Don’t get scammed and prepare for Black Friday like a PRO
In a month the most consumerist week of the year will take place, yes it’s Black Friday again, a US tradition that has been exported worldwide and, probably, gives us the best offers of the year just before the Christmas season.
From the experience of our top buyers we will give you 5 tips on how to not getting scammed on Black Friday and get the most of it:
- Prepare now, do a list of what you need or want to buy and do your homework, look for models, prices and alternatives. Every year offers start sooner, so expect that next week by November 1st some store will start moving. Having the reference of the usual price (not the MSRP) will give you a better perspective deciding if it is a good or an average offer.
- Consider availability. Start looking these previous offers, but don’t be too hasty. Some stores will start with some not so good offers but if the product you want is highly sought you will have difficulties finding it on Black Friday day.
- Check your local stores. Due to the big boom of online stores seems like we forgot local stores to get good offers, but every year they are getting more in the loop of Black Friday to get their cake piece, so if you can check your local stores there could be also good offers.
- Don’t rush.I know it’s a flash offer and it will go away soon, but it’s better to not have something that getting something useless. Even if you did not prepare if it is a good offer make a fast check on Where Should I buy and it will give you an average idea of the price comparing amazon and ebay, also showing you historic prices and recommendations.
- Stick to the list. It’s a really good offer buy do I need it? Really? Sure? Ask it 3 times before buying if it is not on your initial list.
That’s all for now, we are pretty sure that we will be talking more about Black Friday, it’s getting near, get ready!
Common Black Friday Scams to Watch For
Beyond just overpaying, several actual scams appear every Black Friday season that shoppers should recognize:
- Fake countdown timers: Some retailers display false urgency timers suggesting a deal will expire in minutes when the same price runs all week. Refreshing the page or checking in an incognito window often reveals the timer resets.
- Inflated “original prices”: A product listed at “was 200, now 99” may never have actually sold at 200. Price tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel for Amazon or Keepa reveal the true price history over months.
- Refurbished sold as new: Increased demand during Black Friday leads some third-party sellers to ship refurbished or open-box units at “new” prices. Check seller ratings carefully and buy directly from the retailer when possible.
- Phishing emails: Fake “order confirmation” or “deal alert” emails surge during Black Friday week. Never click links in unsolicited emails claiming to be from Amazon or other retailers. Navigate directly to the retailer’s website instead.
Post-Purchase Checklist
After making Black Friday purchases, a few steps protect your investment:
- Screenshot your order confirmation and the listed price in case of later disputes.
- Check return policies immediately. Some Black Friday deals carry modified return windows that differ from the store’s standard policy.
- Monitor delivery tracking actively. Package theft increases significantly during the holiday shopping season.
- Set calendar reminders for return deadlines on items you are unsure about. Many buyers forget they can return items and end up stuck with impulse purchases.
Following these practices turns Black Friday from a stressful spending sprint into a strategic opportunity to get genuine value on items you actually need.
Timing Your Purchases
Not every product category peaks on Black Friday itself. Electronics and gaming gear typically see their best prices on the actual Friday and the following Cyber Monday. Fashion and clothing often drop prices earlier in the week as physical stores clear inventory for new season stock. Amazon-specific Lightning Deals rotate throughout the day, with fresh inventory appearing at midnight, 8 AM, and noon — setting alarms for these windows increases the chance of catching high-demand items before they sell out.
Subscription services (streaming, software, VPNs) tend to offer their steepest annual discounts during this week. If you have been considering a yearly plan for any service, this is statistically the cheapest time to commit. Gaming platform sales on Steam, PlayStation Store, and Xbox follow a predictable pattern: a pre-Black Friday sale, the main event, and a Cyber Week extension. Wishlisting games in advance triggers email notifications when prices drop, removing the need to constantly check.
Building Your Price-Tracking System
The single most effective tool against Black Friday price manipulation is historical price data. CamelCamelCamel (for Amazon) and Keepa (browser extension with price graphs) both provide free access to months of pricing history. Before the sales week begins, check the 90-day average for every item on your list. Any “deal” priced above that average is not a real discount regardless of the percentage displayed. Browser extensions like Honey or Capital One Shopping automatically surface coupon codes and cashback offers at checkout, adding marginal savings on top of legitimate discounts. Combining these tools creates a system where genuine deals are immediately obvious and fake markdowns cannot deceive you.
