March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010
November 2010
December 2010 January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024 April 2024 May 2024 June 2024 July 2024 August 2024 September 2024 October 2024 November 2024
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28
29
30
News Every Day |

Parents are paying up to 70% extra buying top Christmas toys due to an easy mistake – how to avoid it

PARENTS are being ripped off by up to 70% through Christmas toy “sales” put on by retailers. 

The Sun has found some hefty discrepancies in price between the big-name brands, some as much as £25.

Mattel
Hot Wheels Ultra Shark Car Wash set was 70% cheaper in one store[/caption]
Furby
The Furby Galaxy Electronic Plush is another popular toy this Christmas[/caption]
Numberblocks
The Numberblocls Musical Superstar Stage set had a £15 difference[/caption]

It comes amidst Black Friday sales as retailers fight for customers during one of the busiest times of the year. 

Sun Money checked a list of the top 10 most popular toys this year based on picks by experts at Amazon, Argos, Hamleys and Good Housekeeping. 

From there, we’ve checked through the leading retailers’ prices for the exact same presents and found that parents could end up being overcharged by up to 70%. 

Our research shows that it’s more important than ever to shop around. 

Consumer expert Martyn James said: “Endless sales, misleading discounts, outright fibs.

“It’s almost impossible to know if you’re getting a bargain when shopping online. So arm yourself by being cynical about everything.”

Before splashing your cash on these toys, remember to check sites such as Price Spy and Idealo to find out if you can buy items cheaper at another store.

Free online price trackers like Price History and CamelCamelCamel will also give you an idea of whether you can save cash by buying it later in the year

HOW PRICES DIFFER

Prices between retailers differ widely. 

*prices correct at the time of writing

For example, we found that the Hot Wheels City Ultra Car Wash set costs £60 at Asda but just £34.99 at Smyths, Amazon, and Very.co.uk. That’s a £25 markup. 

Meanwhile, the Furby Galaxy Electronic Plush has a huge £20 price difference depending on where you pick up the gadget.

At Hamleys, you’ll pay £74.99, while at The Entertainer, Amazon or Smyths Toys you’d pay £54.99.

For those of you with little ones, if you’re looking to pick up Numberblocks Five’s Musical Superstar Stage set – you could be looking at being overcharged £15.

That’s because at Littlewoods online you’d pay £63.99, but at Ryman stationery chain you’d pay just £48.99. 

Parents of budding boy racers could be looking at paying over £10 more for the Scalextric Micro James Bond 007 Set if they shop at Very instead of Amazon.

The two retailers are selling the same set for £70 and £59.95 respectively.

We also found that a Disney Princess Moana Singing Doll cost £29.99 at Hamleys and just £20 at The Entertainer. A £9.99 reduction.

*prices correct at the time of writing

Martyn said: “As this essential research from the Sun shows, the price for some of the most ‘in-demand’ items can vary considerably between retailers. 

“So it’s vital that you shop around and don’t just stick to the big shops.”

Take a chance

Retailers tend to respond to demand and prices may drop, particularly if they host Black Friday or pre-Christmas sales.

Many retailers extend their return and exchange policies during this time of year.

So if you are prepared and buy your toys too early you could return them and get a refund and then buy at the lower discounted price.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that some stores may offer cashback through providers like Top Cashback or Quidco and that means you could get some of your money back when you shop.

This could help ease the financial burden of the festive season.

The biggest thing to remember is that several of the above retailers mentioned are online only – such as Amazon, Very and Littlewoods – which means you will most likely need to pay for delivery.

We haven’t factored the fees into our comparison above because several of the brands offer free delivery over a certain amount and charge different fees depending on the size of the item.

So how much you pay will really depend on your basket. 

How to compare prices and get the best deal

Just because something is on offer, or is part of a sale, it doesn’t mean it’s always a good deal.

Martyn added: “Shops rely on you being loyal and making snap purchases. So, view every offer as dodgy and spend a few minutes finding the best deal.”

There are plenty of comparison websites out there that’ll check prices for you – so don’t be left paying more than you have to.

Most of them work by comparing the prices across hundreds of retailers.

Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. 

Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results.

Price Spy logs the history of how much something costs from over 3,000 different retailers, including Argos, Amazon, eBay and supermarkets. 

Once you select an individual product you can quickly compare which stores have the best price and which have it in stock.

Idealo is another website that lets you compare prices between retailers. 

