Major tech retailer slams Black Friday deals as ‘a load of rubbish’ as over £3.5 billion wasted on electronics in the UK

BRITS will splurge more than £3.5billion on tech they don’t actually need in this year’s Black Friday sales.

A poll of 2,000 adults found the average Black Friday shopper anticipates spending £202.11 on electronics, a total of over £5billion nationwide.

But only 30 per cent claim they ‘very much’ need the item – meaning only £1.5 billion of the purchases are strictly necessary.

Exactly a fifth will only use their new gadget for four months after purchasing, and 35 per cent admit they are only buying it to keep up with the latest tech.

The study, commissioned by second-hand electronics buy and sell specialist CeX, which has just launched its five-year-warranty offering, also found 48 per cent wouldn’t consider buying second-hand electrical items.

With reasons including quality concerns and limited warranty or return policies, and 57 per cent say they prefer things that are new.

To highlight the issue of wasted tech the brand sent a rubbish lorry through London’s busiest shopping areas, including Regent Street, with a bold message on its side reading ‘Black Friday is a load of rubbish’.

A spokesperson at CeX said: “Black Friday is when people are often tempted by discounts, but it’s also an opportunity to consider the impact of what we buy.

“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.

“That’s why we’ve introduced our five-year warranty and sent a rubbish lorry through London — to help Brits make more mindful choices and keep their purchases in use for longer.”

The study also found 78 per cent will be purchasing brand new items, with headphones, laptops, smartwatches, and mobile phones cited as the top targets for the 2024 sales bonanza.

It emerged 45 per cent only buy something in the Black Friday sale because of the discounted price tag.

With 79 per cent admitting they get excited by seeing a bargain, and 31 per cent think most deals provide a genuine value for money.

Of those who would consider buying second-hand things in the November sales, 64 per cent say it’s for money saving reasons, while 43 per cent are conscious about the environmental aspect.

When wanting to get rid of unwanted tech, 41 per cent recycle, 32 per cent gift to family or friends – and 24 per cent simply keep it.

Nearly six in 10 (57 per cent) have up to eight unused items sitting in their home, according to the OnePoll.com data.

And it was also revealed that 45 per cent are not aware of the volume of electronic items that get wasted every year.

The spokesperson for CeX added: “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.”

THIS BLACK FRIDAY’S TOP 20 MUST-HAVES

1. Headphones
2. Laptop
3. Smartwatch
4. Mobile phone
5. Air fryer
6. Tablet
7. Smart speaker
8. Television
9. Games console
10. Coffee machine
11. Music system
12. Doorbell camera
13. Camera
14. Washing machine
15. Robot vacuum
16. Fridge/ fridge freezer
17. Dishwasher
18. Health monitor
19. Smart ring
20. Drone

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