Black Friday falls on November 27 this year, the day after Thanksgiving, and Cyber Monday follows on November 30. In practice, the “Black Friday” season now starts weeks earlier, with retailers advertising early deals through most of November.
Some of those deals are genuinely the lowest prices of the year. Others are ordinary prices dressed up with a large crossed-out number. A few simple checks will tell you which is which.
Check the real price history
The most common trick is an inflated “original” price. A product listed at “$199, now $99” may have sold for $109 most of the year.
- Use a price tracking tool or browser extension that shows a product’s price history at major retailers.
- Compare the deal with the lowest price over the past few months, not with the list price.
- Search the exact model number. Some Black Friday televisions and appliances are special models made for the sale, with cheaper parts, which makes direct comparisons harder.
Make a list before the sale
Retailers design Black Friday to create urgency: countdown timers, “only 3 left” messages and doorbuster limits. The best defense is deciding what you need before you start browsing. Write down the item, the model and the price you are willing to pay. If a deal hits that price, buy it. If it doesn’t, walk away.
Watch for fake reviews
A product with thousands of glowing reviews may not be as popular as it looks. Since October 2024, a Federal Trade Commission rule has banned fake reviews and testimonials, including reviews written by people who never used the product and reviews bought or created by AI. Businesses that break the rule can face civil penalties. That has not made fake reviews disappear.
Warning signs include many reviews posted in a short period, vague praise without specific details, reviews that seem to describe a different product and ratings that are all five stars or all one star. Reading the three-star reviews often tells you more than either extreme.
Read the return policy
Many retailers extend their return windows for holiday purchases, but rules vary widely. Check:
- How long you have to return items, and whether the window starts at purchase or delivery.
- Whether opened electronics carry a restocking fee.
- Whether you get cash back or only store credit.
- Who pays for return shipping on online orders.
Pay the safe way
- Credit cards offer the strongest protections. Under federal law, you can dispute billing errors and charges for items that never arrived. Many cards add extended warranties and purchase protection.
- Debit cards take money directly from your account, and getting it back during a dispute can take longer.
- Buy now, pay later plans split a purchase into installments. They can be convenient, but they make expensive items feel cheaper, it is easy to stack several at once and missed payments can bring fees. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau advises reading the terms carefully.
Avoid scams
Scam websites and messages spike during the holidays.
- Type store addresses yourself instead of clicking links in texts or emails about “your order” or “a delivery problem.”
- Be wary of deals on unfamiliar websites that are far below every other retailer.
- Never pay by gift card, wire transfer or payment app to a seller you don’t know.
Is Cyber Monday better?
It depends on the product. Black Friday has traditionally favored televisions, appliances and in-store doorbusters, while Cyber Monday leans toward online deals on electronics, clothing and smaller items. Many retailers now run the same prices across both days and the weekend in between. Price tracking beats guessing.
What we think
The best deal is the one you planned. A list, a target price and a quick price history check will save more money than racing to catch every countdown timer.
Pay with a credit card for strong protections, read return policies before you buy and be cautious about installment plans that make a big purchase feel small. A purchase you didn’t need is never a bargain, no matter how big the discount.
