FEATURE:
Black Friday, which has emerged as a massive shopping event in South Africa over the past two years, is right around the corner.
Last year, stampedes were seen at many stores as South Africans rushed to get their hands on big specials.
Some 90 Game stores will again open at midnight next Friday, but Makro decided against doing that. Instead, it will run Black Friday specials over five days, from 21 November to 25 November, with over 26,000 lines on promotion.
“Black Friday has become renowned for attracting large crowds of people, longer trading hours, long queues, packed parking lots, finished trolleys, discounted prices and more as consumers scramble for their favourite discounted items,” announced the company in a statement.
“However, year-on-year Makro constantly aims to improve our customers’ shopping experience because we know what Black Friday comes with and we have the solution for their Black Friday shopping.”
These are some of Makro’s new initiatives:
- Makro will use new mobile pay-point systems to assist customers purchasing a small number of items to pay while standing in the queue.
- It has also introduced an online drive-through service at the Makro Riversands store, which is a never-been-seen before feature at a retail store in South Africa.
- Uber, in partnership with Makro, will be offering a R50 discount (limited rides to and from Makro outlets on a first-come, first-serve basis) with dedicated Uber pick-up and collection zones at each store.
- Makro will charge a R70 delivery fee for both online and in-store purchases regardless of the distance from the store, and offer free delivery to Makro pick-up lockers and click-and-collect from store.
- All mCard members will receive 10% back into their mWallet on all non-promotional products (excluding food, liquor and selected categories) bought in-store.
Game has already launched some of its Black Friday deals, which started yesterday with in-store specials.
Last year, Game was criticised for a lack of security after doors were shattered during a midnight stampede in Century City, Cape Town.
Game, and Makro say they have arranged for additional crowd management control for this year’s expected Black Friday rush.
These Games stores will open at midnight on Black Friday:
Durban
Game Amanzimtoti
Game City Durban (City View)
Game Gateway
Game Pavilion
Game Westwood
Game Watercrest
Game Pinetown
Northern KZN
Game Ballito
Game Empangeni
Game Richardsbay
Southern KZN 3
Game Kokstad
Game Mthatha
Game Shelley Beach
Inland KZN
Game Newcastle
Game Midlands Mall
Gauteng
Game Cresta
Game Eastgate
Game Festival Mall
Game Greenstone Mall
Game Mall Of Africa
Game Midrand
Game Bel – Air
Game Fourways
East Rand 3
Game Benoni
Game Carnival Mall
Game Boksburg
Game Heidelberg
Game Vaal Mall
Game Vereeniging
Game Alberton
Game Evaton
Game Mall Of The South
Game Southgate
Game The Glen
Game Soweto
Game Trade Route Mall
Game Clearwater
Game Cradlestone
Game Westgate
Game Key West
Game Brooklyn
Game Kolonnade
Game Mall @ Reds
Game Menlyn
Game Woodlands
Game Wonderpark (Tshwane)
Game Centurion
Game Jubilee Mall – Hammanskraal
Game Soshanguve
Free State
Game Bethlehem
Game Bloem Fleurdal
Game Welkom
Mpumalanga
Game Ermelo
Game Groblersdal
Game Highveld Mall (eMalahleni)
Game Middelburg
Game Ilanga Mall (Mbombela)
Game Secunda
Game Burgersfort
Limpopo
Game Makhado
Game Mokopane
Game Polokwane Mtn
Game Phalaborwa
Game Polokwane Cbd
Game Thohoyandou
Game Tzaneen
Eastern Cape
Game East London Beacon Bay
Game Vincent
Game PE Bay West
Western Cape – Cape Town
Game Worcester
Game Bayside
Game Canal Walk
Game Cape Gate
Game Zewenwacht Mall
Game N1 City
Game Parow
Game Tygervalley
North West
Game Klerksdorp
Game Potchefstroom
Game Brits
Game Mafikeng
Game Rustenburg : Waterfall Mall
Southern Cape
Game Mossel Bay
Game George
Game Somerset Mall
Game Vredenburg
Northern Cape
Game Kathu
Game Kimberley NC Mall
Game Upington
More on Black Friday
- Pick n Pay’s online Black Friday deals start today – with discounts up to 50%
- Black Friday to be ‘bigger than ever’ in South Africa, retailers promise
- No, Spar won’t give you a R2,999 Black Friday voucher for sending WhatsApps
- How to get the best Black Friday deals in South Africa
- 7 things you didn’t know about Black Friday in South Africa – including the surprising popularity of coffee and cereals
- Black Friday has seen much faster growth in South Africa than any other country in the world, says PriceCheck
