Business

The ‘real deal’ on Black Friday deals

File: Black Friday shopper Amy Jones, of Hilton Head Island, shops for presents at Outside Hilton Head on Nov. 27, 2015. She said she found the sale items appealing. "Fifty percent off, I like to see that for sure," she said.
File: Black Friday shopper Amy Jones, of Hilton Head Island, shops for presents at Outside Hilton Head on Nov. 27, 2015. She said she found the sale items appealing. "Fifty percent off, I like to see that for sure," she said. jkarr@islandpacket.com

Americans are obsessed with deals. Why else do we camp outside our favorite stores after a big holiday feast or force ourselves awake at ungodly hours to browse the virtual shopping aisles? Truth is, many of us find pleasure in buying merchandise at the deepest discounts and knowing we beat our fellow sale-addicted shoppers to the punch.

But while Black Friday is traditionally associated with the best prices, we should pause from our spending and ask: How good of a deal am I really getting? According to the most recent holiday shopping survey from BestBlackFriday.com, 63 percent of respondents said Black Friday doesn’t offer the most unbeatable bargains of the year.

To separate myth from fact, consumer finance website WalletHub’s number crunchers compared pre- and actual Black Friday prices of a broad selection of items. Using the price difference of each item, they isolated the offers that are truly worth the hassle of participating in America’s biggest shopping craze.

Samsung Refrigerator, 24.5 Cu. ft. - RS25J500DSR
Black Friday Price After Discount: $899

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $1,347

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $448

AAFES
Denon Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer (DHT-S514)
Black Friday Price After Discount: $350

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $557

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $207

Best Buy
15'' Sport Arena Trampoline, includes basketball hoop, football game, basketball & football
Black Friday Price After Discount: $250

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $500

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $250

BJ's
Kirkland Signature 42" Mobile 16 Drawer Tool Chest
Black Friday Price After Discount: $499

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $900

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $401

Costco
XCOM 2 Xbox One
Black Friday Price After Discount: $30

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $59

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $29

GameStop
Sony 75'' Class (74.5'' Diagonal) HD Smart TV XBR75X850D
Black Friday Price After Discount: $2,500

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $2,998

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $498

Hhgregg
Dell XPS 13.3'' Touchscreen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - Quad HD+, 16GB Memory, 512GB SSD
Black Friday Price After Discount: $1,299

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $1,675

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $376

Costco
LG ENERGY STAR® 7.4 Cu. Ft. Ultra Large CapacityDryer with NFC Tag On Technology DLE3170W
Black Friday Price After Discount: $495

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $1,034

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $539

JCPenney
Color Switch Plus 7.5' Pre-Lit Vancouver Fir Tree
Black Friday Price After Discount: $150

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $421

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $271

Kmart
JBL Pulse 2 Splashproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Interactive Light Show
Black Friday Price After Discount: $120

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $312

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $192

Kohl's
Dyson Ball Multifloor Pro Canister Vacuum. #DC39
Black Friday Price After Discount: $250

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $400

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $150

Macy's
Parrot bebop 2 and Skycontroller Red
Black Friday Price After Discount: $450

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $715

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $265

Microsoft
Sauder Shoal Creek Executive Desk, 30 1/2"H x 65 1/8"W x 29 1/4"D, Jamocha Wood
Black Friday Price After Discount: $180

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $396

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $216

Office Depot and OfficeMax
Lifetime Adventure Tower Playset
Black Friday Price After Discount: $499

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $1,429

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $930

Sam's Club
NordicTrack Elite 3700 Treadmill, Platinum And Black
Black Friday Price After Discount: $1,000

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $2,000

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $1,000

Sears
Simmons Heat & Massage Rocker Recliner
Black Friday Price After Discount: $260

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $492

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $232

Staples
Hisense 50" Class 2160 4K UHD TV with High Dynamic Range (50H8C)
Black Friday Price After Discount: $250

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $564

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $314

Target
Chicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat - Kuma
Black Friday Price After Discount: $200

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $802

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $602

Toys"R"Us
Yard Machines Gas Snow Blower, Single-Stage, 123cc Engine, 21-In. Path
Black Friday Price After Discount: $249

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $400

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $151

True Value
Canon EOS Rebel T5i 18MP Digital SLR Camera Bundle
Black Friday Price After Discount: $449

Pre-Black Friday Price*: $699

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday: $250

Walmart

*Depending on an item, our research team collected one or more of its advertised prices between Oct. 19 and Nov. 17. The “Pre-Black Friday Price” is the lowest of those prices for each item.

