What Is Worth Buying on Black Friday, and What Is Better to Wait For?

Author: Damian Jabłoński

On Black Friday, genuine bargains are easiest to find in electronics planned for purchase in advance and small household appliances, while clothes, furniture, and older phones are often better value second-hand.

Zdjęcie: https://kaboompics.com/ / Pexels

Where to start before Black Friday

On Black Friday, genuine bargains are easiest to find in electronics planned for purchase in advance and small household appliances, while clothes, furniture, and older phones are often better value second-hand. First, choose a specific model, check its previous price, and set a realistic budget. The size of the discount shown on the label alone does not indicate whether the purchase is worthwhile.

A good starting point is a list of parameters that cannot be overlooked. For a phone, this includes memory, the device version, and battery condition. For a television, check the screen size, panel type, and connectors. Such a list reduces the risk of replacing the chosen product with a similar but weaker model.

Poles most often buy clothes and footwear online — 40% of respondents declared such purchases. Electronics accounted for 35%, and cosmetics for 26%. The popularity of a category does not mean that every promotion is worthwhile. In each category, compare the specific product with its previous price and with used offers.

Electronics, small household appliances, and equipment worth looking for

Promotions on electronics and small household appliances can often be planned in advance. Choose a model beforehand, set a budget, and observe how its price changes. The most frequently searched categories include smartphones, consoles, coffee machines, air fryers, headphones, and televisions.

• Smartphones: check the exact model designation, storage capacity, regional version, and warranty length. Two phones with similar names may have different components.
• Consoles: check whether the set includes a disc drive, controller, game, or additional accessories. The price of the console alone is not always comparable with the price of a bundle.
• Coffee machines: compare the type of device, available drinks, cleaning method, and filter costs. A cheaper model may require more expensive consumables.
• Air fryers: check the basket capacity, power, number of chambers, and whether the parts can be washed. The number of programs alone does not describe the device's capabilities.
• Headphones: verify the type of connectivity, battery life, active noise cancellation, and whether the ear cushions can be replaced. It is also important to check whether a charging case is included.
• Televisions: compare the screen size, resolution, panel type, Smart TV system, and number of connectors. The same screen size does not mean the same image quality.

For every product, it is worth recording the exact model, not just the category name. Łowca can help choose a specific model based on a description of needs before monitoring begins.

Where a promotion may look better than it really is

A promotion may look attractive when a store shows a large difference between the current price and the reference price. Such a message does not replace checking how much the product cost previously and how much it costs elsewhere.

Clothes, cosmetics, electronic equipment, and small household appliances require particular attention. In these categories, it is easy to compare products with a similar appearance but a different model, size, equipment, or capacity. A discount for another version of a product is not a reliable point of reference.

Before buying, check:

• the previous price of the same model;
• the exact designation and equipment of the product;
• the delivery cost and any additional fees;
• the warranty terms and who provides the warranty;
• the return policy, especially when buying from a seller outside Poland;
• the condition of the product if the offer concerns a used, refurbished, or display item.

Not every lower price indicates a problem. Not every high price means better quality. The safest approach is to compare identical models and consider the total purchase cost.

What is often better to buy used than new

A used product may be a more reasonable choice when its function does not depend on the latest generation and its condition can be assessed easily. This applies especially to clothes and children's accessories, books, sports equipment, furniture, and older generations of phones.

• Clothes and children's accessories: check the size, signs of wear, stains, completeness, and whether the item can be safely washed. For car seats, a known accident history and a complete set of mounting components are important.
• Books: check the edition, cover condition, missing pages, and whether it is the sought-after language version.
• Sports equipment: assess wear on safety components, cracks, corrosion, and whether the size can be adjusted. For helmets and protectors, usage history is highly significant.
• Furniture: check the dimensions, stability, moisture, smell, and method of transport. Confirm that the furniture will fit through the doors, stairwell, or elevator.
• Older phones: check the battery condition, account locks, and whether the camera, ports, and screen work. Confirm that the device can be reset and activated with your own account.

