Why John Lewis Is Still Worth It (And How to Pay Less)

John Lewis has a reputation for being expensive, and on a bad day it is. But on furniture, TVs, laptops and appliances it is often the same price as everyone else, with a warranty and a returns policy that the discounters cannot match. If you are buying something you want to last five years, that matters more than saving eight pounds today.

The Guarantees Are the Hidden Discount

• TVs: five-year guarantee as standard. Elsewhere you would pay £80 to £150 for the same cover.
• Laptops and tablets: two years, with technical support included.
• Large appliances: two to three years depending on the brand, plus installation and recycling of the old machine.

When you price a John Lewis TV against a cheaper rival, add the cost of the guarantee to the rival's price. Very often John Lewis is cheaper once you do.

Voucher Codes and Bundle Offers

John Lewis rarely runs blanket percentage codes. Its offers are bundles: money off headphones when bought with a phone, a discounted sound bar with a TV, or savings on Microsoft Office with a laptop. We list current examples on the John Lewis offers page. If you were going to buy both items anyway, bundles are the best route to a discount.

When to Buy

The clearance sale after Christmas and the summer clearance in late June are the two big events, with 30% to 50% off own-brand furniture, bedding and homeware. Black Friday is quieter than at rivals but the TV deals are real. For everything else, the Never Knowingly Undersold replacement, its price match promise against 25 named retailers, means you can buy at any time and claim the difference if it drops within seven days.

Small Wins

• My John Lewis membership is free and unlocks members-only prices and a free hot drink in store.
• Click and collect from a Waitrose is free on orders over £30.
• Own-brand ANYDAY range covers the basics at supermarket prices with the same returns policy.

Our Verdict

Use John Lewis for things that plug in or that you sit on. The guarantee does the saving for you. For everything else, check the current John Lewis codes before you buy, and shop the two clearance events.