Black Friday bombs: UK shops open early for crowds of dealhunters – but barely any show up
BRITISH retailers opened their doors early for Black Friday this morning expecting thronging crowds of bargain-hunters – but barely anyone turned up.
Few people queued up at most British shops for Black Friday
Things got off to a slow start on London’s Oxford Street where midnight came and went without any hint of last year's consumer chaos.
The Boots flagship store on Sedley Place was one of a handful of shops which opened extra early, advertising deals on huge posters by the shop entrance.
But bemused staff found no customers when they flung open the doors.
Expecting masses of thrifty shoppers, Tesco in Norwich put up security barriers outside the front doors to keep order until they opened at 5am.
But workers dismantled them minutes later after fewer than 20 people showed up – of which some were staff turning up for work.
A tiny queue formed outside Debenhams on Oxford Street
The scenes were underwhelming compared to last year's chaos
This is madness. #blackfriday pic.twitter.com/c4ZuIJYdQD
— Ryan Hooper (@RyanJHooper) November 27, 2015
The full extent of the chaos as Blue Boar Tesco opens its doors on a very #BlackFriday pic.twitter.com/zom8i0zSXP
— Ben Kendall (@benjkendall) November 27, 2015
After local police sent three cars to check the non-existent crowds weren’t getting out of control, one disappointed security guard said: "It's livened up a bit, it was dire earlier."
Meanwhile outside the supermarket’s Cardiff branch a woman turned up looking for bread and a cucumber only to be turned away because the rest of the store had been closed in preparation for shoppers.
Police had warned shops to ensure they have carefully thought-out security plans in place for the sales following chaos at a number of stores across the UK last year when huge crowds grappled for cut-price televisions and other big-ticket items.
Televisions were a popular item
Barriers & security guards in place at Surrey Quays Tesco. Crowd of 20+ queuing ahead of 5am opening #BlackFriday pic.twitter.com/zUkjAts4rb
— Joe Nerssessian (@joenerssessian) November 27, 2015
People are queuing in an orderly form as security man the doors pic.twitter.com/Zur6mxGG9d
— lauren brown (@lauren_brown25) November 27, 2015
Brick and mortar retailers will view the poor turnout as a disappointing start to a day which is expected to generate £1 billion of business for online shops.
Retailers made cut-price deals available online from midnight and many spent the night preparing to open their doors early to customers desperate to snap up discounted stock, ranging from televisions to toothbrushes.
Tesco and John Lewis have both installed queuing systems in expectation of large crowds, while the supermarket giant has assured customers it will have enough security and stock in stores following scuffles over limited numbers of items last year.
Few people could be seen queuing outside a Tesco in Bristol
Staff were bracing for thronging crowds
Only a few customers ventured out to see the Black Friday deals compared to last year
Police van arrives at Surrey Quays Tesco - precaution? #BlackFriday pic.twitter.com/qKaZoTAEmo
— Joe Nerssessian (@joenerssessian) November 27, 2015
Ebay is expecting nine million Britons to visit its website today, Argos, Currys PC World and AO.com are all offering hundreds of pounds off selected items, while John Lewis has promised to honour its Never Knowingly Undersold pledge and match competitors' prices.
Amazon.co.uk is offering its Fire tablet for £34.99, £15 cheaper than the regular price, as well as deals on televisions, video game consoles and Star Wars toys and £650 off a Gibson electric guitar, while those in the market for fine jewellery can snap up a white gold and diamond tennis bracelet for £3,500 off the regular price of £8,995.
Last year, Black Friday overtook Cyber Monday for the first time as Amazon.co.uk's busiest day, when it sold more than 5.5 million items at a rate of 64 per second.
Security staff were still preparing for the worst despite the low turnout
But in New York crowds flocked to the flagship Macy's store to kick off their 21hour Black Friday
Festive shoppers take photos of the famous Macy's displays