Best and worst deals in the Black Friday sales: what’s really worth buying and when to skip the “bargains”

Best and worst deals in the Black Friday sales

Black Friday brings a wave of promotions, but not every discount is genuine or worthwhile. The article explains which product categories usually offer real savings, where the “bargains” are often exaggerated, and how to avoid common traps during big sales events.

Where Black Friday can be worth it

Some categories tend to feature genuinely competitive prices around Black Friday, especially when retailers use the event to clear stock.

Electronics and appliances. Major appliances, TVs, laptops and some smart devices often receive noticeable markdowns as stores compete for attention and clear older models before new ranges arrive.
Small home appliances. Items such as stick vacuums, air fryers, coffee machines and kitchen gadgets are frequently bundled with strong discounts, particularly for less recent versions.
End-of-line or last-season products. When a product line is about to be replaced, Black Friday can coincide with significant clearance discounts that are hard to match at other times of the year.

Categories with weaker or misleading discounts

Not every section of the sale delivers good value; some categories routinely feature smaller reductions or marketing-driven “deals”.

Groceries and everyday essentials. Discounts on food and basic household products often mirror ordinary promotions, and the savings per item are usually modest.
Fashion and accessories. Clothing, shoes and accessories may show large “percentage off” labels, but reference prices are often inflated or based on rarely used “full” prices.
Low-rated or poor-quality products. Black Friday can be used to shift underperforming or poorly reviewed stock that looks cheap but does not represent good long-term value.

Tactics retailers use to inflate “bargains”

Retailers frequently rely on pricing and presentation strategies that make discounts appear larger or more urgent than they really are.

Was/Now pricing based on short-lived “was” prices. A product might be listed at a high price briefly, then shown with a steep markdown from that inflated level during the sale.
Limited-time and scarcity messaging. Phrases like “today only”, “flash deal” or “almost sold out” are used to push quick decisions and discourage careful comparison.
Bundles and add-ons. Combining products in sets or adding minor extras can make the headline saving appear generous, even if the total cost is not exceptional.

How to spot a genuine deal

The article emphasises that preparation and independent checking are key to judging whether a Black Friday offer is truly worthwhile.

Track prices before the sale. Monitoring items in the weeks or months leading up to Black Friday helps reveal whether the “sale” price is actually lower than usual.
Compare across multiple retailers. Looking at several stores quickly shows whether a discount is unique or just matches the general market level.
Focus on quality and need, not just price. Checking reviews, product tests and reliability, and asking whether the item is genuinely needed, reduces the risk of impulse purchases.

When you might be better off waiting

In some situations, shoppers may find equal or better value outside the Black Friday period.

Post-Christmas and end-of-season sales. Clearance events after major holidays or at season’s end can deliver comparable or deeper discounts, especially on seasonal items.
New product releases. When a new model is announced, the previous version may drop in price independently of Black Friday, making it unnecessary to rush a purchase.
Everyday “price wars”. For some popular products, ongoing competition between retailers can produce strong discounts at random times of the year, not just during headline sales.

“Black Friday can be a chance for real savings on the right products, but it also amplifies ordinary discounts and marketing tricks. The safest approach is to research, compare and only buy what you actually need.”

Author’s summary

Black Friday can genuinely cut costs on big-ticket tech and appliances, but inflated reference prices, weak discounts in some categories and heavy marketing pressure mean only researched, comparison-checked purchases tend to deliver real value.

CHOICE — 2025-11-24