Cape Town besties on mission to find the best deals

Black November has arrived, but deal hunters Haylea Heyns and Tara du Toit warn that not every advertised discount offers real value.

From inflated discounts to countdown timers designed to encourage panic-buying, knowing what to look for could save money and buyer’s remorse.

Heyns and Du Toit are best friends who moved from Durban to Cape Town five years ago, and started LiveDealSA to share their passion for bargain hunting.

“We were constantly taking screenshots of deals for each other, sending voice notes about a sale we had spotted and texting at 22:00,” Heyns explains. “At some point, we looked at each other and thought: Why are we keeping this in a group chat?”

Their friendship has since grown into a shared passion for helping South Africans shop smarter. And when Black November rolls around, they believe shoppers need to look beyond the big, bold percentages.

“Look at what the discount covers, not the size of the number,” Heyns advises. An offer promising ‘up to 70% off’ might apply to only a handful of products, while most items receive much smaller reductions.

“‘Up to’ is the key phrase. It tells you the maximum discount, not the typical one.”

The trick is to know the usual price before the sales begin. Retailers may inflate the ‘was’ price to make a discount look bigger than it really is. Do your homework – a product marked down from a high original price is not necessarily cheaper than it was a few weeks ago.

If you have your eye on a new appliance or pair of shoes, take a screenshot of the current price and compare it with the advertised special.

And don’t skip the fine print. Words such as ‘selected items’, ‘while stocks last’ and ‘exclusions apply’ can make a significant difference to what you’re actually getting.

Countdown timers and ‘only two left’ messages create urgency. Rather than rushing to the checkout, take a moment to compare prices and decide whether you genuinely need the item.

Heyns and Du Toit also warn against bundles that encourage shoppers to spend more than planned.

“‘Buy three for two’ only saves money if you wanted three,” Du Toit points out.

Delivery fees and minimum spending requirements can also eat into your bargain.

Some early Black November deals end before Black Friday itself, so check the dates before putting off a purchase.

Before browsing, make a list of what you need and decide how much you can afford to spend. Shop that list rather than getting swept up in every sale banner that pops up on your screen.

Du Toit says the best deals are on items consumers were already planning to buy, at prices they have compared with what the items cost over the past few months.

For bigger purchases, such as televisions, fridges and other appliances, research the exact model number and compare prices across at least three retailers. Check whether delivery, installation and warranties are also included.

Electronics, small appliances, and household essentials can be worth watching during sales, but comparison is still key. In fashion, the biggest discounts may apply to end-of-range stock or limited sizes.

Their advice for avoiding impulse purchases is to leave tempting items in your online cart for 24 hours before checking out. If you still want the item the next day and it fits your budget, you can make a more considered decision.

Also be careful of buy-now-pay-later options. Splitting a payment into smaller amounts can make a purchase feel more affordable than it really is.

Online shopping offers convenience, but consumers should check delivery charges, return policies and warranty terms before paying.

In South Africa, change-of-mind returns on in-store purchases generally depend on the retailer’s policy, unless other legal protections apply. Under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, you can cancel certain online purchases within seven days of delivery, although exclusions and conditions apply.

The Consumer Protection Act also provides an implied six-month warranty on goods, subject to the circumstances and applicable legal requirements. If goods are defective, consumers may be entitled to a repair, replacement or refund.

Keep your receipts, order confirmations and screenshots of advertised prices should you need to query a purchase.

For shoppers who don’t have hours to spend comparing sales, their Black Friday Cheat Sheet lists South African sales and identifies whether offers are sitewide, apply to selected items or involve other promotions. It also includes links to sale pages and published end dates, giving shoppers a starting point for their own research.

“Everyone else posts the sale. We tell you whether it’s actually worth your time,” Heyns says. Sometimes the smartest Black November purchase is the one you take the time to think about, or decide not to make at all.

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Khurshid Guffar 3 minutes read Facebook X LinkedIn Tumblr Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram Share via Email Print Support local journalism Add The Citizen as a preferred source to see more from Network News in Google News and Top Stories.