2020 is finally winding down, and while we’re all relieved to see the back of it, those of us still looking to nab a deal before the year ends still have Boxing Day and January sales to look forward to. In fact, a few retailers have already started Boxing Day offers!
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday have overshadowed Boxing Day’s glory in recent years, it’s still an excellent opportunity to pick up a discounted smartphone, laptop, TV, Fitbit or gaming console. It’s also a great time to exchange gifts that didn’t really light you up with joy on Christmas morning – just as long as you have the gift receipt .
Here we’re taking a look at where to get the best Boxing Day deals on your favourite tech along with how to deal with returns and refunds after Christmas.
When is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day arrives a day after Christmas, which means this year it’s on Sunday 26 December . It’s likely that sales might arrive before the day itself, given how Black Friday sales start earlier and earlier every year.
What is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is a 19th-century English tradition, where the rich would offer gifts in boxes to the poor, typically to servants who would have the day after Christmas off.
While that might be the origin, the event is now wholly a commercial one. Now retailers worldwide participate in Boxing Day, particularly in Commonwealth countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
Best Boxing Day 2020 tech deals and January sales
We’ll be updating this section with more deals as we head closer to the day itself, but in the meantime, check out some of the best Christmas tech offers we’re seeing in the UK below:
Top 10 Deals
Get £100 off the Meta Quest 2 (128GB)
From: Very
Was: £299
Now: £199 (£100 off)
Where to find best Boxing Day tech deals – best sales on now
Here are best tech and software sales on right now ahead of January:
- Amazon – Discounts on smart home, tablets, laptops, phones, software, beauty and health and more. See its dedicated Boxing Day page
- AO.com – Deals across white goods, home and kitchen appliances, TVs, laptops, £51 off Apple Air Pods Pro , and more
- Apple – For best Apple deals visit Macworld .
- Argos – Deals across tech, smart home, home and furniture, appliances, and more
- Appliance City – Fridge freezers, cookers, washing machines, kitchen appliances and more.
- Appliances Direct – Discounts on bathroom, white appliances, kitchen appliances, tablets, laptops, smartphones, and TVs.
- Box.co.uk – Deals across TVs, Laptops, Desktop PCs, components, monitors, and accessories.
- BT – £50 off AirPod, £20 off iPad
- Carphone Warehouse – Big data SIM deals, Pixel 4a deals, Free Fitbit Versa 2 with iPhone XR – see full January Sale
- CD Keys – Up to 90% off across all platforms (PC, Xbox, PS, Switch) until 27 December
- Currys PC World – £130 off Apple Watch 5 , Lenovo Smart Clock for £19 (£30 off) , £200 off HP Envy , TV deals, gaming , smart home, white goods, and more. We’re separately covering the best Currys deals here
- eBay – 15% off with code PRESENTS15
- ESET – January Sale with 25% off ESET Internet Security until 18 January
- Fitbit – Best Fitbit deals .
- GAME – Gaming gift guides, £5 off with £50 online purchases
- 365Games – Discounts on PS4 games, smart home, DVDs and more
- Green Man Gaming – Winter sale with PC Games Discounts
- John Lewis – Offers across home, fashion, electricals and gifts
- Laptops Direct – Deals across laptops, phones, PCs and TVs
- Lovehoney – Couple’s bundles (adult content).
- Microsoft – Boxing Week Sale begins with £219 off Surface Pro 7, £290 off Surface Book 3, £199 off Surface Laptop 3, 50% off Xbox games .
- Mobiles.co.uk – Cheap Apple iPhone SE deals, Google Pixel 5 deals and more
- Mobile Phones Direct – High data plans available across Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy devices with no upfront costs
- Nintendo Switch – Best Christmas and Boxing Day discounts online. Ring Fit deals can be found here .
- NordVPN – 68% off and three months free if you sign up for two years. NordVPN is our top VPN pick.
