Getting ready for Black Friday 2026
Black Friday is on Friday 27 November this year. A little preparation now is the difference between a genuine bargain and buying something you didn’t need at a price you could have had in the summer.
The short version
- Make a list now, and write down today’s prices.
- Most Black Friday “deals” aren’t the year’s lowest price, so check the price history before you buy.
- Pay by credit card for anything over £100, and know the returns policy before you buy.
Key dates
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Early “Black Friday” sales | Often from mid-November. Last year Amazon’s Black Friday Week ran from 20 November to 1 December. |
| Black Friday | Friday 27 November 2026 |
| Cyber Monday | Monday 30 November 2026 |
| Last Christmas delivery dates | Usually mid to late December. Check each shop, and allow longer for the Highlands and Islands. |
Is Black Friday actually cheaper?
Sometimes, but less often than the adverts suggest. When Which? tracked 175 popular home, tech and health products for a year, 83% were the same price or cheaper at some point outside the Black Friday sales period. John Lewis (94%), Very (93%) and Amazon (88%) had the highest shares. Richer Sounds had the lowest (55%), meaning its Black Friday prices were more often genuine.
There’s another side to it. MoneySavingExpert compared 50 popular gifts and found 37 of them (74%) were cheaper on Black Friday than they were the week before Christmas. So if you’re buying for Christmas anyway, Black Friday is often a good moment. Just don’t treat it as the cheapest day of the year by default.
Before the day: four things to do now
- Make a list, with a budget. Write down what you actually need, and the most you’d pay. The list is what stops “it’s 40% off” turning into a purchase you didn’t plan.
- Note today’s prices. Screenshot the product pages, or use a price tracker: CamelCamelCamel for Amazon, PriceSpy or PriceRunner for most UK shops. Then you’ll know straight away if a “deal” is really a deal.
- Add items to wish lists and set alerts. Most big retailers email you when something on your wish list drops in price.
- Join loyalty schemes now, and check your points. Some sales are better for members, and points can expire.
On the day: how to spot a good deal
- Check the price history, not the “was” price. A “was £299” can be months old. Our guide Is it a real discount? walks through the checks in two minutes.
- Match the exact model number. TVs and laptops in particular sometimes come in sale-only versions with slightly different specs. Compare like with like.
- Check who’s selling it. On marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, OnBuy and others), popular products attract copies. Look at the seller name, their reviews and where it ships from.
- Add up the total. Delivery, installation and add-ons can wipe out a discount, especially if you live somewhere that gets delivery surcharges.
- Ignore countdown clocks. “Only 2 hours left” is designed to rush you. Most good deals come back, and the regulator is currently investigating misleading time-limited offers.
Browse today’s price-checked offers by category: tech, home, kids and toys and more on the deals page.
Paying safely
- Credit card for anything over £100. Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, your card provider is equally responsible if something goes wrong with a single item costing more than £100 and up to £30,000. It doesn’t usually cover marketplace purchases made through a third party.
- Debit cards and smaller amounts: ask your bank for a chargeback if goods don’t arrive or aren’t as described.
- PayPal: you have 180 days from paying to open a dispute.
- Buy now, pay later: treat it as borrowing. Missed payments can cost you and affect your credit file.
Know your returns rights
- Bought online? You can usually cancel within 14 days of delivery for any reason, and you should be refunded within 14 days of the shop getting the item back. There are some exceptions, such as personalised items and opened software.
- Faulty? You’re entitled to a refund within 30 days, and to a repair or replacement after that.
- Bought in a shop? There’s no legal right to return something just because you’ve changed your mind. It depends on the shop’s own policy. Many extend returns over Christmas, so check before you buy.
Quick checklist
- I know what I’m buying and my budget
- I’ve checked the price history, not just the “was” price
- The model number matches the one I researched
- I know who the seller is
- I’ve added delivery to the total
- I’m paying with protection (credit card over £100, or PayPal)
- I know the returns policy
Common questions
Is Cyber Monday cheaper than Black Friday?
Not usually by much. Most retailers run the same prices from before Black Friday until Cyber Monday or later, with a few extra deals on the Monday, mostly online and on tech.
Should I wait for the January sales?
For things you don’t need by Christmas, January can be just as good, particularly for clothes and homeware. For Christmas presents, MoneySavingExpert’s research suggests waiting rarely pays off.
How do I know if a deal on Jammy Deals is genuine?
We filter out expired deals every hour and link back to the source. Deals marked with a green tick come from price history, such as CamelCamelCamel’s Amazon price drops. Always check the final price on the shop’s site before you pay.