Best and worst product categories for Black Friday shopping

Percentages were calculated based only on the items in each category that matched offers posted on Amazon.com prior to Black Friday.

 

Percentage of good deals by retailer

Below is a comparison of retailers according to the percentage of “good” deals they offer — that is, compared with the same products from Amazon.com. If the price offered by retailers is lower than the price on Amazon.com, this was considered a good deal, with the opposite representing a bad deal. Please note that complete data were not available for some items and therefore were excluded from WalletHub’s analysis.

 

Top 7 deals by retailer

Retailer

Item

Black Friday Price After Discount

Pre-Black Friday Price*

Additional Discount for Waiting Until Black Friday

($)**

AAFESYvolution Flyer scooter (Red)$120$290-$170
True ValueYard Machines Gas Snow Blower, Single-Stage, 123cc Engine, 21-In. Path$249$400-$151
GameStopXbox Wireless Controller - Gears of War 4 JD Fenix Limited Edition - Only at GameStop$55$82-$27
GameStopXbox One S Gears of War 4 1TB Console Bundle$300$400-$100
CostcoXbox One S 500GB Minecraft Bundle (Includes Minecraft Fav. Pack, stream 4K video or watch 4K Blu-ray movies)$240$298-$58
GameStopWorld of Final Fantasy Limited Edition$40$65-$25
Modell'sWilson Agressor Basketball$15$25-$10
SearsWhirlpool WRF535SMBM 25 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator - Stainless Steel (Silver)$1,000$1,583-$583
WalmartWhalen Media Fireplace Console for TVs up to 55", Dark Cherry$155$299-$144
Sam's ClubVIZIO SmartCast 50” Class Home Theater Display - E50x-E1$348$621-$273
CostcoVizio Channel SmartCast™ Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer (SB3821-D6)$130$195-$65
Dell HomeVizio 60" Smart LED HDTV D60-D3$500$583-$83
ShopkoVizio 55" D55-D2 Smart TV$450$544-$94
Harbor FreightUS General Pro 44", 13 Drawer Industrial Quality Roller Cabinet$340$640-$300
Dell HomeUE BOOM 2 - Bluetooth Speaker$130$176-$46
Craft WarehouseTypecast Typewritter$150$181-$31
GameStopTurtle Beach Stealth 520 Wireless DTS 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset$100$130-$30
GordmansTrolls Poppy Saucer Chairs$20$32-$12
GordmansTrolls Headphones$20$27-$8
GordmansTrolls Glitterific Guy Diamond & Branch Dolls$25$30-$5
Craft WarehouseToy Train in a Tin$8$15-$7
Macy'sTommy Hilfiger Collins Waterproof duck boots$50$138-$88
Dell HomeTimbuk2 Q 17" Backpack - Ironside$49$99-$50
Harbor FreightThunderbolt 45 Watt Solar Panel, 10 Piece Kit$125$181-$56
Big LotsThermos 2 Burner Urban Gas Grill 30,000 BTU$110$190-$80
Modell'sTabletop Toss N Score Table Top Game$15$30-$15
Modell'sSwiftstream Z4 Mini Drone Red$25$46-$21
Modell'sSwifstream Z6 CV Drone$15$88-$73
Modell'sSwagtron T5 Smart Balancing Electric Skateboard$250$300-$50
True ValueStriker Drone, Live Feed Wi-Fi, Glows in the Dark$70$97-$27
True ValueStar Wars Lawn Decoration, Lighted Storm Trooper, 28-In.$40$135-$95
Macy'sSpecial Edition Black & Gold Activity Tracker Fitbit Alta$100$150-$50
Modell'sSpalding NBA Slam Jam Mini Basketball Hoop Set$25$31-$7
Toys"R"UsSorelle Berkley 4-in-1 Convertible Crib - Espresso$100$420-$320
