Not Every “Deal” is a Real Deal

Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping events of the year — but it’s also one of the most misleading. Every year, some retailers inflate their prices weeks before Black Friday, then slash them back to normal and call it a discount.

The good news? With a few simple checks, you can tell the difference between a genuine saving and a marketing trick.

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Quick tip: Before you buy anything on Black Friday, take 60 seconds to check the item’s price history. It takes less time than queuing at a checkout.

1. Check the Price History

The single most useful thing you can do before buying a Black Friday deal is check what the item actually costs the rest of the year. Tools like CamelCamelCamel (for Amazon) and PriceSpy track historical prices across retailers.

If the “original price” shown has only existed for two weeks before Black Friday, it’s not a genuine RRP — it’s an inflated anchor price designed to make the discount look bigger than it is.

2. Compare Across Retailers

Just because one retailer is offering 30% off doesn’t mean it’s the best price available. A quick Google Shopping search will show you what the same product costs elsewhere — sometimes you’ll find it cheaper without any “Black Friday” label at all.

3. Watch for Bundled Products

Some retailers create Black Friday-specific bundles — a product packaged with accessories you didn’t ask for — to justify a higher “original price.” Make sure you’re comparing like for like before assuming a bundle is good value.

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Watch out for: “Was €299, now €199” deals where the “was” price has only been active for a few days. This is a common tactic and it’s legal — so the responsibility is on you to check.

4. Read the Returns Policy

Most major retailers extend their returns window over Black Friday, which is useful for gift buying. But some smaller retailers don’t — and a cheap deal isn’t cheap if you can’t return a faulty product.

Always check the returns policy before you buy, especially on high-value items like tech and appliances.

5. Act Quickly on Deals You’re Confident About

Once you’ve done your checks and you’re confident it’s a genuine deal — move fast. Popular items, especially in tech and footwear, can sell out within hours of Black Friday going live.

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