How to check if Black Friday offers are really cheaper

It's time to resume the seasonal debate: are the so-called black Friday bargains all that they are supposed to be?

Search for the consumer group Which? suggests that most products are actually cheaper at other times of the year.

But the Trusted Reviews website said that Black Friday could indeed be the best time to buy many products, including technology items.

As a result, he advises consumers to download their own price indicators.

These followers can view the history of the prices charged and indicate if they have already made a hike shortly before the promotional period to give a larger appearance to any discount.

• Black Friday 2017: the winner online
• Black Friday 2017: the offers do not seem all

Which products are cheaper at other times?

Which? Tracked the prices of 94 popular products for six months before and after Black Friday last year.

He said the "vast majority" – about 87% of these products – were cheaper at other times of the year.

His analysis focused on retailers such as Currys PC World, Amazon, John Lewis and Argos.

The price of most goods declined in the six months following Black Friday 2017. For example:

• A 60-inch LG TV was announced at £ 799 by Amazon on Black Friday. At the end of December, it was £ 150 cheaper
• A Sony Cybershot camera was on sale at £ 189 at Currys PC World on Black Friday. Later, it was £ 10 cheaper
• A Fitbit Alta activity tracker was announced by John Lewis at £ 99.99 on Black Friday. In March this amount had been reduced to £ 39.99.

Which products tend to be cheaper?

Trusted Reviews has found many items that have had their lowest price on Black Friday 2017. These included:

• The pet vacuum cleaner Dyson V6. It cost £ 179.99 on Black Friday 2017, its lowest price and a 45% discount
• Helmet Bose QuietComfort 25. They cost £ 159 on a black Friday, a reduction of 32% and the lowest price until March 2018.

"Although incredible offers are available before Black Friday, not all offers are as good as they seem," said Nick Merritt, editor of Trusted Reviews.

"That's why it's so important that people find a reliable source of unbiased information before they get started – this could save you hundreds of pounds."

Price trackers

One way to determine if you are getting a good deal is to download a price indicator.

This will give you a complete history of the amount billed for a particular item in the past.

For those who use Google Chrome, Trusted Reviews recommends Keepa, which tracks prices on Amazon. CamleCamelCamel does the same for those who do not use Chrome.

Price Spy tracks the prices of hundreds of retailers, including John Lewis and Argos. Idealo claims to follow prices in 29,700 different stores in Europe.

Retailer applications

Another tool for bargain hunters is the retailer's own application. Many of them will inform consumers when the price of a product has dropped and by how much.

With a few clicks, they can then buy the item.