Dell HomeSony Wireless Headphones MDRXB650BT$78$98-$20
AAFESSony Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer, 300W - HT-CT390$180$298-$118
HhgreggSony 75'' Class (74.5'' Diagonal) HD Smart TV XBR75X850D$2,500$2,998-$498
Toys"R"UsSkywalker 15 feet Round Trampoline with Enclosure - Blue$200$403-$203
SearsSimmons Upholstery Bentley Motion Sofa - Bingo Brown$799$1,614-$815
ShopkoSimmons Heat & Massage Rocker Recliner$260$492-$232
Toys"R"UsShermag Aiden Glider and Ottoman Set - White with Grey Fabric$100$300-$200
Kohl'sSharper Image DX-4 14.4-Inch HD Video Drone$50$147-$97
ShopkoSharper Image Auto Pilot DX-4 HD Video Streaming Drone$60$151-$91
BJ'sShark Rotator Professional Upright Vacuum (NV450)$100$192-$92
Sam's ClubSeville Classics UltraHD Tall Storage Cabinet$150$260-$110
Office Depot and OfficeMaxSerta Smart Layers™ Jennings Super Task Big and Tall Chair, Black/Slate$180$340-$160
Big LotsSerta Rest 4” Cushioned Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper King$130$264-$134
Big LotsSerta Rest 4” Cushioned Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper Full$80$180-$100
MeijerSentry Combination Fire Safe$100$168-$68
MicrosoftSchneider Electric Wiser Air Wifi Smart Thermostat Black$143$211-$68
Office Depot and OfficeMaxSauder Shoal Creek Executive Desk, 30 1/2"H x 65 1/8"W x 29 1/4"D, Jamocha Wood$180$396-$216
ShopkoSauder Dakota Pass Display TV Cabinet$100$176-$76
Office Depot and OfficeMaxSamsung Xpress SL-C480FW Wireless Color Laser Printer$175$383-$208
AAFESSamsung Refrigerator, 24.5 Cu. ft. - RS25J500DSR$899$1,347-$448
JCPenneySamsung ENERGY STAR® 28 cu. ft. 3-Door French Door Refrigerator RF28HFEDBSR$1,594$1,889-$295
HhgreggSamsung 70'' 4K HDR Ultra HD Smart TV UN70KU6300$1,300$1,670-$370
MeijerSamsung 60” Smart 4K UHD TV - UN60KU6300$700$998-$298
KmartSamsung 58" Class 1080p Smart LED Full HDTV - UN58J5190$430$560-$130
Fred MeyerSamsung 55" Class 4KUHD Smart HDTV (UN55KU6300)$600$737-$137
MeijerSamsung 50” Smart LED TV - UN50J5200$350$495-$145
Fred MeyerSamsung 50" Class 4KUHD Smart HDTV (UN50KU6300)$400$557-$157
KmartSamsung 50" Class 1080p LED Smart HDTV w/ Built-In WiFi - UN50J5200$350$497-$147
WalmartSAMSUNG 50" 6300 Series - 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV - 2160p, 120MR (Model#: UN50KU6300)$398$522-$124
Fred MeyerSamsung 5.1 Home Theater with Blu-ray player (HT-J4500)$150$218-$68
Fred MeyerSamsung 4K Blu-ray DVD player (UBD-K8500)$200$400-$200
KmartSamsung 48" Class 1080p LED HDTV - UN48J5000$300$479-$179
ShopkoSamsung 40" Smart HDTV UN40J5200$248$400-$152
Best BuySamsung 24.6 Cu Ft French Door Refrigerator With Thru-the-Door Ice and Water (RF263BEAESG)$1,400$1,592-$192
JCPenneySamsung 24.5 cu. ft. Side-by-Side Refrigerator with External Ice and Water Dispenser RS25J500DSR/AA$894$1,347-$453
Best BuySamsung 24.5 cu ft Side by side Refrigerator with Thru-the-Door Ice and Water (RS25J500DSR)$900$1,347-$447
Office Depot and OfficeMaxSamsung 24" Widescreen Curved HD LED Monitor, C24F390FHN$130$289-$159
BJ'sSafeRacks 4'x8' Overhead Storage 2-Rack Kit$280$390-$110
