Black Friday has become a near-worldwide phenomenon — certainly throughout the EU. Buy more for less! Or… maybe not?
Black Friday returns on 28 November. The tradition originally drifted over from the United States, where it falls on the day after Thanksgiving. That day is now considered the official start of the Christmas season, with retailers using hefty discounts as bait to get customers shopping. In Europe — where the day is becoming increasingly popular — you need to pay very close attention, because things often work differently here.
Unlike in the US, where genuine discounts of up to 75% are sometimes offered, we frequently see a different — and more annoying — practice on this side of the Atlantic. Retailers often raise prices slightly in the run-up to Black Friday and then apply a “discount.” Sometimes the final price is indeed lower than the original — but the difference is far smaller than the percentage shown would suggest. And sometimes the price is simply the same as before the hike… or even higher.
To avoid buying a pig in a poke, it’s smart to track the price of anything you’re planning to buy. That way you can verify whether it’s actually cheaper on Black Friday — or not worth the trouble at all. Also keep in mind that prices often drop again after the holidays. Black Friday is mainly “celebrated” by big chains and large online retailers such as — of course — Amazon; for smaller one-person shops it often results only in losses.
In short: pay attention, compare, and use common sense. With a bit of luck, you might just score something that’s genuinely cheaper!