Did you buy anything on Black Friday / Cyber Monday?

In previous years this was of course a QOTW post, but as HEXUS has ceased publishing I decided to do so myself as I'm sure the answers can still be interesting.

For me, I got a couple of t-shirts on a discount and renewed my Internet Security software for another 3 years.

The latter however was because it was the end day that it happened to fall on (and thus the last day to take advantage of the renewal discount), due to it originally being bought on a Cyber Monday discount.

I did consider letting it expire and getting it cheaper on a Cyber Monday discount again, but I suspected they may not even do the discount this year (as there clearly wasn't a Black Friday one), which seems to indeed be correct after checking today.

Yeah we found a camera lens I'd half wondered about so asked mrsik9000 if she could get me one for Christmas. Wasn't going to get black Friday stuff but it was a decent saving, almost like rolling back RRP to use original launch price from 2019

Nope, nothing, with prices how they are on many things at the mo, what was a Black Friday deal would have been normal pricing a year ago...

I really pushed the tech out this year and bought..

a bunch of scented candles and a car headlight bulb

I know, just watch those FAANG stocks rise :p

Almost got Google Chromecast but realised we don't really have any 4k content (and do have the PS5 if we do upgrade Netflix).

I didn't buy anything... but I know the wife bought my Christmas present, as she was moaning about having still not remembered to set up her account with her MoD discount, as it would have gotten her an extra 20% on top of the BF price reduction!

I didn't buy anything this year. Couldn't really find anything and some of the items had been cheaper in the past so gave it a miss

Scrap that, I forgot I need a new PSU for the wife's computer! *Scurries off to shop*

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Originally Posted by [GSV]Trig

Nope, nothing, with prices how they are on many things at the mo, what was a Black Friday deal would have been normal pricing a year ago...

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Originally Posted by Jonj1611

I didn't buy anything this year. Couldn't really find anything and some of the items had been cheaper in the past so gave it a miss

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Yes, this year's sales certainly don't seem to have much of an impact as far as I can tell, even when you take into account that they can be hit and miss in normal times.

Not very surprising though, given all the issues with shipping, drivers, chip shortages, and scalpers in some categories on top of that, along with the continuing effects of the pandemic.

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Originally Posted by jimbouk

Scrap that, I forgot I need a new PSU for the wife's computer! *Scurries off to shop*

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Here's hoping there will actually be a discount available on the PSU you choose then. As of course, the best purchases on sales days are always those you needed to get anyway.

On Friday or Monday, no and not yet, respectively.

In the lead up to BF, i.e. in the marketing hype, a 55" LG C1 OLED TV.

On Saturday, (so not Fri or Mon but at so-called BF deal prices), a Sage Oracle coffee machine. I have umm'd and ahh'd about this, changing my mind so often it was making me dizzy, but it finally briefly got listed at what I can only describe as an "If I'm going to, it's now or never" price.

On Friday, a Niche Zero grinder, but it's scheduled for Jan delivery.

Actually on Friday, a few other coffee bits including a book, but more or less at normal prices. I think I saved about £5 there.

And, depending on stock, I just might indulge in a Canon R6 mirrorless DSLR today or tomorrow (while offer lasts). Not sure yet. And an adapter to let me use my existing lenses.

Oh, and thinking about an R9 5900X and Asus X570 Gaming E Wifi2 motherboad, but I've been a bit, erm .... busy. :embarrassed:

Apart from that ....

Oh wait .... a Manfrotto tabletop mini-tripod and their "Pro" smartphone holder too. Forgot about them.

4 pints of milk, a loaf of bread and a bunch of bananas.

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Originally Posted by Saracen999

Oh wait .... a Manfrotto tabletop mini-tripod and their "Pro" smartphone holder too. Forgot about them.

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Is that the little Joby folding pocket-sized one, or the larger version?

Just bedding for me.

Bits and pieces that I was going to anyway (books, some packaging materials, few ebay odds), but juggling so many Black Friday percentages/multibuy/Nectar point/Paypal prize draw entries/cashback permutations it's arguable if you'd be better off with a quiet sit down & a coffee and forget saving the few quid.

Actually I do want a new phone out of anything, tech wise, but cba with the research & the 'nearly but fatal flaw & back to square one' of it all.

Some shoe laces? (Not kidding - saved £1.50!)

Was holding out for some upgrades to my 3d printer but nothing dropped. Real nothing event this year IMO.

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Originally Posted by jimbouk

Almost got Google Chromecast but realised we don't really have any 4k content (and do have the PS5 if we do upgrade Netflix).

