Nathan Burrow, Wirecutter's senior deals editor, shares his expertise in spotting genuine Black Friday bargains. He discusses the deceptive pricing strategies retailers use and emphasizes the importance of diligent research to nab real discounts. Burrow highlights product categories worth targeting, like small kitchen appliances and electronics. Key strategies for smart shopping are revealed, along with crucial tips to avoid common pitfalls. Tune in to learn how to escape the Google trap of misleading results while shopping this holiday season!
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Quick takeaways
Many advertised Black Friday deals are misleading, with most offers failing to provide real savings despite appearing attractive.
Wirecutter's thorough analysis reveals that only a small fraction of products meet true bargain criteria amidst extensive holiday discounts.
Deep dives
The Landscape of Black Friday Shopping
Black Friday has evolved into a week-long shopping event, extending from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, with expectations of over $900 billion in spending during the holiday season. This year, the National Retail Federation projects a significant increase in shopping activity. However, the sheer volume of deals makes it increasingly confusing for consumers to discern genuine bargains from inflated prices, as many retailers manipulate price listings to create the illusion of larger discounts. The challenge now lies in identifying the rare, legitimate deals amidst a myriad of offers that may appear attractive but often are not substantial savings.
Evaluating True Discounts: The Role of Comparison
Wirecutter's team meticulously reviews thousands of potential Black Friday deals, with last year seeing approximately 147,712 products rated, yet only 1,344 were deemed true bargains. The criteria for making the cut includes identifying substantial discounts on quality products, meaning real savings must exceed commonly marked prices, especially during Black Friday. For example, a Bluetooth speaker regularly marketed at $80 must be substantially lower to qualify as a deal, as just a $5 or $10 decrease does not constitute a meaningful discount. This rigorous vetting process highlights the importance of backing any promotional price with verified historical pricing data to determine the legitimacy of the deal.
Consumers must be cautious of manipulative pricing tactics such as MSRP and MAP pricing, which serve to inflate perceived discounts. MSRP, or Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, often diverges from actual street prices that reflect a fair market value, complicating the shopper's ability to find true deals. Additionally, adherence to MAP pricing can lead to disallowed promotional strategies that leave shoppers unaware of better prices that could be available during an in-person experience. The podcast cautions shoppers to do their homework and compare specific model numbers and features, ensuring they understand the distinctions between similar products, especially when shopping during high-stakes sales events like Black Friday.
Most of the deals you’ll see for Black Friday and Cyber Week aren’t worth your time. This week, we reveal how to actually get a deal that’s worth your money.
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