- O2 – Discounts on iPhone, iPad, and Samsung phones
- Park Cameras – Discounts and cashback on cameras and lenses
- PlayStation 5 – Where to buy PS5 before Christmas
- Samsung – £100 cashback on select phones, additional £30 cashback when you buy more than one, Farewell 2020 sale includes 15% off S20 and S20 Ultra
- Sky – TV and broadband packages with up to £20 off
- Smarty – Cheap SIM Only deals
- Smyths – Discounts on gaming and toys
- Tesco Mobile – Deals across iPhone, Samsung and SIM-only
- Three – Unlimited SIM deals and bundles
- Very – For deals across tech and lifestyles head on over to Very. It’s prices aren’t always the most competitive so we’d thoroughly recommend comparing its discounts against the top dogs Amazon and Currys before heading to check out.
- Wex Photo Video – Discounts on cameras. microphones, lighting equipment, rigs and more
- Xbox Series X & Xbox Series S – Best deals across the web
- 23andMe – 50% off Health and Ancestry kits. Ends 26 December
Can you get a refund on Boxing Day?
If your purchase is within the refund policy window then you’re in luck! Make sure you have your receipt, which shouldn’t be too difficult if you’ve ordered online.
In the past, some UK retailers have refrained from processing refunds in-store on Boxing Day due to high in-store traffic, but given the restrictions around gathering in masses this year, it’s unlikely to be an issue this year.
Instead, most retailers are extending their returns policies up to late January, giving you plenty of time to get your money back. In fact, Currys PC World will even pick up the item you want to return from your doorstep!
Which retailers have extended holiday returns over Christmas and Boxing Day 2020?
Boxing Day also gives you an opportunity to return gifts that you received over Christmas or bought over the end of year sales season. You might also want to return an item you bought on Black Friday for instance, if you spot a better deal on the same item on 26 December.
Whatever the case, this year, with so many physical store locations closing down due to COVID, many retailers are offering extended holiday returns well into January 2021. In most cases, the extended holiday return policies apply to purchases made in November up until Christmas Eve.
We’ve outlined the extended Christmas returns for major retailers and brands below:
- Argos – Purchases made between 18 October 2020 can be returned up to 24 January 2021 .
- Amazon – Purchases that are eligible for return and are shipped between 1 October and 31 December can be returned until 31 January 2021 . The standard 30-day period applies to items delivered after 31 December, 2020. Head to Your Orders on your account to make a return.
- AO.com – AO offers a free 100-day return policy
- Asos – Purchases made between 1 November 2020 to 24 December 2020 can be returned until 31 January 2021, for a full refund. Returns after 31 January 2021 within 29-45 days of it being delivered qualifies for a refund via gift voucher
- Apple – Purchases that are received between 10 November and 25 December can be returned until 8 January 2021. The standard 14-day return request policy applies to purchases made after 25 December .
- Currys PC World – Purchases made between 29 October and 24 December can be returned up to 14 January 2021 . Online orders from Currys can be collected from your home or returned at selected stores.
- Fitbit – Purchases made in November and December can be returned up until 31 January 2021 , or within 45 days of shipment (whichever is longer).
- GAME – No cash refunds or exchanges, but purchases made on or after Sunday 1 November can be returned by Sunday 3 January 2021 for an equivalent credit note or gift voucher.
- John Lewis – Purchases made after 8 October can be returned until 28 January 2021
- Microsoft – Purchases made until 31 December 2020 can be returned until 31 January 2021
Further reading – Our guides on how to get refunds
- How to return Amazon items
- How to get a refund on Nintendo Switch games
- How to get a refund on PS4 games
- How to get a refund on Xbox or Windows game from Microsoft
Author: Somrata Sarkar, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Previously a Tech Advisor Senior Staff Writer, Somrata researches and writes about the best tech deals to help readers make smart, informed buying decisions. She’s an expert on accessories and also reviews laptops, phones, audio and other devices.
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