All shoppers need to do is search for the item they need and the website will rank them from the cheapest to the most expensive one.

CamelCamelCamel only works on goods being sold on Amazon. To use it, type in the URL of the product you want to check the price of.

How to bag a bargain

SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain…

Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with.

Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks.

Sales are when you can pick up a real steal.

Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on.

Sign up to mailing lists and you’ll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too.

When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use vouchercodes.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer.

Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. Trolley.co.uk app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping.

Bargain hunters can also use B&M’s scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out.

And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you’ll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

Жизнь

Благотворительный Фонд Потанина назвал лауреатов грантового конкурса «Практики личной филантропии и альтруизма» сезона 2023/2024

Michail Antonio reveals he was barred from entering the UK after passport blunder in nightmare international break

Las Vegas GP F1 qualifying: George Russell takes pole, Lewis Hamilton only 10th

Exclusive: Sumit Kaul on joining the new season of Tenali Rama as Girgit; says ‘It will be a challenge for me to live up to the expectations of audience’

F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix – Start time, starting grid, how to watch, & more

Ria.city






Read also

Lakers’ 2nd-half struggles continue in NBA Cup loss to Suns

Northern groups hail FG, NNPC over Porth-Harcourt refinery revival

Here you are at the Thrilling World of Casinos

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix – Start time, starting grid, how to watch, & more

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

Michail Antonio reveals he was barred from entering the UK after passport blunder in nightmare international break



Sports today


Новости тенниса
Уимблдон

Елене Рыбакиной "отдали" вторую победу на Уимблдоне



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Певец из Москвы Лев Соловьев выпустил гимн медиафутбола и футбольной медиалиги



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

«Непоседы» выпустили кавер на хит рэпера ST «Заниматься спортом»


Новости России

Game News

Rejoice, roguelike nerds: Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is coming to Steam


Russian.city



Губернаторы России
Сергей Собянин

Сергей Собянин: Рублево-Архангельская линия метро создаст новые маршруты


МИД Германии отверг закрытие бюро Первого канала в Берлине

Bloody - участник и технический партнер Red Expo-2024

Лукашенко восхитился талантом российской актрисы Польских

Филиал № 4 ОСФР по Москве и Московской области информирует: В Москве и Московской области 650 тысяч пенсионеров старше 80 лет получают пенсию в повышенном размере


Творческий вечер в Париже посвятили Булату Окуджаве

Встреча-телемост с участием российского путешественника прошла в Архангельске

Концерт ко Дню матери прошел во Дворце культуры «Яуза» в Мытищах

«Стало сюрпризом!»: Певица Fantine о победе в номинации премии «Все цвета джаза»


Зарина Дияс узнала хорошую новость от WTA

Елена Веснина рассказала, как впервые увидела Мирру Андрееву в девятилетнем возрасте

Бадоса опубликовала фото страстного поцелуя с Циципасом

Андреа Петкович заявила, что Синнера не включили в номинанты премии ATP из-за допинг-дела



В Подмосковье офицер Росгвардии оказал помощь в эвакуации  пострадавших в результате ДТП

Сеть клиник «Будь Здоров» запустила медицинского GPT-ассистента

Филиал № 4 ОСФР по Москве и Московской области информирует: Отделение СФР по Москве и Московской области оплатило свыше 243 тысяч дополнительных выходных дней по уходу за детьми с инвалидностью

«МедАльянсГрупп» – надежный партнер в медицинской сфере


Энергетики обошли в поисках повреждений более 3,8 тысячи километров линий электропередачи в Смоленской области

Певец из Москвы Лев Соловьев выпустил гимн медиафутбола и футбольной медиалиги

Гастрольный форс-мажор: Театр Дениса Матросова едва не остался без сценических костюмов

Лавров: Запад игнорирует все предупреждения Москвы об ответе на удары вглубь России


Хотели в шторм посмотреть на китов: корабль с туристами перевернулся в Териберке

Суд по делу Ибрагимовой затягивается - один за другим болеют адвокаты обвиняемых

Глава Одинцова осмотрел обновленный сквер в Голицыне

Курс юаня на Мосбирже превысил 15 рублей впервые с 29 марта 2022 года



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Тилль Линдеманн

Суд обязал Тилля Линдеманна выплатить 67 млн рублей за отмену концерта в Твери



News Every Day

Sky Sports commentator stunned by ‘one of the strangest reactions to a goal I’ve ever seen’ by Watford fans




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости