Boots Deals

MSE Update, 2.12pm Thu 17 Jan: Boots has today confirmed the sale won't be boosting to 70% tomorrow (Fri 18 Jan), but told us it hasn't "got a date locked in yet" for when it actually will boost, though it's likely to be soon. We'll let you know here when we know more.

The wait for the Boots* 'up to 70% off' in-store sale boost appears to be almost over, as our sleuthing has uncovered, ahem, signs it'll happen soon. Boots staff told us on Tuesday that it was "likely, but not definite" to start on Fri 18 Jan. However, Boots head office told us on Thu 17 Jan that this is not the case. We're still waiting for confirmation of when the sale will boost, we'll update you here when we know more.

This is one of the biggies MoneySavers wait for each January, as it can be great for beauty gift sets to put away for next Christmas, and rumours it’ll boost imminently have been building this week, both in our forum and widely online.

Annoyingly, the Boots press office refuses to confirm when its sales are going to boost, but last year, and the year before, it boosted to 70% on the fourth Friday after Christmas.

So we predicted it would do the same again this year, however on Thursday it confirmed this was not the case. Though as you can see below, we've uncovered a few additional clues which does suggest it's coming soon...

Why do we think it'll boost soon?

Well, for starters, we sneakily uncovered this poster in a store close to MSE Towers (hidden behind a poster for the 50% off sale - don't worry, we put it back after snapping a photo):

Also...

• The January sale's boosted to 'up to 70% off' for the last four years running. 
  
• On Tue 15 Jan, Boots staff in store and over the phone confirmed its sale would boost soon, but couldn’t tell us exactly when as they'd not been told by head office.
• All three London stores we've visited have recently moved remaining sale stock onto fewer shelves than when the sale started in December - a store layout change is usually a big clue that a sale will boost soon (see our Shopping Secrets guide for other tips).
• The latest we've ever seen the boost happen is the fourth Friday after Christmas, so although it could possibly start before this Friday, we don't expect it start any later.
   

What we expect to be included:

Generally, what you’ll find in the Boots 70% sale is its leftover Christmas stock – mainly beauty gift sets – rather than everyday items such as plasters and sun cream.

Based on what is currently in the sale, here are some examples of popular gift sets that are likely to have up to 70% off in stores (though there are no guarantees):

• Soap & Glory 'Glitz & Make Up' for £15 (currently £25 in 'up to 50% off sale'. Norm £60).
• Joules 'Wonderful Weekend' set for £15 (currently £25 in 'up to 50% off sale'. Norm £50).
• Sleek 'Ultimate Collection' set for £15 (currently £25 in 'up to 50% off sale'. Norm £50).
   

Of course, there’s no guarantee what your local store will have - it all depends on stock.

What's on at the moment?

The 'up to 50% off' gifts sale is continuing online at Boots* and in stores while stocks last, so you'll still be able to get a discount and you'll have more choice than after the sale boosts so it's up to you whether you'd prefer to wait and risk missing an item you'd like. Examples of strong savings we found on Tue 15 Jan include:

• Jack Wills ultimate scarf gift set* for £22.50 (was £45) - body wash, body lotion and scarf.
• LMX By Little Mix 'Pout & About' lip gloss and bag* for £20 (was £40) - reed diffuser, candles and room mist.
• Soap & Glory 'Glitz & Make Up'* for £15 (was £30) - eyeliner, lip gloss, mascara, bronzer.
   

Whilst Boots hasn't told us exactly when the sale will boost, we'll update you here and on MSE Deals Twitter and Facebook when we know more. Our forumites have been eagerly awaiting the sales boost - join the Boots sale discussion.

Website: Boots*
Find your nearest: Store locator*
Start date (online): It started on Christmas Eve
Start date (in stores): It started on Boxing Day
Sale strength: Up to 50% off online and in stores
Likely to boost? Last year, boosted to 'up to 70% off' in stores only on Fri 20 Jan.

A few strong examples we spotted on Wed 2 Jan:

• Soap & Glory 'All-Spa Cast' gift set* £10 (was £20)
• Ted Baker Stanley collection* £22.50 (was £45)
• BOSS The Scent For Him EDT 50ml Gift Set* £34.84 (was £52)
  

There are always ways to save money at Boots*, so even if there isn’t a cracking deal out there that works for you, don’t assume you can’t cut your costs.

Ways to save include:

• Exclusive offers for Advantage Card customers. If you sign up to the Boots Advantage Card* it will allow you access to personalised coupons and discounts via the Boots app* (available on iOS and Android only), as well as let you know about promotional offers such as regular triple points events and competitions.


• Coupons, cashback and freebies. Look out for coupons/freebies with products, such as around the neck of liquid soap bottles, or online for coupons and cashback to save on your shopping (see our regularly updated coupons list). Make sure you look out for coupons in store inside the free (to Advantage Card holders, £1 otherwise) Health & Beauty magazine*, or freebies attached to the magazine cover as well as coupons from the till, such as £5 off No 7.

• Check out similar retailers, eg, Superdrug. If you’re not committed to buying from Boots, check out our deals from Superdrug where they may have a better offer.


• Had a problem with Boots? There’s a free online tool you can use to complain – it helps draft, manage and if necessary escalate your complaint. It’s offered by a firm called Resolver, which we like so much we work with it to help people get complaints justice – you can use it to complain to Boots*.
  
  

If you spot any hot deals out there we have missed (we are human after all!), please let us know in the MSE forum, email us at msedeals@moneysavingexpert.com or via MSE Facebook and Twitter @MSE_Deals.

If you have a Boots Advantage Card, you can get personalised offers and discounts at Boots* by downloading the Boots app. The offers vary for each person, as they are tailored to your shopping habits.

How to get the app and offers

• Download the Boots app* via the App Store or Google Play.
• Go to 'My offers' and sign in using your Advantage Card number. This links your card to the app and you can then select offers by loading them onto your card.
• Choose the offers you'd like to use in 'Offers just for me' and select 'Load offer to Advantage Card'.
• Next time you use your Advantage Card, the cashier or self-checkout will ask you if you want to use the offer in that transaction. 
   

What can I get?

These are some examples of offers we've seen when trying the app (of course as the offers are personalised, not everyone will receive the same ones):

• £1.50 off when you spend £15 or more in a single transaction
• 20% off a shower gel or body wash
• 100 points when you buy two or more shampoo or conditioner products
   

What if I don't have a smartphone?

You can also use the Boots website* to select offers and load them to your Advantage Card. Just register or log-in to view your account and offers.

Register with Boots* via this link and you'll get your first 25 6"x4" prints free. Delivery's 99p.

As Snapfish, Boots and Truprint are part of the District Photo network, signing up to one means you'll hold an account with them all. This means you can only take advantage of the free prints offers for new customers at EITHER Boots, Truprint or Snapfish - not all.