Brits are set to spend over £3.5 billion on unnecessary tech in this year’s Black Friday sales, according to a new study. The average Black Friday shopper is expected to shell out £200 on electronics, totalling over £5 billion nationwide.
Yet, only a third of brits claim they ‘very much’ need the items they intend to buy as a further third admit they only buy new to keep up with the latest trends.
According to OnePoll.com, six in 10 people have up to eight unused items sitting in their home and a fifth will use their new gadget for only four months after purchasing.
Second-hand electronics specialist CeX found that 48 per cent wouldn’t consider buying second-hand electrical items as an alternative as they have concerns over quality, limited warranty or return policies.
To help highlight the issue of wasted tech, the brand sent a rubbish lorry through London’s busiest shopping areas, including Regent’s street, with the message ‘Black Friday is a load of rubbish’.
A spokesperson for CeX said: “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.”
The brand has introduced a five-year warranty to help Brits make more mindful choices and keep their purchases in use for longer.
Among those open to purchasing second-hand gadgets, 64 per cent do so to save money, while 43 per cent are mindful of their environmental footprint.
However, over three-quarters of Brits are still anticipated to buy brand new items during Black Friday, with headphones, laptops, smartwatches, and mobile phones being the prime targets.
A whopping 79 per cent confess they get a thrill from spotting a bargain, and 31 per cent believe most deals offer genuine value for money.
A spokesperson for CeX commented: “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.”