Revealed, the bogus offers where those ‘savings’ just didn’t add up
Currys/PC World — These deals were cheaper or the same price after Black Friday:
÷THE Samsung 55-inch Smart 4k Ultra HD HDR curved TV KU6670 was advertised as ‘Save £400, now £849’ (was £1,249 from May 11, 2016 to June 22) but it was £50 cheaper at least 29 times in December, January and April, the same price at least seven times in April and £79 cheaper at least 18 times in May. ÷THE DeLonghi Magnifica bean-to-cup coffee machine was advertised at ‘£349, Save £380’ (was £729.99 from September 6 to October 10, 2016) but was the same price at least 28 times in December. Which? price research shows it was actually £579.99 from September 6 to 24. ÷THE Samsung wireless soundbar and subwoofer HW-K430 was advertised as ‘Save £150, now £129.99’ (was £279.99 from Sept 28-Oct 31). It was the same price at least 18 times in December and January. ÷THE Fitbit Flex activity wristband (in black, slate or pink) was advertised at ‘£39.99, Save £40’ (was £79.99 October 20 to November 12). But it was £2 cheaper at least six times at the start of December. ÷ BEATS Solo 2 wireless black headphones (also in yellow) were advertised at £169. But they were cheaper by £19 for at least two days in February and the same price for at least two days in December. ÷THE HP Envy 4524 all-in-one wireless inkjet printer was advertised at £35. But it was the same price at least three times after Black Friday in late December 2016 and early January 2017. ÷THE Samsung Ecobubble 8kg washing machine WF80F5E2W4X was advertised at £349 but was the same price at least twice at the end of December.
Three deals were cheaper or the same price before and after Black Friday:
÷ THE Neff Slide and Hide oven was cheaper than on Black Friday for at least 113 days of the year. It was advertised on Black Friday at ‘£494.99 — 10pc off the marked price of £549.99’ (was £599.99 September 1 to October 18). The lowest price in the year was £419, at least 33 times in April and May. It was £449.99 at least 49 times from mid-Dec to February. ÷ THE Samsung 49-inch Smart 4k Ultra HD HDR curved TV KU6670 was advertised as ‘Save £250, now £699’ (it was £949 from May 11 to June 22). But it was also £699 at least 18 times before Black Friday in August and September. It was also £50 cheaper at least 29 times afterwards in December, January and April. ÷ THE Fitbit Blaze was advertised as ‘Save £20, was £159.99, now £139.99’ (£159.99 from March 1 to Nov 15). But it was £10 cheaper at least nine times in January, £7 cheaper for the rest of the Black Friday sale period (other than Black Friday itself), and the same price 124 times between October and May.
ARgos — these deals were cheaper or the same price after Black Friday:
÷BEATS by Dre PowerBeats2 wireless sports headphones (black) were advertised at £99.99 with the line ‘Save £30 — our lowest price ever’. But if you waited just three weeks, until Dec 17, they were £10 cheaper, as well as on at least 13 other days at the end of December. ÷THE Dyson V6 Fluffy cordless vacuum cleaner was advertised at £229.99 but was the same price at least four days at the end of December. ÷ THE Philips Viva Air Fryer with rapid air technology was advertised at £69.99 but was the same price at least 20 times afterwards in December and January. ÷THE Gtech AR02 AirRam filter bagless upright vacuum cleaner was advertised at £149.99 but was the same price on at least one occasion in early January. ÷THE Nutri Ninja BL450 blender with pulse technology (silver) was advertised at £44.99 but was £5 cheaper at least 22 times in April and May.
ThRee deals were cheaper or the same price before and after Black Friday:
÷THE LG UHD TV 4k LG49UH650V 49-inch UHD4k Web OS Smart LED TV advertised as ‘£499 — Our lowest price’ but was £20 cheaper at least seven times at the end of December, £4 cheaper 11 times in early December, and the same price at least 17 times from November to January. ÷ THE Braun 3040s Series 3 electric shaver was advertised at £39.99 but was the same price at least nine times in June and July, and between £4 and £5 cheaper at least five times in December. ÷ SONY MDR-ZX770AP on-ear headphones (black) were advertised as £34.99 but were the same price for at least six days in early November 2016 and at least 16 times in December.