ST. CROIX INSIGHTS
Are Black Friday Deals Actually Good Deals?
Thanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones, enjoy a hearty meal, and reflect on the blessings of the year. But for many households, it also marks the unofficial kickoff to one of the biggest shopping weekends in America: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.
Stores across the country promote steep discounts and flashy sales, but are these deals truly as good as they seem?
In many cases, not all that glitters is gold.
Sales That May Not Actually Be Good
Some of the most heavily marketed deals, especially for electronics, aren’t always the bargains they appear to be.
1. Big-ticket electronics often have hidden compromises
- Retailers frequently sell “derivative models” made specifically for Black Friday. These versions may use cheaper internal components (like lower-quality panels or processors).
- Many discounted TVs, laptops, or soundbars are last year’s models repackaged with attractive pricing.
2. Some discounts are based on inflated “original prices”
It’s common for certain retailers to raise prices in September or October, then drop them again for Black Friday to create the illusion of a large percentage discount. If you weren’t tracking the product ahead of time, you’d never notice the manipulation.
3. Limited stock creates false urgency
Doorbusters are often available in extremely limited quantities. Shoppers get lured in by the advertised deal, only to end up buying something else at a higher price.
Sales That May Be Worth It
Black Friday isn’t all bad news. There are categories where the savings tend to be legitimate.
1. Name-brand smart devices
Well-known brands often offer genuine discounts on their smart devices, such as Amazon Kindle and Echo devices, Google Nest products, and Apple Watches, AirPods, or iPads (especially older generations). These products typically maintain consistent pricing year-round, so holiday promotions can be meaningful.
2. Home appliances
If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your dishwasher or refrigerator, many appliance stores tend to have good deals during this time. Small appliances, such as coffee makers or air fryers, also often drop significantly in price.
3. Toys—sometimes
During Black Friday sales, parents can often find great prices on the toys their children have written to Santa for, and avoiding full price for something that may only be played with for a year or two feels like a win. However, toys frequently receive even deeper discounts in mid-to-late December as retailers work to clear excess inventory. The trade-off is timing: waiting can save more money, but it’s risky if you’re chasing the season’s hottest item, since popular toys tend to sell out long before Christmas.
4. Clothing
Clothing is typically a reliable category for genuine Black Friday deals. Because fashion trends move quickly, retailers are eager to clear out current inventory before the next season’s styles arrive. Black Friday sales help them make room, and give shoppers some of the best apparel prices they’ll see all year.
How to Know if It’s a Real Deal
Want to shop smart? Use these steps to protect your wallet and avoid being misled.
1. Track prices early
Start watching prices before Black Friday. Free tools can help:
- CamelCamelCamel (Amazon price history)
- Keepa
- Honey
These reveal whether a deal is actually the lowest price of the season—or just marketing.
2. Compare product specs, not just the price tag
A “great deal” might be a downgrade. For example, if the Sony TV you planned to buy was a QLED model with four HDMI ports, and the “Black Friday Sony” is LED with only two ports but advertised as 25% off, it’s not the same product and not the same value.
3. Comparison shop
Check multiple retailers. Many stores offer price matching, even during holiday sales, although policies may vary.
4. Avoid impulse purchases
It can be easy to fall prey to a shining, shimmering sale of a product you never wanted in the first place. For instance, you may be absently scrolling Amazon and see that a stainless rice cooker is now only $60 when it was originally $80. So, you buy it, even though you never needed it. You didn’t save $20; you spent $60 you never planned to spend.
The bottom line is that Black Friday can be a fantastic time to score real savings, but only if you shop intentionally. Many deals are legitimate, but just as many rely on clever marketing, inflated prices, or lower-quality versions of name-brand products.
So, while retailers would love for you to open your wallet eagerly this Thanksgiving weekend, take a moment to pause. Track prices, compare specs, and buy only what you truly need. Your future self—and your bank account—will thank you.
Thanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones, enjoy a hearty meal, and reflect on the blessings of the year. But for many households, it also marks the unofficial kickoff to one of the biggest shopping weekends in America: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.
Stores across the country promote steep discounts and flashy sales, but are these deals truly as good as they seem?
In many cases, not all that glitters is gold.
Sales That May Not Actually Be Good
Some of the most heavily marketed deals, especially for electronics, aren’t always the bargains they appear to be.
1. Big-ticket electronics often have hidden compromises
- Retailers frequently sell “derivative models” made specifically for Black Friday. These versions may use cheaper internal components (like lower-quality panels or processors).
- Many discounted TVs, laptops, or soundbars are last year’s models repackaged with attractive pricing.
2. Some discounts are based on inflated “original prices”
It’s common for certain retailers to raise prices in September or October, then drop them again for Black Friday to create the illusion of a large percentage discount. If you weren’t tracking the product ahead of time, you’d never notice the manipulation.
3. Limited stock creates false urgency
Doorbusters are often available in extremely limited quantities. Shoppers get lured in by the advertised deal, only to end up buying something else at a higher price.
Sales That May Be Worth It
Black Friday isn’t all bad news. There are categories where the savings tend to be legitimate.
1. Name-brand smart devices
Well-known brands often offer genuine discounts on their smart devices, such as Amazon Kindle and Echo devices, Google Nest products, and Apple Watches, AirPods, or iPads (especially older generations). These products typically maintain consistent pricing year-round, so holiday promotions can be meaningful.
2. Home appliances
If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your dishwasher or refrigerator, many appliance stores tend to have good deals during this time. Small appliances, such as coffee makers or air fryers, also often drop significantly in price.
3. Toys—sometimes
During Black Friday sales, parents can often find great prices on the toys their children have written to Santa for, and avoiding full price for something that may only be played with for a year or two feels like a win. However, toys frequently receive even deeper discounts in mid-to-late December as retailers work to clear excess inventory. The trade-off is timing: waiting can save more money, but it’s risky if you’re chasing the season’s hottest item, since popular toys tend to sell out long before Christmas.
4. Clothing
Clothing is typically a reliable category for genuine Black Friday deals. Because fashion trends move quickly, retailers are eager to clear out current inventory before the next season’s styles arrive. Black Friday sales help them make room, and give shoppers some of the best apparel prices they’ll see all year.
How to Know if It’s a Real Deal
Want to shop smart? Use these steps to protect your wallet and avoid being misled.
1. Track prices early
Start watching prices before Black Friday. Free tools can help:
- CamelCamelCamel (Amazon price history)
- Keepa
- Honey
These reveal whether a deal is actually the lowest price of the season—or just marketing.
2. Compare product specs, not just the price tag
A “great deal” might be a downgrade. For example, if the Sony TV you planned to buy was a QLED model with four HDMI ports, and the “Black Friday Sony” is LED with only two ports but advertised as 25% off, it’s not the same product and not the same value.
3. Comparison shop
Check multiple retailers. Many stores offer price matching, even during holiday sales, although policies may vary.
4. Avoid impulse purchases
It can be easy to fall prey to a shining, shimmering sale of a product you never wanted in the first place. For instance, you may be absently scrolling Amazon and see that a stainless rice cooker is now only $60 when it was originally $80. So, you buy it, even though you never needed it. You didn’t save $20; you spent $60 you never planned to spend.
The bottom line is that Black Friday can be a fantastic time to score real savings, but only if you shop intentionally. Many deals are legitimate, but just as many rely on clever marketing, inflated prices, or lower-quality versions of name-brand products.
So, while retailers would love for you to open your wallet eagerly this Thanksgiving weekend, take a moment to pause. Track prices, compare specs, and buy only what you truly need. Your future self—and your bank account—will thank you.