Office Depot and OfficeMaxRealspace Magellan Performance Collection L Desk, 30"H x 70 9/10"W x 23 1/5"D, Espresso (Desk & Hutch bundle)$366$477-$111
Office Depot and OfficeMaxRealspace Magellan Collection Corner Desk, 30"H x 59 1/2"W x 39"D, Espresso$96$265-$169
Harbor FreightRapid Pump 1.5 Ton Aluminum Racing Jack$55$100-$45
StageRampage Buckle Totes$20$46-$26
Kohl'sRachael Ray 14-pc. Nonstick Aluminum Cookware set$90$207-$117
BJ'sQ-See 16-channel/8-camera 720p Security System with 2TB DD DVR (QTH161-8Z3-2)$300$517-$217
SearsProForm 475 Elliptical, Black And Silver$350$858-$508
Craft WarehouseProfessional Art Set or Premium Art Set$15$20-$5
Craft WarehousePROcision Rotary Trimmer$50$65-$15
Craft WarehousePro Art Markers 100 Color set$15$25-$10
Ace HardwarePowerBoss Portable Generator (30628)$250$287-$37
GameStopPlayStation 4 Slim Uncharted 4 500GB Bundle$250$299-$49
Harbor FreightPittsburgh Rapid Pump 3 Ton Heavy Duty Steel Floor Jack$68$119-$51
Harbor FreightPittsburgh 1 Ton Capacity Foldable Shop Crane$100$200-$100
GordmansPetzi Smartphone-Controlled Electronic Pet Treat Dispensers$130$160-$30
StagePaula Deen 11-pc. Signature Cookware Set$70$114-$44
MicrosoftParrot Disco FPV$1,000$1,214-$214
MeijerParrot Bebop Drone$200$241-$41
MicrosoftParrot bebop 2 and Skycontroller Red$450$715-$265
Sam's ClubOceanview Cedar Swing Set$899$1,304-$405
Macy'sNorelco Aquatec wet/dry shaver #AT81441 (after $10 rebate)$50$78-$28
SearsNordicTrack Elite 3700 Treadmill, Platinum And Black$1,000$2,000-$1,000
Best BuyNinja Coffee Bar Brewer with Glass Carafe (CF081)$130$200-$70
StageNine West Ring Decoder Hobo Bag$30$55-$25
StageNike® Club Oh Fleece Utility Pants$34$55-$21
WalmartNickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Room-in-a-Box with Bonus Chair$99$231-$132
Ace HardwareNest Wi-Fi Security Camera$150$180-$30
Ace HardwareNest Wi-Fi Programmable Learning Thermostat (T3007ES)$200$249-$49
Dell HomeNest Learning Thermostat - 3rd Generation (T3007ES)$199$245-$46
TargetMotorola MBP38S-2 Digital Video Baby Monitor with Two Cameras$130$260-$130
Craft WarehouseMelissa and Doug Activity Rug set$20$24-$4
Fred MeyerMarhsall Stanmore Bluetooth Speaker$250$349-$99
Ace HardwareLiving Accents 88" Patio Heater, 48,000 BTU$90$135-$45
GordmansLittle Tikes Hoop It Up Play Centers$30$79-$49
Big LotsLit Outdoor 6’ shivering snowman$40$90-$50
Craft WarehouseLimited Edition Prisma Coloring Book Kit$25$40-$15
Sam's ClubLifetime Adventure Tower Playset$499$1,429-$930
Big LotsLife Pro 6 Element Infrared Heater$70$90-$20
JCPenneyLG Fully-Integrated Dishwasher with Height Adjustable 3rd Rack LDF7774BD$745$1,120-$375
JCPenneyLG ENERGY STAR® 7.4 Cu. Ft. Ultra Large CapacityDryer with NFC Tag On Technology DLE3170W$495$1,034-$539
HhgreggLG 4K HDR Ultra HD webOS 3.0 Smart TV 65'' Class (64.5' Diagonal) 65UH6030$800$1,099-$299
HhgreggLG 4K HDR Ultra HD webOS 3.0 Smart TV 55'' Class (54.6' Diagonal) 55UH6030$500$699-$199
Dell HomeLG 43" 4K Ultra HD Smart TV 43UH6030$300$379-$79
Office Depot and OfficeMaxLenovo H50 Desktop PC, AMD FX, 16GB Memory, 2TB Hard Drive, Windows 10, 90BG004TUS$500$730-$230
BJ'sLenovo Flex 3 2-in-1 Laptop (14'' screen, 8GB Memory, 256GB SSD) - 80R30017US$430$670-$240