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We don't have a 4K TV, but the Chromecast is still my favourite streaming box/dongle at a dated 1080p.

I got a 16GB Ballistix DDR4 3200 pack for £45 as I am trying to slowly put together a cheap machine to experiment with Proxmox server at some point.

There were some good SSD deals, so it looks like wifey is getting me a 2TB SN750 WD Black drive to put my games on for Christmas.

Two Oxo Goodgrips toilet brushes. Thrilling I know, but the brand is good (they make stuff as "oh isnt that useful" as Joseph & Joseph, but better quality and cheaper).

No real tech this year in BF. I bought a Samsung Odyssey G9 neo the week before (thanks Amex offering 10% off samsung + referral discount ;) ) but no tech on or around the BF "sales" this year. First time in a long time!

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Originally Posted by Spud1

Two Oxo Goodgrips toilet brushes. Thrilling I know, but the brand is good (they make stuff as "oh isnt that useful" as Joseph & Joseph, but better quality and cheaper).

No real tech this year in BF. I bought a Samsung Odyssey G9 neo the week before (thanks Amex offering 10% off samsung + referral discount ;) ) but no tech on or around the BF "sales" this year. First time in a long time!

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:) - I was on a lookout for an OXO goodgrips sweeper for similar reasons! No discount unfortunately - I think that is a sign of the quality - they don't need to discount. Will wait a while as no rush but definitely a good quality brand.

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

Is that the little Joby folding pocket-sized one, or the larger version?

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No idea, but it'd need to be a pretty large pocket. It's about 8" tall, but Manfrotto, not Joby. If one makes gear for the other, it's news to me.

It's the PIXI EVO. It's on Amazon, and no doubt, everywhere else.

5% off on a Seiko SBDC149 watch.
Shipped Thursday from Tokyo and arrives tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by Saracen999

No idea, but it'd need to be a pretty large pocket. It's about 8" tall, but Manfrotto, not Joby. If one makes gear for the other, it's news to me.
It's the PIXI EVO. It's on Amazon, and no doubt, everywhere else.

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They're either partners, or Manfrotto own Joby.
I have the Joby GripTight One Micro smartphone holder (non-Pro version) with tripod but the parts are interchangable with various ¼" threaded kit, and I often see Manfrotto stuff using the same parts in some of their kit.

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Originally Posted by Kovoet

Just bedding for me.

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You are getting ready for hibernation? :P

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

They're either partners, or Manfrotto own Joby.
I have the Joby GripTight One Micro smartphone holder (non-Pro version) with tripod but the parts are interchangable with various ¼" threaded kit, and I often see Manfrotto stuff using the same parts in some of their kit.

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I wondered about that. So far, it looks and feels pretty solid .... unlike some of the junk on the market .... but as it's still in the plastic clamshell, it's hard to tell.

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Originally Posted by DanceswithUnix

We don't have a 4K TV, but the Chromecast is still my favourite streaming box/dongle at a dated 1080p.

I got a 16GB Ballistix DDR4 3200 pack for £45 as I am trying to slowly put together a cheap machine to experiment with Proxmox server at some point.

There were some good SSD deals, so it looks like wifey is getting me a 2TB SN750 WD Black drive to put my games on for Christmas.

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The RAM deals were good as I saw some 32GB 3200MHZ kits for £80~£90,but didn't need any. I really wanted a 2TB SN750 but the cheapest was £180~£190 and I was waiting for it to go below £150. The 1TB one could be had for £75. However,I already have 2.8TB of SATA SSD storage on top of the SN700 SSD,so TBF I probably can wait! :P

However,DxO were doing 50% off their Photolab 5 Elite suite for £100 and Quidco might do another £17 cashback on top of this,so with a few minutes to go I got that! A lifetime license unlike what Adobe does,and covers 3 PCs too.

I got a few things this year and some okayish deals (i believe).

Fire HD 10 Tablet - £79.99 with a free Gogle Nest hub - John Lewis

Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) £79.99 - with a free Google Nest Hub - John Lewis

2x Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) - £101.99 delivered - Very.co.uk

Coffee Machine - Ebay - (Delonghi outlet) - Delonghi Dinamica ECAM350.15 (Refurbished with 12 month warranty from manufacturer) - £231.99

Philips hue light strip 3 meters - £59.99

Overall, I think I did okay. I need 2 GU10 Philips hue ambiance colour bulbs. But there has been no deal on these. Overall, there has been a lot less choice. Even compared amazon France, Germany and UK, UK has had a lot less items on offer compared to them which is a shame.

