The Annual Debate: Two Sales Events, One Shopping Season
Every autumn, consumers face the same question: should you rush out (or log on) for Black Friday deals, or hold off for Cyber Monday? The answer has shifted considerably in recent years as the lines between the two events have blurred — but there are still meaningful differences worth understanding before you plan your shopping.
A Brief Background
Black Friday traditionally falls the day after US Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday of November) and was historically the biggest in-store shopping day of the year. Cyber Monday was created a few years later as an online-focused counterpart, capitalising on shoppers returning to work — and their fast office internet connections — on the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Today, both events are primarily online, and most retailers start their "Black Friday" deals days or even weeks early.
Which Event Has Better Deals by Category?
| Category | Better on Black Friday? | Better on Cyber Monday? |
|---|---|---|
| TVs and large electronics | ✅ Often better | Sometimes comparable |
| Laptops and computers | Good deals | ✅ Often better |
| Clothing and apparel | Good deals | ✅ Often better online |
| Toys and games | ✅ Often better | Some deals remain |
| Appliances | ✅ Often better | Fewer options |
| Software and subscriptions | Some deals | ✅ Often better |
| Home goods and furniture | Good deals | ✅ Sometimes better online |
The "Deal Creep" Problem
One important thing to know: many items advertised as Black Friday deals are not at their lowest price. Retailers sometimes inflate the "original" price before the sale to make the discount look larger than it is. This is exactly where a price history tool like CamelCamelCamel (for Amazon) becomes invaluable — always check the price history of a specific product before assuming the Black Friday price is genuinely a bargain.
Tips for Getting the Best Out of Both Events
- Build your wishlist early — Know what you want before the sales start. Impulse buying during sale events is how people overspend.
- Track prices from October onward — Set up price alerts on tracking tools so you have a baseline before the sales begin.
- Don't wait if you see a genuine deal on Black Friday — Stock on popular items can sell out, and Cyber Monday prices aren't always lower.
- Check return policies — Some retailers restrict returns on Black Friday or Cyber Monday purchases. Know the terms before you buy.
- Look beyond the Big Two — Smaller retailers and direct-to-consumer brands sometimes offer deeper discounts to compete with the giants. It's worth a search.
The Bottom Line
The best time to buy is when a product you actually need drops to a price you've verified is genuinely low — regardless of whether it's Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or a random Tuesday in March. Use the sale season as an opportunity, not a pressure. Having a wishlist, a price-history habit, and a budget is worth more than rushing to buy the first "deal" you see.