StaplesLa-Z-Boy Bradley Chair Roast Chestnut$180$340-$160
HhgreggKlipsch Dual 8'' Floor Standing Speakers R28F$225$450-$225
HhgreggKlipsch 400 Watt 12'' subwoofers R12SW$225$449-$224
Macy'sKitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer 4.5-qt. tilt head with 10 speeds, flat beater, dough hook & wire whip #KSM75SL$200$228-$28
MeijerKitchenAid 4.5 Qt. Classic Plus Stand Mixer White - KSM75WH$200$274-$74
CostcoKirkland Signature 42" Mobile 16 Drawer Tool Chest$499$900-$401
TargetKids BMW motorcycle ride-on 6v$85$215-$130
Best BuyKichenaid Professional 5 Plus Series Stand Mixer - Silver (KV25G0XSL)$200$299-$99
SearsKenmore 93013 4.9 cu. ft. Electric Freestanding Range - Stainless Steel (Silver)$370$815-$445
SearsKenmore 51833 26.1 cu. ft. Side-by-Side Refrigerator w/ Grab-N-Go Door, Silver$1,300$1,778-$478
Toys"R"UsJust Like Home Workshop Big Builders Pro Workshop Playset$90$259-$169
GordmansJuniors' Derek Heart Cowl-Neck Sweaters in Solid Stripe & Marled-Knit Styles$10$20-$10
Kohl'sJBL Pulse 2 Splashproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Interactive Light Show$120$312-$192
KmartJaclyn Smith 7' Pre-Lit Colorado Flocked Pine Tree$100$235-$135
Fred MeyerIpad Air 2 Wi-Fi 32 GB$299$355-$56
Ace HardwareInfrared Quartz Heater (PH-91E-WD)$80$96-$16
HPHP Pavilion Desktop - 510-p010 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 processor 8 GB memory; 1 TB HDD storage Intel® HD Graphics 530$380$450-$70
HPHP Pavilion 23xw 23-inch IPS LED Backlit Monitor FHD (1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz)$100$165-$65
StaplesHP Pavilion 15-au062 i5 8GB 1TB Windows 10$480$800-$320
StaplesHP Pavilion 14-al062, 14", Intel i5-6200U Processor, 12 GB RAM, 1 TB SATA, Windows 10 Notebook$390$706-$316
CostcoHP Omen 32" QHD Gaming Monitor$300$427-$127
StaplesHP Notebook 15-ay061, 15.6", Intel Pentium Processor, 8 GB RAM, 500 GB HD, Windows 10 Home Notebook$230$353-$123
Sam's ClubHP HD 15.6" Notebook 15-ba037cl, AMD A10-9600 QC Processor, 8GB Memory, 1TB Hard Drive, HD Webcam, Optical Drive, Windows 10, Available in: Various Colors$299$440-$141
HPHP ENVY Desktop - 750-405t Core i5-6400 2.7GHz 65W; 4 Cores; 6MB Shared Cache; 14nm; Max Memory Speed: DDR4-2133/DDR3L-1600 12 GB DDR4-2133 SDRAM (1 x 4 GB, 1 x 8 GB)$550$649-$99
HPHP ENVY 32 32-inch Media Display with Bang and Olufsen$400$419-$19
HPHP EliteBook 1040 G3 Notebook PC 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor 8 GB memory; 128 GB SSD storage$1,251$1,299-$48
WalmartHP Black 15.6" 15-f337wm Laptop PC with AMD A8-6410 Processor, 4GB Memory, touch screen, 500GB Hard Drive and Windows 10 Home$249$544-$295
HPHP All-in-One Desktop - 27-a030 touch 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor, 12 GB memory; 1 TB HDD storage$830$984-$154
StaplesHP 22-b016 All-in-One Desktop PC (Intel Pentium J3710, 4Gb Ram, 1Tb Hdd) $300$459-$159
HPHP 1TB External Portable Hard Drive$90$200-$110
GordmansHot Wheels A.I. Intelligent Racing Playsets$70$75-$5
TargetHoover® Quest 800 Robotic Vacuum - BH70800$200$350-$150
JCPenneyHome Expressions Lara 10-pc Comforter Set$100$298-$198
Big LotsHoliday Inflatable 6’H Animated Reindeer$30$100-$70