Sally got me my Xmas pressie, a new DAB radio at half price from Hughes.

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Originally Posted by CAT-THE-FIFTH

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However,DxO were doing 50% off their Photolab 5 Elite suite for £100 and Quidco might do another £17 cashback on top of this,so with a few minutes to go I got that! A lifetime license unlike what Adobe does,and covers 3 PCs too.

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Huh. Nice catch, Cat.

I might have gone for that myself a few months ago. Instead, I ended up with ACDSee (Lightroom substitute) and Affinity Photo (Photoshop substitute).

Dumping Photoshop after all these years wasn't an easy decision ... any more than switching most of my stuff to Linux was, after the W8 thing. But looking back, in both cases, I'm glad I did, and not just because of avoiding subscription software (not doing that)..

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Originally Posted by Saracen999

Huh. Nice catch, Cat.

I might have gone for that myself a few months ago. Instead, I ended up with ACDSee (Lightroom substitute) and Affinity Photo (Photoshop substitute).

Dumping Photoshop after all these years wasn't an easy decision ... any more than switching most of my stuff to Linux was, after the W8 thing. But looking back, in both cases, I'm glad I did, and not just because of avoiding subscription software (not doing that)..

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DxO Prime and DeepPRIME noise reduction is probably the best I have ever used,and as it now supports Fuji X-Trains RAW files I made the jump from an earlier version.

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Originally Posted by Saracen999

I wondered about that. So far, it looks and feels pretty solid .... unlike some of the junk on the market .... but as it's still in the plastic clamshell, it's hard to tell.

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My new phone is notably wider than my previous ones, so I got a new Joby mount (they made a bigger one to reflect modern phone dimensions) and tripod... because it's that good and that necessary to me.
Based on that, and the few occasions when I've loaned the lower part to my camera-geek friend who takes pro pictures for some of the big London zoos, I'd expect the quality of their other kit to be pretty acceptable!

A customer's 3D printer ended up in our workshop last week. I've been thinking of one for a couple years. Some hands on time and a BF 10% off deal was enough to push the button on an Ender 3 V2.

Not really a BF deal but my wife spotted a Pi Zero 2 in stock and ordered one without even being asked. Her Christmas list landed in my inbox shortly afterwards :D

Purchased gear in the EKWB BF sale to watercool the new PC with hardline pipes. The first one I did was about 15/16 years ago... really looking forward to the new project.

Cyber Monday saw me order a Dell Inspiron 15 with a Ryzen 7 5700u, 512gb M2 SSD and 8gb ddr4 3200mhz for £500. Memory was only 1 stick single channel but amazon had a matching stick of crucial memory for £21 so I'll run 16gb in dual channel.

Should be here today, only downside is it comes with Windows 11 plus Mcaffe and whatever other nonsense I'll have to uninstall.

Still, will keep me playing Football Manager and Openttd long past the point where my mobility prohibits me from getting to my desktop.

I spent a lot of last week trying to find a gaming monitor for my Windows PC as I was getting desperate because I was using a work second monitor temporarily. It was a massively frustrating effort as prices for the monitors in my short-list were exactly the same across all of the major retailers, down the exact pound and pence!

Eventually I stumbled upon a Samsung 1440p monitor on ao.com that had an additional 10% discount. It's this one here:

https://ao.com/product/lc32g55tqwrxx...88921-258.aspx

I ended up paying £269.10 with free delivery. It does the job although it is clearly a budget monitor and quite cheaply made. However, it has exceeded my expectations for picture quality and an immersive gaming experience.

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Originally Posted by spacein_vader

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Should be here today, only downside is it comes with Windows 11 plus Mcaffe and whatever other nonsense I'll have to uninstall.

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Something nags at the back of my mind about MS allowing a downgrade in that situation, back to W10 (if that's what you want) but not for very long. IIRC, it's something like a 14-day window of opportunity, so if you're thinking of it, don't hang around on it. Or I might just be imagining I read that somewhere.

I bought a Ninja Foodi 11 in 1 as I was after a new airfryer and all the other features made it worth the purchase. Was after some computer speakers but I didn't pull the trigger sadly.

I also forgot I picked up a bottle of Nikka from the Barrel,as there was a 20% event on Amazon Warehouse so got around £10 off it.

A few SSDs, SFX PSU, gaming mouse, Wireless IEMs, Whisky, some smellies and an ebike. That took care of a fair few xmas presents this year.