Black Friday hype makes it easy to believe every flashing discount is a golden opportunity. In reality, some deals are nothing more than clever traps dressed up as steals. Not every item deserves a spot in your cart, no matter how urgent that countdown looks. Here are the ones worth skipping.
Off-Brand TVs
Off-brand TVs may appear like incredible holiday deals, but they sometimes come with hidden downsides. Many lack dependable warranties and long-term reliability. Retailers frequently inflate prices before offering “discounts,” which creates misleading savings. These models also tend to use outdated technology or are merely rebranded older units.
Furniture
Black Friday furniture deals can be deceptive, as retailers feature lower-quality items made specifically for these sales. Delivery and assembly fees can easily wipe out any perceived savings. In fact, the deepest discounts and widest selections usually arrive during other holiday weekends like Presidents’ Day or Memorial Day.
Mattresses
Mattress “deals” on black friday mostly mean paying regular prices with extra hype attached. Stores quietly raise costs beforehand, then slash them back to normal during sale events. Trial periods trap you with impossible return conditions requiring spotless, pristine mattresses after weeks of sleeping on them.
Toys
Retailers weaponize scarcity during shopping stampedes and create artificial urgency around mediocre products. Yesterday’s rejected inventory gets premium placement while genuinely desirable items become unobtainable within minutes. December’s closing weeks flip this script entirely, which produces authentic savings when quarterly earnings pressure overrides marketing theatrics.
Gift Cards
Although some see a discount extravaganza as ideal for gift card purchases, the savings are usually minimal. Most deals provide only small bonuses or require large purchases to qualify. Discounts may look appealing, but they rarely provide significant long-term value compared to bonus promotions that appear throughout the year.
Jewelry
Jewelry is best bought after Black Friday, not during it. While retailers advertise sparkling “doorbusters,” real discounts typically appear later—around Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. Many of these sales feature lower-quality pieces crafted for quick turnover. Waiting can secure better quality, alongside broader selection and genuinely meaningful savings.
Fitness Equipment
Holiday ads make it seem like now’s the perfect time to upgrade home workouts. Yet many of those treadmills or bikes are clearance units built years earlier. Limited inventory and short return windows can make these purchases risky, especially if restocking fees apply when returning bulky, high-priced equipment.
Cosmetics And Beauty Products
Cosmetics have shelf lives, and Black Friday inventory sits dangerously close to expiration dates. Mascara older than three months breeds bacteria, while sunscreen loses effectiveness over time. Scoring deals on nearly-expired products means replacing them faster than normal purchases. Fresh products at regular price beat stale bargains that compromise your skin health.
Winter Clothing
Winter clothing deals on holiday sales events can be tempting, but they’re rarely the best of the season. Most retailers drop prices further in December or January as they clear inventory. You’ll find outdated styles or limited sizes during Black Friday, thereby making post-holiday clearance sales the smarter shopping choice.
Holiday Decorations
Last year’s snowflake patterns and color schemes dominate decoration aisles at supposedly discounted prices. Manufacturers already shipped next season’s designs to warehouses weeks ago. Buying now means overpaying for yesterday’s trends with restrictive return windows attached. Post-holiday sales provide the same outdated inventory at genuine clearance pricing, minus the artificial urgency and buyer’s remorse.
