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| Websites swamped on record Black Friday demand | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Retailers are forecasting record online sales as part of Black Friday pre-Christmas discounting. | |
| But John Lewis said its website was having difficulties handling the number of visitors looking for a bargain. | |
| Tesco Direct and Currys' websites were also swamped by visitors and suffered problems. Currys said it experienced "astonishing" demand overnight. | Tesco Direct and Currys' websites were also swamped by visitors and suffered problems. Currys said it experienced "astonishing" demand overnight. |
| Apple's iPad mini and a discounted food processor were the fastest-selling products for John Lewis in early sales. | Apple's iPad mini and a discounted food processor were the fastest-selling products for John Lewis in early sales. |
| Police were called to a number of disturbances in London and Manchester supermarkets as shoppers fought over goods. | Police were called to a number of disturbances in London and Manchester supermarkets as shoppers fought over goods. |
| Website demand | Website demand |
| Many retailers traded from midnight to maximise shopping times. | Many retailers traded from midnight to maximise shopping times. |
| John Lewis, which offered website deals from midnight, said that to 6am, traffic to johnlewis.com was up 307% compared with Black Friday 2013. | John Lewis, which offered website deals from midnight, said that to 6am, traffic to johnlewis.com was up 307% compared with Black Friday 2013. |
| The biggest peak in traffic was between 12am and 1am as customers sought deals. | The biggest peak in traffic was between 12am and 1am as customers sought deals. |
| John Lewis said its fastest selling product was the Apple iPad mini. | John Lewis said its fastest selling product was the Apple iPad mini. |
| The Nutribullet food processors were selling at a rate of one every thirty seconds, according to the retailer. | The Nutribullet food processors were selling at a rate of one every thirty seconds, according to the retailer. |
| Around 7% of its customers were unable to access the site first time due to the level of demand. | Around 7% of its customers were unable to access the site first time due to the level of demand. |
| "JohnLewis.com is up and running and working well," a spokeswoman said. | "JohnLewis.com is up and running and working well," a spokeswoman said. |
| 'Astonishing demand' | |
| Currys PC World said it had seen its "biggest ever start" to Black Friday, with web traffic increasing fivefold from last year. | |
| "Overnight we saw astonishing demand online and implemented a pre-planned queuing system to most fairly support shoppers," said Currys PC World e-commerce director Jeremy Fennell. | |
| "We are continuing to implement our queuing system while shoppers take advantage of our great deals online and in-store." | |
| At midday, the queue to access Currys' website was over half an hour long. | |
| Business sense? | Business sense? |
| However, analysts are dubious about the value of Black Friday promotions to retailers. | However, analysts are dubious about the value of Black Friday promotions to retailers. |
| "All Black Friday is likely to do is bring forward business from December, reduce gross margins and undermine consumer's willingness to pay full-price again before Christmas," said retail analyst Nick Bubb. | "All Black Friday is likely to do is bring forward business from December, reduce gross margins and undermine consumer's willingness to pay full-price again before Christmas," said retail analyst Nick Bubb. |
| "It is therefore good to see that Next are thinking long-term and preserving their pricing power," he added. | "It is therefore good to see that Next are thinking long-term and preserving their pricing power," he added. |