Is that Black Friday deal really a deal? Five things to check before you buy

Black Friday 2026 is just a few weeks away, and the deals are already starting to appear.

Big red price tags and countdown timers can make every offer look irresistible.

But not every discount is what it seems.

And scammers love Black Friday as much as shoppers do.

Black Friday falls on Friday, 27 November 2026, followed by Cyber Monday on Monday, 30 November.

Here are five things to check before you buy.

IS THE DISCOUNT REAL?

A big percentage off doesn’t always mean a big saving.

Consumer watchdogs have warned that some sellers inflate the “original” price, so the discount looks bigger than it really is.

It’s a problem around the world.

When European consumer authorities checked 314 online shops during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, they found that 30% displayed their discounts incorrectly, according to Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

What to do: Start tracking the prices of items you want now, so you’ll know what a genuine discount looks like on the day.

In South Africa, the Consumer Protection Act prohibits false or misleading claims about prices.

COMPARE PRICES ACROSS STORES

The first deal you see isn’t always the best one.

What to do: Check the same product, with the same model number, at several stores. Remember to include delivery fees when comparing online prices.

KNOW YOUR RETURN RIGHTS

Sale items still come with legal protections.

• Defective goods:

  Under the Consumer Protection Act, you can return faulty goods within

  six months

  for a repair, replacement or refund, even if you bought them on sale. The exception is a defect the store clearly told you about before you bought the item.

• Online purchases:

  Under the

  Electronic Communications and Transactions Act

  , you can generally cancel an online purchase within

  seven days

  of receiving the goods, although you may have to pay the cost of returning them.

• “No returns” signs:

  Check the store’s return policy before you buy, but remember that a store can’t take away your legal right to return defective goods.

IS THE WEBSITE REAL?

Scammers create fake online shops and adverts that look almost identical to the real thing.

What to do:

• Type the store’s web address yourself,

  rather than clicking on links in adverts, emails or SMSes.

• Check the web address carefully

  for spelling mistakes or extra words.

• Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true,

  especially on social media.

• Look for contact details,

  such as a physical address and phone number.

PAY SAFELY

How you pay can make a big difference if something goes wrong.

What to do:

• Pay by card

  through the store’s secure checkout, rather than by EFT to an individual’s bank account.

• Never share your one-time PIN (OTP)

  with anyone.

• Approve payments only in your banking app

  when you’ve made the purchase yourself.

• Set a budget before you start shopping,

  so you don’t overspend on deals you don’t need.

WHERE TO COMPLAIN

If a retailer won’t help with a faulty product or a misleading deal, you can complain to the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO), or to the National Consumer Commission (NCC).

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO BUY THIS BLACK FRIDAY?

Let us know in the comments below…