Need to know
- The EOFY sales usually happen at the end of June, but some deals will start appearing as soon as May
- Major retailers and brands can have big discounts on products lasting weeks in the lead up to the end of the financial year
- The sales may have bargains, but good deals are still available at other times of year and there may be extra scams during EOFY season
At CHOICE, we're the last people to endorse frenzied sale shopping, but it's true that the end of the financial year (EOFY) can be a good opportunity to grab a bargain.
Helpfully timed to break up the months between the Boxing Day sales and the Black Friday discount block in November, this run of bargains in the middle of the calendar year can serve up big deals on a broad range of items, not all of them work-related.
This guide breaks down what these sales are, when they start and end, how you can get a bargain and what you should avoid.
On this page:
- What are the EOFY sales?
- Who has deals?
- When do the sales start and end?
- Where can you find a bargain?
- Are the EOFY sales worth it?
- Your consumer rights during the sales
- What to avoid at EOFY
Retailers use EOFY sales to clear stock and boost sales before the end of the tax year.
What are the EOFY sales?
The EOFY sales are a recurring round of discounts coinciding with the end of Australia's financial year on 30 June. They regularly attract billions in consumer spending.
Sales happen at this time because many retailers want to improve their financial position by the end of the fiscal year and clear out old stock to make space on the shop floor for new items.
But it's also a time when many of us are thinking about which of the year's purchases we'll be able to claim back on tax, as we turn our minds to lodging our tax returns.
Recognising this, retailers take the opportunity to present us with deals on products that could be a last minute work-related, claimable purchase – such as laptops, smartphones or printers – to lessen our levies or even help us get a tax refund.
That's why you'll often see a lot of financial jargon or promises to help "smash" your taxes mixed in with sales promotions from retailers at this time.
Who has deals?
This focus on pushing goods that consumers will be able to claim as a tax deduction means you'll often see deals on tech and appliances.
So expect sales from tech retailers such as JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Bing Lee and even Telstra, but also direct from manufacturer brands like Dell and Dyson.
And it's not just about the home office – you can also look forward to deals on everything from clothing and toys to furniture and homewares, with previous years seeing big sales from retailers like David Jones, Koala, and The Iconic.
Most EOFY discounts from major retailers tend to hover around the 20–40% mark, but you can sometimes see deals of up to 70% off.
When do the sales start and end?
Each brand's EOFY sale period is different, so keep an eye on your favourite retailers online to see key dates.
EOFY falls at the end of June, but many brands will start their sales in the weeks beforehand, even as early as late May.
Once they're here, the deals can last anywhere from a few days to weeks, depending on the retailer.
For example, at the time of writing, eBay says its EOFY sale will start on 3 June, but will only run for two weeks, wrapping up well short of the official end of the financial year.
JB Hi-Fi, meanwhile, advises it has "different sales deadlines on different products and ranges".
So it's a good idea to keep an eye on your favourite retailers by following them on social media and signing up to their email newsletters to see what they're discounting and when.
Many major outlets also have sites dedicated to EOFY deals, so bookmark these pages and start checking them in the lead up to June for extra information.
Where can you find a bargain?
EOFY discounts are available both online and at physical stores; however as with other discount periods such as Black Friday, some deals may be online-only.
So if you spot a bargain, check where it's available and if there are any other conditions before heading off in pursuit of a purchase.
Some outlets also provide price matching, so consider asking about this if you see another shop selling the product you want for cheaper.
Some retailers' EOFY deals may only be available online.
Are the EOFY sales worth it?
Even though you can find significant discounts (up to 70%) on popular items during the EOFY sales, know that these sales aren't the be all and end all.
At CHOICE, we buy all the goods we test, so we keep a close eye on prices. We've recently seen more and more sales periods crop up throughout the year and some of these come with discounts just as good as those on offer during EOFY sales.
A lot of people aren't having to wait until June to get a good deal and neither may you
On top of recent additions to the established sales calendar such as Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, individual retailers are also having their own sales on an increasingly regular basis.
The Australian Bureau Statistics has also picked up on this trend, observing "weaker than usual" spending in last year's EOFY season, partially due to there being more sales in the lead up to the traditional EOFY block.
In other words, a lot of people aren't having to wait until June to get a good deal and neither may you.
Follow your favourite retailers on social media and subscribe to their email newsletters to catch any offers as they come up.
With more sales throughout the year, you may not have to wait until EOFY to get a good deal.
Your consumer rights during the sales
Australian Consumer Law (ACL) gives you certain rights when you buy a good or service from an Australian business, whether it be a physical store or online.
Companies can't take away these rights with anything they do or say, even during sale periods.
Under the law, retailers must provide a remedy (refund, replacement or repair) for a faulty product, but they're not obliged to give you a refund or exchange if you just change your mind or find that something doesn't fit.
Find out more about what you're entitled to with our guide to using your consumer guarantees.
What to avoid at EOFY
Dud products
There's no point saving big bucks on a product if it's a dud.
Whether you're buying a TV, headphones, a smart speaker or a home appliance, check CHOICE reviews before you buy to ensure you're getting a good deal and sign up for our alerts for the products to avoid.
Extended warranties
Extended warranties are extra guarantees about the lifespan of a product that retailers commonly offer on expensive items.
Sometimes also called 'protection' or 'product care' plans, these add-ons come at a cost, but most of them aren't worth it.
This is because they often carry the same or weaker protections as your existing (and free) ACL rights, which decree that expensive products should last a reasonable amount of time, such as a few years.
If staff are trying to upsell you to one of these plans, ask what rights it will give you beyond the ACL.
Scams
In the past year, we've seen scammers setting up fake copies of major retailer websites in an effort to steal money and information from unsuspecting shoppers.
To make matters worse, we've also seen social media companies and search engines allowing ads for these sites on their platforms.
Signs a site could be a fake include prices that seem too good to be true, unusual URLs and important information that's missing. Read more with our guide to spotting a scam shopping site.
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With no self-interest behind our advice, you don't just buy smarter, you get the answers that you need.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