Big LotsHoliday Inflatable 2 Pc., 5'5'' Dachshunds$30$74-$44
TargetHisense 50" Class 2160 4K UHD TV with High Dynamic Range (50H8C)$250$564-$314
WalmartHisense 40H5B 40" 1080p 60Hz Class LED Smart HDTV$125$290-$165
GameStopGuitar Hero Live Supreme Party Edition (PS4)$50$79-$29
JCPenneyGE® 7.2 cu. ft. Aluminized-Alloy Drum Electric Dryer GTD33EASKWW$353$682-$329
JCPenneyGE® 5.3 cu. ft. Electric Range JB655EKES$493$699-$206
Sam's ClubGentron 8,000W / 10,000W Portable Gas Powered Generator with Electric Start$599$800-$201
MeijerGarmin vívofit 3 Activity Tracker$60$100-$40
TargetFranklin Sports Quikset Table Tennis Table$89$200-$111
Macy'sFitbit Alta - Track activity, exercise and sleep$100$129-$29
Sam's ClubEZVIZ 8-Channel 1080p HD IP NVR Security System with 2 TB Hard Drive, 4 1080p IP Bullet Cameras, and 100' Night Vision$399$557-$158
SearsElectrolux EFLS617STT 4.4 cu. ft. Front-Load Perfect Steam Washer w/ SmartBoost Technology - Titanium, Grey$950$2,199-$1,249
MicrosoftEhang GhostDrone 2.0 VR iOS$700$769-$69
MicrosoftEhang GhostDrone 2.0 VR Android/Windows Phone$700$758-$58
Kohl'sDyson V6 Animal Cord-Free Vacuum$300$436-$136
TargetDyson Ball Origin Upright Vacuum - Red$200$354-$154
Macy'sDyson Ball Multifloor Pro Canister Vacuum. #DC39$250$400-$150
ShopkoDyson Ball Multi-Floor Upright Vacuum (206900-01)$250$380-$130
ShopkoDyson Ball Animal Vacuum (216041-01)$300$488-$188
AAFESDyson Ball Animal Upright Vacuum - 216041-01$289$488-$199
True ValueDeWalt Mechanics Tool Set, 108-Pc.$70$130-$60
True ValueDeWalt Max Compact Drill Driver, Lithium-Ion, 20-Volt$119$160-$41
Best BuyDenon Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer (DHT-S514)$350$557-$207
Best BuyDenon 1225 W 7.2 Ch. 4k Ultra HD AND 3D Passthrough A/V Home Theater Receiver (AVR-X1300W)$430$599-$169
CostcoDell XPS 13.3'' Touchscreen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - Quad HD+, 16GB Memory, 512GB SSD$1,299$1,675-$376
MicrosoftDell Inspiron 15 i7559 5012GRY Signature Edition$799$864-$65
MicrosoftDell Inspiron 15 i5559 4682SLV Signature Edition Laptop$399$508-$109
CostcoDell Inspiron 15 Gaming 7000 Series Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 1080p - 4GB NVIDIA Graphics$800$969-$169
Dell HomeDell 27 Curved Monitor SE2716H$200$241-$41
AAFESCuisinart Stand Mixer, 5.5-qt - SM-50BC$99$227-$128
Kohl'sCuddl Duds Level 2 Down Comforter$108$249-$141
Ace HardwareCraftsman 6-Drawer Ball-Bearing Tool Chest & Cabinet (932918)$100$149-$49
Ace HardwareCraftsman 193 Pc. Mechanic's Tool Set (939484)$100$250-$150
KmartColor Switch Plus 7.5' Pre-Lit Vancouver Fir Tree$150$421-$271
True ValueChristmas Lawn Decoration, Lighted R2D2, 28-In.$40$53-$13
Toys"R"UsChicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat - Kuma$200$802-$602
AAFESChef’s Nonstick Cookware Set, 17-pc, Hard-Anodized$100$188-$88
True ValueChar-Broil Tru-Infared 450 Gas Grill$249$260-$11
StageChaps Big & Tall Plaid Oxford Shirt$20$47-$27
Modell'sChampion Powerblend Fleece 1/4 Zip Mens Pullover$12$30-$18
Harbor FreightCentech 2000 Watt Continuous/4000 Watt Peak Power Inverter$125$195-$70
CostcoCat 52'' Tool Chest and Cabinet Combo$1,000$1,300-$300
StaplesCanon ImageCLASS D1520 Copier$250$379-$129
