Buying Business Tech in the Black Friday Sales: A UK Guide

Black Friday falls on 27 November this year, and many UK retailers run offers for most of the month. It can be a sensible time to replace tired equipment. It can also be an expensive way to buy the wrong thing, because consumer gadgets and business IT aren’t always the same.

First, check it’s really a deal

Which? tracked 175 home, tech and health products across the year around the 2024 sales, and found eight in 10 products on offer over the Black Friday period weren’t at their best price.

So:

• Know the normal price before November. A price tracker or a quick note of today’s price helps.
• Ask your IT provider for a quote. Business models are sold year-round through trade channels, so compare before you assume the sale price is better.
• Buy what you planned, not what happens to be reduced.

Usually good sale buys

These are low-risk because they don’t hold company data and don’t need managing:

• Monitors. A second screen or a larger one is one of the cheapest productivity upgrades there is. Check the connections match your laptops, ideally a single USB-C cable for power, video and peripherals.
• Headsets. A decent noise-cancelling headset makes Teams calls clearer for everyone, especially in open-plan offices and at home.
• Docking stations. Make hot-desking and hybrid working much easier. Check compatibility with your laptop models first.
• Webcams. Worth it if the built-in camera on your laptops is poor.
• Keyboards, mice and laptop stands. Employers must assess display screen workstations, including for home workers, under HSE guidance, and decent kit helps.

Buy laptops and PCs with care

A laptop holds your company’s data and connects to everything, so the bargain matters less than whether it fits your set-up.

Windows 11 Pro, not Home

Microsoft says Windows 11 Home devices can’t be joined to Microsoft Entra ID. That means they can’t be managed, encrypted and protected in the same way as the rest of your company’s devices. Many sale laptops come with Home, so check, and budget for the upgrade if you need to.

Check how long it will be supported

Older models are often the ones discounted hardest. A device that stops getting security updates soon is a false economy, and Cyber Essentials expects devices and software to be supported and kept up to date. Our Cyber Essentials checklist covers the requirements.

Gaming laptops are rarely the answer

Gaming laptops offer impressive specifications for the money, which is why they often appear in Black Friday deals. For most offices they’re heavier, noisier, shorter on battery life and come with consumer warranties. Only consider one if someone genuinely needs serious graphics power for CAD, video or 3D work, and check the warranty covers business use.

Smart devices: check the label

Cameras, video doorbells, smart TVs for meeting rooms and phones all connect to your network. Since 29 April 2024, UK law under the product security regime has required makers of consumer connectable products to avoid universal default passwords and to state how long the product will get security updates. Check that period before you buy, set a strong password on day one, and keep these devices off the network your work computers use.

Know your rights when buying as a company

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects consumers, defined as individuals buying for purposes wholly or mainly outside their trade or business. If you buy in the company’s name, you’re usually not a consumer, so the 14-day right to cancel online orders may not apply. Business purchases rely on the Sale of Goods Act 1979 and the seller’s own terms.

Before you buy, check the returns policy, the warranty, and whether either changes for business use. Keep the VAT invoice in the company’s name.

Watch out for sale scams

Fake shops and too-good-to-be-true offers peak in November. The NCSC suggests checking that an unfamiliar shop is genuine before buying, paying by credit card where you can, and being wary of links in texts, emails and social media posts. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. If your company is caught out in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, report it to Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

Before it reaches anyone’s desk

1. Enrol new laptops in your device management so they’re encrypted and protected from the start.
2. Add everything to your equipment list, with purchase dates and warranty details.
3. Wipe and dispose of old devices securely. Don’t just put them in a drawer.

If you’d rather not spend November comparing specifications, our IT consulting includes hardware sourcing: the right equipment for the job, at the right price, without overkill.