With Black Friday approaching, many of us are looking for deals online. However, it’s important to understand a common retail tactic that can make deals look better than they actually are.

The Price Inflation Strategy

Studies have shown that retailers often raise prices in the weeks before Black Friday, then reduce them back to create the appearance of steeper discounts. Research found that prices for electronics and household appliances were on average more than eight per cent higher on Black Friday compared to their lowest prices in the preceding 90 days.

For example, a product might sell for $60 year-round, be marked up to $100 a few weeks before Black Friday, then advertised as “50% off” at $50 — making it look like a great deal when it’s actually a 17-per-cent discount. Analysis found that only a third of products were priced at their lowest level during Black Friday compared to the previous three months.

Tools to Help You Shop Smarter

Amazon Price Tracking

  • CamelCamelCamel — Tracks price history for Amazon products in Canada, the U.S., and several other countries, with free browser extensions for Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera, and Firefox
  • Keepa — Offers interactive graphs and tracks more international Amazon marketplaces than CamelCamelCamel, with both free and premium options

Broader Retail Price Tracking

  • Honey — Tracks price history and offers price-drop alerts across more than 800 retailers, with browser extensions and mobile apps
  • Capital One Shopping — Compares prices across multiple retailers and provides price-drop alerts through its Watchlist feature

Review Verification

Note that Fakespot and ReviewMeta are no longer operational as of mid-2025. Current alternatives include:

  • TheReviewIndex — Analyzes reviews on Amazon (primarily tech and electronics) and provides trust scores and spam-detection insights

2025 Trend: AI-Driven Dynamic Pricing

Some retailers now use AI-powered systems that adjust prices in real time based on demand, your browsing history, and other factors. Consider clearing your browser cookies or using incognito mode when price-checking to see if prices change.

Smart Shopping Tips

  • Check price history before purchasing to confirm whether the discount is genuine
  • Compare the Black Friday price to the item’s price from the past 30 to 90 days
  • Look for verified-purchase indicators on reviews
  • Be skeptical of products with large clusters of five-star reviews posted within short timeframes
  • Clear cookies or use incognito mode to test whether pricing is being personalized

The bottom line: do your research before hitting “buy.” Many doorbuster deals are far less impressive than they appear.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the tools or services mentioned above. This information is for educational purposes only. Please conduct your own due diligence and research before using any third-party tools or making purchasing decisions.

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