Amazon UK's Black Friday fallout
Buyers unhappy as 'lightning deals' snapped up in double quick time

A sure-fire way to get customers to visit your retail site is to announce a sale which promises to be like no other. No surprise, then, that this is exactly what Amazon UK has done this week with the launch of its Black Friday promotion.
Black Friday week has been a feature of the US version of the online retailer for a while, traditionally marking the day following Thanksgiving Day, which is seen as the start of the Christmas shopping season in the States. Little surprise, then, that Amazon should extend the sales offer to its UK customers, launching Black Friday week over here with much fanfare and online chatter.
Deals have included software, peripherals, consoles and multimedia technology, with some products having their prices cut by over half their original listing.
However, the online world has been awash with complaints as unhappy customers have voiced their concerns on Twitter and Amazon's own 'deal discussion' section. Typical comments centre around the fact that deals are sold out within seconds of being posted online, giving them no chance to purchase anything themselves. Some have pointed out that products included in Black Friday week over in the States are not selling out as quickly, with suggestions that Amazon UK has not handled this promotion as well as it should have done.
Of course, disgruntled customers will be the last thing Amazon UK wanted to gain from its promotion, but then that's missing the point. The company has attracted customers to its website thanks to this offer and, once on there, it has a slew of other, non-Black Friday deals for people to take advantage of in time for the festive period.
As a marketing ploy, then, Black Friday week will have served the company well. In PR terms, however, the company will doubtless be hoping that the disquiet calms down as the week progresses. Apple has recently learned a lesson in managing expectations with the near-universal disappointment over its Beatles catalogue announcement and Amazon UK will be hoping that it hasn't lost any friends at the expense of making a pretty penny or two.
ChannelPro Newsletter
Stay up to date with the latest Channel industry news and analysis with our twice-weekly newsletter
-
The IT industry’s shift to circular, low-carbon solutions
Maximize your hardware investment and reach your sustainability goals with HP’s Renew Solutions
-
Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition review
Reviews This thin and light ultraportable will draw you in with its vibrant screen – but it isn't as powerful as some of its competitors
-
‘If you want to look like a flesh-bound chatbot, then by all means use an AI teleprompter’: Amazon banned candidates from using AI tools during interviews – here’s why you should never use them to secure a job
News Amazon has banned the use of AI tools during the interview process – and it’s not the only major firm cracking down on the trend.
-
Amazon's RTO mandate could spark a talent exodus
News A survey of Amazon staff suggests plenty remain unhappy about returning to the office next year
-
Amazon's RTO mandate just hit a major roadblock – it doesn’t have enough office space
News The company has told staff in several locations that it won't have room for them all in time
-
“There are other companies around”: AWS CEO Matt Garman says employees pushing back on RTO mandates should quit
News AWS CEO Matt Garman says employees pushing back on RTO mandates should quit
-
Business execs just said the quiet part out loud on RTO mandates — A quarter admit forcing staff back into the office was meant to make them quit
News Companies know staff don't want to go back to the office, and that may be part of their plan with RTO mandates
-
Microsoft tells staff it won’t follow Amazon or Dell on enforcing a return to the office – but there’s a catch
News While other big tech companies are forcing reluctant workforces back into the office, Microsoft isn’t following suit
-
Amazon workers aren’t happy with the company’s controversial RTO scheme – and they’re making their voices heard
News An internal staff survey at Amazon shows many workers are unhappy about the prospect of a full return to the office
-
Amazon set a goal to reach 100% renewable energy by 2030 – it reached it seven years early
News The tech giant has rapidly accelerated renewable energy investment in recent years