The traditional Boxing Day shopping frenzy in Wollongong's CBD retained its festive buzz, but the age-old question lingered among the crowds: is the day after Christmas still the king of sales, or has Black Friday claimed the crown?
The Great Shopping Debate: Tradition vs. The New Normal
Gone are the days when Boxing Day solely meant pre-dawn queues and doorbuster stampedes. While the atmosphere in Wollongong remained lively with post-Christmas bargain hunters, a national shift is undeniable. Black Friday has now emerged as a larger retail event than Boxing Day, according to industry observers. However, many shoppers maintain that December 26 holds a special place for genuine, post-holiday clearance items that can't be beaten.
Our team spoke with several Wollongong shoppers who were happy to share their preferences. The consensus highlighted a split loyalty, with some swearing by the traditional Boxing Day rush and others planning their major purchases around the November Black Friday promotions.
On a national scale, the spending power of Boxing Day remains formidable. Total sales across Australia for Boxing Day 2025 are projected to exceed $3.1 billion. Research from comparison website Finder indicates that one in three Australians – equating to over seven million people – intended to participate in the post-Christmas sales this year.
Smart Shopping: How to Spot a Real Deal
With discounts plastered across store windows, experts urge consumers to be savvy. Money expert Rebecca Pike advises that tracking prices in the weeks leading up to a sale is crucial for identifying authentic markdowns. "Signing up to retailer mailing lists can also pay off, with early access and subscriber-only offers often released before the public sales go live," she said.
This proactive approach helps shoppers avoid deceptive tactics, such as when retailers artificially inflate prices before a sale to make a discount appear deeper. Pike recommends consumers always compare the final price across multiple retailers to guarantee they are securing the best possible value, rather than just focusing on the percentage slashed from a potentially inflated recommended retail price.
A Warning Amid the Sales: The Rising Tide of Shopping Scams
As shoppers hunt for bargains, banks and authorities are issuing stern warnings to be vigilant against increasingly sophisticated scams. New data from the Australian Banking Association reveals a alarming trend: Australians have lost approximately $40 million to buying and selling scams in the past year, with nearly two-thirds of people reporting they have encountered a shopping scam.
Common tactics include fake order confirmation emails for purchases never made, designed to trick recipients into clicking malicious links. Social media marketplace scams, where sellers accept payment and then disappear, are also rampant. Simon Birmingham, head of the Australian Banking Association, warned that scammers are now leveraging artificial intelligence to mimic legitimate businesses more convincingly.
"Double-check you're purchasing from a legitimate website and watch out for text messages about missed deliveries, as this is a common way for scammers to get you to hand over personal or financial details," Birmingham cautioned.
Shoppers are advised to be extremely cautious of:
- Fake websites and social media ads that impersonate real brands.
- Unsolicited emails asking for confirmation of unknown orders.
- Text messages claiming to be from delivery services about missed parcels.
While the debate between Boxing Day and Black Friday continues in Wollongong and across the nation, the message for all bargain hunters is clear: shop smart, verify deals, and protect yourself from financial crime while enjoying the sales.
