The online shopping season reaches its peak Thursday, as Black Friday has become an official shopping holiday in many countries, and Israel was one of the first to adopt this shopping day, which has long been stretched to 10 days. This year, a steep increase in sales from abroad is expected despite the paucity of flights and an unfavorable national mood.
The critical mass of sales in the U.S., the birthplace of Black Friday, will begin on Thursday and reach its peak on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - although already this week a trickle of sales began, as the Israeli market tried to outpace the American market with mild "Blue Friday" sales, in fashion, beauty care, toys, housewares and electrical, but not yet with significant sales on TV screens and electrical products.
On the other hand, in the U.S. the extent of the deals is dramatic and the shekel, which has strengthened relatively against the dollar, works in favor of the Israeli consumer. The stronger the shekel, the higher the purchasing power of the Israeli consumer.
The dollar exchange rate reached 3.8 shekels in April and climbed again to 3.79 shekels in October, though it currently is lower at 3.65 shekels.
Amazon USA, which ships directly to Israel and even ships here free with purchases over $49, carries all American brands which are all discounted for Black Friday: Tommy Hilfiger, Carter's, Victoria's Secret, Levi's, Skims, Alo Yoga, Lululemon, American Eagle, The North Face, Nordstrom, Banana Republic. And sites including Sephora, Target and Bloomingdales are also offering discounts. This year, these discounts have a greater meaning: the U.S. market has become more expensive and consumers there are desperate for special offers.
Ali Express and Temu are also adding Black Friday discounts, as well as Amazon UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Japan - and they all ship to Israel.
Keep in mind that shipping from the U.S. is slower this year. "We hope that the flights from the U.S. to Israel will resume, but all the websites are working and active, there is nothing problematic about shipping to Israel," says Benny Bohnik, who manages the Israeli shopping group INeedit! on Facebook and Telegram.
"There are a few delays, but nothing destiny-changing. Instead of a week or two from Amazon and IHerb, 3 weeks. With Ali Express, the opposite is true: the delivery time from China has improved significantly, they are very efficient and fast, and they are also on sale. Every two days they issue a series of coupons and it's been that way since the beginning of November and will continue until the end of December. They feel the competition from Temu."
Does the Israeli consumer have any money left for shopping at all after Shopping IL and Singles' Day?
"Yes, because many did not travel out of the country this year and will not at Christmas. I see it in requests for fashion items that are more numerous than in a normal year, many more requests for coats and winter clothing, probably because more Israelis are here in the country."
This year there are more options for buying items from websites that do not ship directly to Israel. In addition to companies that provide an address for delivery in the U.S. (such as Red Box, DealTas and Shiptanbul), deliveries from Greece (via Shiptanbul) and Germany (via DealTas) have also been opened. The advantage: affordable prices, the ability to buy at stores that do not ship to Israel, and the same electrical voltage as Israel (unlike the U.S.). Just note that if you send from an international website to an address in Greece or Germany and from there to Israel - you will pay local VAT. If you buy directly - for example from Amazon Europe - the European VAT will be deducted at checkout.
Where are the price differences still large compared to Israel?
"There is a local effort to compare prices, but there are still disparities compared to abroad," Bohnik asserts. "In coffee machines there is a 30% disparity, for example, so for that product my preference is to buy abroad. There are price disparities in gadgets, receivers and loudspeakers. There was a huge jump in the price of sound products in Israel and around the world, and the prices have not recovered.
Electrical products in Israel currently have deep sales, mainly on consoles. Why is that?
"True, there are still no hair-raising sales on TV screens as is customary every year. Electra took over Samsung in Israel, so we are waiting. It is not clear whether the previous importer will get rid of stocks and lower prices greatly or will not be in a hurry to lower prices to preserve goods. What is certain: if LG, the direct competitor, lowers prices, Samsung's prices will also decrease. And TCL's power is increasing as a strong player in screens, so competition is expected."
What do Israelis buy online from abroad?
"What don't they?" Microphones, milk frothers, coffee machines, toys, Lego, pans and pots, stick blender, toaster, irons, Dyson, Revlon hair stylers, hair removers ... we are eally back to normal. Last year we didn't buy anything and before that there was the coronavirus, this year we came back big."
What should one buy?
A check on the Alibuy sales website shows that Israelis buy, among other things, on Amazon: extreme sports cameras, smart watches, gaming computers, computer monitors, laptops, vertical irons, cameras, Columbia jackets, Under Armor shoes, Coleman tents, Avent bottles, Philips milk pumps, water dispensers, Brita filter, Contigo bottles, Tefal pans, Blue Yeti microphone, teeth whitening kits, XBOX and PlayStation controllers, SanDisk and Samsung SSD drives, Ninja portable blender and Amazon products like Kindle.
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From Europe we buy coffee machines, Tinco vacuum cleaners, chargers and headphones, mobile phones, security cameras, car cameras and everything you can imagine.
In fashion, it is recommended to buy on all American websites. Shipping companies will assist with indirect shipping to Israel. They also have specials on deliveries.
In Israel it is recommended to buy fashion, virtual reality glasses, PlayStation consoles and perhaps TV screens later.