Kohl'sCanon EOS REBEL T6 DSLR Camera Zoom Kit$450$599-$149
WalmartCanon EOS Rebel T5i 18MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm and 70-300mm Lens Bundle includes Rebel T5i, 18-55mm Lens, 70-300mm Lens, 16GB + 8GB SDHC Memory Cards, Bag, Tripod, Beach Camera Cloth + More$449$699-$250
StaplesCanon Color ImageCLASS MF628CW Laser Printer$200$399-$199
StageCalphalon Nonstick 10-pc. Cookware Set$100$120-$20
MeijerCalphalon Cookware Sets$136$245-$109
Macy'sBrookstone Big Blue Speaker$199$300-$101
BJ'sBody Solid Best Fitness Elliptical Trainer (BFE1)$900$1,030-$130
Kohl'sBella Air Fryer$50$194-$144
StageBeats™ By Dre Beats Solo HD™ on Ear Headphones$80$92-$12
Fred MeyerBeats Powerbeats 2 Wireless Headset$100$192-$92
Toys"R"UsAvigo MINI Cooper Paceman 6 Volt Powered Ride On - Red$100$264-$164
Toys"R"UsAvigo BMW X5 6 Volt Powered Ride On - Black$100$395-$295
WalmartArctic King 5.0 cu ft Chest Freezer, Black (WHS-185C1WSB)$99$383-$284
TargetApple® Watch Series 2 42mm Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band$370$565-$195
AAFESApple MacBook Air 11.6 In. Intel Core I5 1.6GHz 4GB 128GB Flash Storage OS X - MJVM2LL/A $589$840-$251
Best BuyApple - MacBook Air® - 13.3" Display - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 128GB Flash Storage - Silver (MMGF2LL/A)$800$891-$91
GameStopAlienware Steam Machine i7 - 1TB$375$409-$34
Harbor Freight900 Peak/700 Running Watts 2 HP (63CC) 2 Cycle Gas Recreational Generator$89$160-$71
Kmart6V Volkswagen Beetle$170$257-$87
Hhgregg58" Samsung 1080p LED Smart HDTV UN58J5190$430$699-$269
BJ's5.3 Qt. Power Air Fryer XL$100$323-$223
BJ's15'' Sport Arena Trampoline, includes basketball hoop, football game, basketball & football$250$500-$250
Kmart12V Disney Princess Convertible$210$412-$202

*Depending on an item, our research team collected one or more of its advertised prices between Oct. 19 and Nov. 17. The “Pre-Black Friday Price” is the lowest of those prices for each item.

**A negative value means a shopper pays less by waiting to purchase the item until Black Friday.

Methodology

In order to identify the best and worst items to buy on Black Friday, WalletHub’s analysts first determined each item’s “Pre-Black Friday Price” by collecting its advertised price on Amazon.com between Oct. 19 and Nov. 17. For certain items, they collected two prices during that period and in such cases chose the lowest to represent the “Pre-Black Friday Price.”

They then collected the advertised price on 2016 Black Friday Ads for the same item on Black Friday in order to determine its “Black Friday Price.” The sample excludes deals that did not have calculable percentage markdowns.

Finally, they ranked the items according to the overall difference in their prices between the two dates and determined which products would pay off the most for a shopper’s Black Friday hassle.

Sources: Data used to conduct this study were collected from BlackFriday.com and Amazon.com.

This story was originally published November 18, 2016 at 9:28 AM with the headline "The ‘real deal’ on Black Friday deals."

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