For used items, photos do not always show the full condition. Ask for additional photos, the model number, and information about missing components. For products that affect safety, it is better to require a documented history or choose a new item.

One price check is not enough

The same item may be listed on OLX and Allegro Lokalnie at different prices. When comparing offers, check the exact model, condition, completeness, location, delivery cost, and reliability of the description. Do not compare only the listing title, because similar names may refer to different versions of a product.

When searching manually, check OLX and Allegro Lokalnie using the same phrase and model designation. It is also worth comparing photos and specifications so that two different items are not treated as the same one. Łowca searches both services at once and combines duplicates.

Łowca searches OLX, Otomoto, Otomoto (parts), Allegro Lokalnie, Vinted, Otodom, and Sprzedajemy simultaneously. It combines duplicates when the same listing appears on several monitored services. It may send an email when it finds an offer clearly below the typical market price for a specific item.

The alert concerns listings that appeared after monitoring was created. One monitoring setup covers matching services at once, and a delivered alert costs 20 points. Łowca operates exclusively on the Polish market and is not part of any classifieds portal.

When Łowca is not needed

Łowca is not needed for a purchase planned for a specific day when the product must be available immediately. It is also unnecessary if the item is easy to find in one store or comparing several manually selected offers is already sufficient.

An alert makes more sense for a purchase without a fixed deadline. It is also useful when a specific model, particular condition, or price clearly below the typical market price matters. In this situation, monitoring can be created and new listings awaited instead of checking several services every day.

The tool does not replace assessing the seller, inspecting the product, or checking the transaction terms. A notification informs about an offer but does not guarantee its availability, the best price level, or the seller's honesty.

Checklist before clicking Buy

Before buying, go through this short list:

1. Compare the current price with the previous price of the same model.
2. Check the full product designation, variant, size, memory, or equipment.
3. Assess the item's condition and ask for additional information if the description is incomplete.
4. Verify the warranty, proof of purchase, and the entity responsible for handling it.
5. Check the seller, listing history, and whether the photos are consistent with the description.
6. Read the return terms and complaint procedures.
7. Add delivery costs and other fees to the final price.
8. Compare the offer with similar listings on other platforms.

First compare the price of the new product with the price of the same model used. Only then assess whether the Black Friday promotion actually changes the value of the purchase.

FAQ:

Frequently asked questions

What is worth buying on Black Friday?

It is usually worth monitoring electronics and small household appliances in advance, including smartphones, consoles, coffee machines, air fryers, headphones, and televisions. Before buying, compare the price of the same model with its previous price and with used offers.

Is it worth waiting until Black Friday to buy electronics?

It is worth waiting if the purchase has no fixed deadline and a specific model can be monitored in advance. A promotion label alone is not enough, so check the price history, product variant, and total purchase cost.

What is better to buy used than new?

Clothes and children's accessories, books, sports equipment, furniture, and older generations of phones are often better value used. Before buying, check the item's condition, completeness, safety, and history.

How can I check whether a Black Friday promotion is genuine?

Compare the current price with the previous price of exactly the same model and check the delivery cost, warranty, and return terms. Do not compare products solely by category name or the stated discount amount.

Are Black Friday prices lower than prices for used products?

Not always, because a used product may cost less regardless of a seasonal promotion. Compare the same model, its condition, completeness, warranty, and total purchase cost.

How can I compare prices for the same product on OLX and Allegro Lokalnie?

Search both platforms using the full model designation, then compare the condition, equipment, photos, location, and delivery cost. Łowca searches both services at once and combines duplicates.

Does Łowca monitor Allegro Lokalnie and Sprzedajemy?

Yes. Łowca monitors OLX, Otomoto, Otomoto (parts), Allegro Lokalnie, Vinted, Otodom, and Sprzedajemy.

Updated: 2026-10-28