Black Friday is the day when people all over the world look for the best discounts. For many retailers, it is the busiest day of the year and discount signs attract shoppers in droves. But often the "low prices" don't always mean real bargains. Price increases in advance are a tactic that some retailers use to create the appearance of a big discount. This raises the question: is Black Friday shopping really worth it? In this article, we'll take a closer look at how these price tricks work and how you can see through them.
The tactic of price increases before Black Friday
Many retailers know that everyone is waiting for Black Friday to get a really good deal. Unfortunately, some of them are tricky and try to deceive us. One popular method is to drive up prices weeks before Black Friday, only to then slash them drastically on the big day. This makes the discounts seem much bigger than they actually are.
Imagine a TV that normally costs 500 euros. Two weeks before Black Friday, the retailer increases the price to 600 euros, only to offer it "reduced" for 500 euros on Black Friday. This looks like a great offer, but in reality it is not a real bargain. Unfortunately, many people fall for it because they do not know that the price was manipulated shortly beforehand.
That's why it's worth keeping an eye on prices some time in advance. That way you can be sure that the advertised discount is really a good deal and not a scam.
The danger of "fake bargains"
In addition to price increases, there is another popular tactic: so-called fake bargains. Some retailers advertise high discounts that don't actually exist. The RRP (recommended retail price) is often used as a starting point to make the discount appear as large as possible. The RRP is often no longer actually charged - so the offer is not a real bargain.
To avoid fake deals, you should always do a price comparison. There are many websites and apps that can help you determine the real value of a product. This way you know whether the discount offered is really a deal or whether the retailer is just trying to deceive you.
Tips for recognizing real bargains
In order to get real bargains on Black Friday and not fall for marketing tricks, careful preparation is essential. The following tips will help you find the best deals and avoid making bad purchases:
1. Early planning and price monitoring
- Create a wish list: Write down the products you want to buy and prioritize them.
- Follow price developments: Use price comparison sites like Idealo or billiger.de to monitor the price development of your desired products over several weeks. This way you can see whether the Black Friday price is actually a bargain.
2. Use price comparison tools
- Browser extensions: Install tools like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel that track price histories and notify you of price changes.
- Apps: Use apps that set price alerts and notify you when the price of your desired product drops.
3.Be careful with high discounts
- RRP as reference: Retailers often advertise high discounts based on the recommended retail price (RRP), which rarely corresponds to the actual market price.
- Realistic expectations: Be skeptical of extremely high discounts and check whether the reduced price is really below the average market price.
4. Select reputable dealers
- Well-known providers prefer: Buy from established retailers with good reviews to avoid scams and inferior products.
- Check imprint: Make sure to provide complete contact information and legal disclosures on the retailer’s website.
5. Observe return and warranty conditions
- Return policy: Find out about the retailer's return policy and conditions if the product does not meet your expectations.
- Guarantee: Make sure the product comes with a warranty, especially for electronic items.
6. Set a budget and avoid impulse purchases
- Set financial limits: Decide in advance how much you want to spend and stick to it.
- Stay critical: Don't let yourself be pressured by limited-time offers and consider whether you really need the product before making a purchase.
7. Use newsletters and customer accounts
- Early Access: Sign up for newsletters from preferred retailers to be informed early about offers and receive a newsletter discount.
- customer accounts: Create accounts with your favorite online stores to speed up the ordering process and benefit from exclusive offers.
8. Check payment and shipping conditions
- Secure payment methods: Use secure payment options such as PayPal or Klarna, which also offer buyer protection.
- Shipping costs: Be aware of possible shipping costs that may increase the final price and check whether the retailer offers free shipping.
Checklist for Black Friday
- wish list created
- Price development of desired products observed
- price comparison tools installed and used
- Reputable dealers selected
- Return and warranty conditions checked
- budget set and adhered to
- Subscribed to newsletters and created customer accounts
- payment and shipping conditions checked
With this preparation, you will be well equipped to find real bargains on Black Friday and avoid unnecessary expenses.
Conclusion
Black Friday offers many opportunities to get real bargains – but only if you are well prepared.Don't be fooled by price hikes or fake discounts. Keep an eye on prices and use price comparison tools to make sure you're really getting the best deal. Or buy directly from Janado to really save.
