Shopping on Black Friday? Why buying an air fryer is a better deal than a 60-inch TV
The holiday season is also shopping season for many, as folks look to track down the perfect gifts for their loved ones. And Black Friday is for many the peak day to hit the stores in order to take advantage of big sales.
Many deals are worthwhile, experts say. But, they add, others are often worth passing on.
Here’s what to know about what sales are worth your time this Black Friday:
Best Black Friday deals
Plenty of items go on sale from all kinds of retailers on Black Friday, but some deals tend to be better than others. Things that tend to go for truly low prices, the couponing site RetailMeNot explains, include:
Computers, including laptops and tablets
Small appliances, such as air fryers, Instant Pots and blenders
Headphones and wireless earbuds
“Smart Home” systems
Smart watches
Fitness trackers
Home goods, such as towels and linens
What to skip on Black Friday
Some Black Friday sales are more flash than substance, experts caution, meaning your money is probably better spent elsewhere. Items to avoid this year, RetailMeNot recommends, include:
Clothes
New model gaming systems, like the newest XBOX or PlayStation
Furniture
Should you buy a TV on Black Friday?
Black Friday sales on televisions are frequently promoted heavily by retailers, but it’s worth considering the specifics of the deal and the TV itself before buying.
“Retailers work hard to make you want to buy that dirt-cheap doorbuster TV by placing it front and center in their Black Friday ads. But that TV is not your smartest buy,” RetailMeNot advises. “For one thing, it’ll sell out in minutes. For another, it is likely a cheap derivative model that will glitch and require replacing within a couple years.”
Consumer Reports offers a similar assessment.
“Super-low-priced doorbuster specials draw people in with visions of savings, but the sets — often from lesser-known brands — are not always worth the price,” the group writes.
If you want to get a TV, the groups recommend, do your research on TVs that are going on sale before Black Friday so you have an idea of which ones meet the standard you’re looking for.
This story was originally published November 18, 2022 at 1:02 PM.
