online has to find its way to you, eventually. And is a great deal still that great if you suddenly have to pay a ridiculous amount of shipping or - gasp - customs?! 

“I’ll defy this blizzard to deliver your order, even if it’s the last thing I do!”

During this time of year, postal- and delivery services are often swamped. Especially if you’re using Black Friday to get the best deals on Holiday gifts, double check if you’re going to receive them on time. When it says 2-3 weeks for shipping, odds are you’ll get impatient when you hoped for 2 but it starts looking like 3. But, no worries, because just like with all our previous tips: we got you bruh! Buying your Black Friday gift cards at Startselect means you won’t ever have to deal with shipping, transactions or even interacting with fellow human beings. You receive your code in your email and you can redeem it immediately after purchase. Hurray for not leaving the house ever! 

7. Avoid rush hour

If anything, it’s been one hell of a year. So a lot of people might look forward to actually going to a physical store again to do some Black Friday shopping in 2021. We dig that! But if you get the shivers just thinking about people bashing each other's heads in for the best deal: we dig that too. So understandably, online shopping is the way to go for a lot of us. 

The face I make knowing I can’t stay cozy at home like this forever. Wait, or can I?

But even in the safety of your own home, danger lurks. Is your internet connection secure? Why is the screen not loading? There was such a good deal, but somehow I can’t put it in my shopping cart!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN SERVER TOO BUSY?! In this digital day and age, online stores are just as subject to too many customers. So even if you decide to ditch the human contact and opt for online shopping, websites can get overcrowded. The peak hours for online shopping are between 10-11am and 8-9pm. If you dare to visit a store, the best time to do this is as early in the morning as possible. A lot of physical shops open earlier and all the good stuff is still there, presumably. 

Now, last but not least. Just because it’s you and you’ve managed to read the whole thing, here’s a little something extra:

8. BONUS TIP!

Save on your gaming and entertainment gift cards, credits and subscriptions with our best Black Friday 2021 deals!

For the really good offers and promotions this Black Friday, you don’t have to venture out into the real world at all. Because we have everything you need right here. No stress, no hassle, just some amazing Black Friday deals for everything related to gaming and entertainment. You can order, receive and redeem it without ever having to get out of your (gamer)seat. Just visit our Black Friday 2021 Deals page and you’re all set! 

Actual footage of someone who’s on top of the world after Black Friday shopping at Startselect.  

Now go and enjoy everything this Black Friday and Cyber Monday have in store for you, online or offline!