Black Friday fever has gripped the Czech Republic, with retailers anticipating unprecedented sales during this year’s shopping extravaganza. The Association for Electronic Commerce (APEK) projects Czech consumers will spend a record-breaking 7.5 to 8 billion crowns online during the final week of November alone.
“We’re expecting record-breaking sales,” says Jan Vetyška, APEK’s director. “A third of e-shop customers specifically wait for Black Friday to purchase their Christmas gifts.” Last year’s Black Friday sales reached approximately seven billion crowns, with electronics, clothing, and cosmetics emerging as the top-selling categories.
While Black Friday originated in the USA as a single-day event, it has evolved significantly since its 2011 introduction to the Czech market. Major retailers extend their promotions throughout November, offering discounts of up to 80 per cent, with clothing seeing the deepest price cuts.
However, consumer watchdogs urge caution. The Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI) advises shoppers to verify discount calculations carefully, as retailers must now base their discounts on the lowest price from the previous 30 days – a requirement recently confirmed by the European Court of Justice. Recent inspections revealed violations in 41% of cases.
For online purchases, Czech consumers enjoy a 14-day return window without providing a reason. While original packaging isn’t required, retailers may charge for restoring damaged or excessively worn items to their original condition.