Black Friday, 11.11 and Cyber Monday 2026 - how to shop without getting fooled

In Poland and the EU, stores announcing a price reduction should show the lowest price from the 30 days before the discount. This helps buyers separate real discounts from promotions where the price was increased and then “reduced”.

Do not look only at a big “-40%” label. Compare the current price with the lowest price from 30 days. If a product costs 45 EUR today and the lowest 30-day price was 43 EUR, the deal is not as strong as the marketing suggests.

• Day 1–2Make a list of products you actually need. Split them into “must buy”, “buy only at a good price” and “can wait”.
• Day 3Save current prices in several stores: AliExpress, x-kom, Amazon, Allegro and manufacturer stores.
• Day 4–5Check reviews, variants, specs and return costs. A sale will not fix a badly chosen product.
• Day 6Set your maximum purchase price. If the sale does not reach it, do not buy.
• Day 7Add products to wishlists and baskets so you can compare the final price faster on sale day.

• Big discount, weak final priceIf the offer is only slightly cheaper after shipping, it may not be worth the risk.
• Unclear product variantFor electronics, check the exact model, memory, language version, plug and distribution.
• Time pressureCountdown timers are there to speed up your decision. If the product was not on your list, wait 15 minutes.
• No reviews or user photosA new offer with a huge discount and no sales history is riskier than a smaller discount from a proven seller.

• Electronics and accessoriesSSDs, RAM, monitors, mice, keyboards, chargers and cables - but only after checking the exact model.
• Smart home and small appliancesDiscounts can be real here, but compare spare parts availability, warranty and return rules.
• Phone accessoriesCases, screen protectors, mounts, chargers and power banks often drop strongly on AliExpress.
• Gifts bought earlyBuy in advance, especially if you choose shipping from China or a longer delivery window.

• Products that are “almost the same” as what you wanted - small spec differences can be critical.
• Unknown stores without a clear return policy, especially for expensive electronics.
• Products that are cheap only because they have an unusual plug, no local warranty or shipping from a distant warehouse.
• Buying on credit only because the sale ends in an hour.

Before buying, check three things: final price, realistic delivery time and return conditions. If one of them looks weak, the offer must be much cheaper to make sense. Sometimes paying a little more in a store with faster delivery and easy returns is better than waiting a month for a risky parcel.