Get the Finder app 🥳

Connect your accounts & save

Install
finder.com.au

What time to start shopping the Boxing Day sales online 2020

Maybe you have a specific list of things you need to buy, or maybe you’re just browsing around for fun. Here’s what you need to know about shopping online this Boxing Day.

Mia Steiber
Mia Steiber

Updated

With a rise in the popularity of online shopping, it's now possible to shop the best Boxing Day bargains without all the hassle of leaving the house. As well as avoiding the crowds and the dreaded car parks, you can browse around while enjoying a glass (or two) of wine from your couch.

But just like in-store shopping, online sale periods can have a big impact on how you shop. On Black Friday this year, we saw sites like J. Crew crash from a traffic overload, while sites like Sephora experienced major technical difficulties due to high traffic volumes. Plus, many of the more popular items on the site sold out within just minutes of the sales going live.

With this in mind, here are a few things you should know about shopping the Boxing Day sales online.

Most people shop early in the day

The majority of the people shopping the Boxing Day sales are online between the hours of 8am and 2pm. While plenty of people are still shopping late into the afternoon, it will certainly be a smoother experience with fewer sites experiencing lags and delays. Bear in mind, though, that many of the most popular items could be sold out by then, so consider how invested you are in shopping at each store and plan accordingly.

A significant number of people shop as soon as the sales go live at midnight

There are a lot of dedicated people out there shopping the Boxing Day sales during the early hours of the morning from midnight to 5am. Most of them log on at midnight to ensure they snag all the items on their wish lists. If you’re after something really popular, you might want to consider doing the same.

Data chart

Very few people shop during the evening

There is a huge decline in the number of people shopping online after 8pm. If you’re looking for an uninterrupted shopping experience, this is the time for you to shop.

But the most important thing for successfully shopping the Boxing Day sales is to have a plan. If you have something very specific in mind, it may be worth jumping online at midnight to ensure you get a chance to buy it before the item sells out. The same goes for if you’re interested in a range of products that are very popular. They’ll probably sell out early. But if you’ve got nothing specific in mind, shopping during the evening may provide you with a smoother experience without excessive page loading times due to heavy traffic.

*Statistics are based on the traffic volumes from the finder.com.au Boxing Day hub from 2018.

More on Boxing Day

Related Posts

Finder Daily Deals: The 5 best online deals in Australia today

Today's best online deals in Australia, hand-picked by Finder's shopping experts.

Jaybird Vista review

The Jaybird Vista earbuds are designed with workouts in mind, but you don’t have to be an athlete to appreciate their durability, audio quality and comfortable design.

Where to buy affordable clothing in Australia

You don’t have to go broke to be stylish. Here’s where you can shop cheap fashion online.

Roccat Kone Pure Ultra gaming mouse review

The Roccat Kone Pure Ultra successfully combines the speed of an ultra-light gaming mouse with the comfort of an ergonomic design.

Where to buy washable, reusable face masks in Australia

Protect yourself and the environment with a reusable face mask from one of these great stores.

Ask an Expert

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy and Privacy & Cookies Policy.
Ask a question
Go to site