Last updated: October 2026
To spot a genuine Black Friday deal, check the price history rather than the “was” price, compare the cost per mg or per serving rather than per pack. Which? found 83% of products it tracked were the same price or cheaper outside the Black Friday period. For CBD and supplements, also check strength, lab reports and best-before dates.
Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday 27 November, with Cyber Monday on 30 November. Here’s how to tell a real saving from a marketing trick, with extra checks for CBD and supplements.
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
Some are, but many aren’t the bargain they look. In its November 2025 investigation, Which? tracked 175 home, tech and health products at eight big UK retailers for a year. It found 83% were the same price or cheaper at least once outside the four-week Black Friday window, and none were at their lowest price on Black Friday itself. It also found “was” prices that had only been charged for a handful of days before the sale.
That doesn’t mean you should avoid Black Friday. It means you should check the deal rather than trust the banner, especially if you buy something regularly and want to stock up.
7 Black Friday tricks to watch for
- Inflated “was” prices. A higher price charged briefly before the sale so the discount looks bigger.
- Fake countdown timers. Timers that reset, or “ends tonight” offers that run all week.
- False scarcity. “Only 3 left” or “20 people are viewing this” messages that aren’t true.
- Smaller or weaker products. A cheaper pack that contains less, or a lower strength, sold as a deal.
- Hidden fees. Delivery or “service” charges added at checkout.
- “Up to” discounts. “Up to 50% off” where only one or two items are actually 50% off.
- Subscription traps. A cheap first order that rolls into a full-price subscription that’s hard to cancel.
The genuine deal checklist
| Check | How |
|---|---|
| Price history | Note the price now, in October, or use a price tracker, and compare on the day |
| Price per unit | Compare per mg, per serving or per capsule, not per pack |
| Same product? | Check the strength, size and pack count match what you normally buy |
| Total at checkout | Include delivery before you compare |
| Other retailers | Check whether the same item is cheaper elsewhere |
| Do you need it? | A deal on something you won’t use isn’t a saving |
| Returns | Check the returns policy, especially for opened products |
Extra checks for CBD deals
- Compare price per mg of CBD. A big discount on a low-strength oil can still cost more per mg than a regular-price high-strength one. See how to choose a CBD oil.
- Check the strength hasn’t changed. Watch for a 30ml bottle at a lower strength sitting next to the 10ml you usually buy.
- Ask for the lab report. Clearance stock should still have a batch report showing the CBD content and THC “not detected”. See how to read CBD lab reports.
- Check the FSA public list. A cheap deal from a brand that isn’t on it is no deal at all. See is CBD legal in the UK?
- Check the best-before date if you’re stocking up. Most CBD oils keep for around a year or more unopened, but deep discounts can mean short-dated stock.
- Avoid unknown marketplace sellers. Many “hemp oil” listings contain little or no CBD.
Extra checks for supplement deals
- Compare per serving and per active dose. For magnesium, compare the elemental magnesium per serving, not the compound weight. See magnesium glycinate vs citrate vs threonate.
- Check the form. A cheap magnesium oxide tablet isn’t the same as glycinate or citrate. See types of magnesium.
- Don’t overbuy. Powders and capsules have best-before dates, and you’ll only save if you use them in time.
- Read the subscription terms. A good subscription lets you skip, pause or cancel online in a couple of clicks.
Doing the maths: a worked example
| Offer | Price | CBD | Price per mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| “40% off!” 500mg oil | £24 | 500mg | 4.8p |
| “20% off” 1,000mg oil | £36 | 1,000mg | 3.6p |
| Full-price 2,000mg oil | £60 | 2,000mg | 3p |
Illustrative figures only. The biggest percentage discount isn’t always the cheapest CBD. If you know your daily amount, you can also work out the cost per day: at 20mg a day, 3p per mg is 60p a day. See our CBD dosage guide.
What UK law says about fake deals
Misleading prices are unlawful. Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) can now fine businesses directly, up to 10% of global turnover, for unfair practices such as fake “was” prices, false urgency and fake reviews. Mandatory fees must also be included in the headline price rather than added at checkout.
If you think a deal is misleading, you can report it to Citizens Advice, who pass reports to Trading Standards.
Our Black Friday promise
We keep it simple: no inflated “before” prices, no fake countdowns, just genuine savings on the same lab-tested products we make all year. Every CBD product is broad spectrum with 0% THC and tested batch by batch. Our Black Friday runs from Friday 27 November to Cyber Monday, 30 November. See our Black Friday page for early access.
Buying as a present? See our wellness gift ideas and sleep gifts.
FAQs
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
Sometimes, if you check. Which? found 83% of the products it tracked in 2025 were the same price or cheaper outside the Black Friday period. Check price history before you buy.
How can I tell if a Black Friday deal is fake?
Compare today’s price with the price a few weeks earlier, check the price per unit, make sure the product is the same size and strength, and ignore countdown timers and scarcity messages.
When is Black Friday 2026?
Friday 27 November 2026, with Cyber Monday on 30 November. Many retailers run offers across the whole week or longer.
Is it worth buying CBD on Black Friday?
It can be, if you already know which product and strength you like. Compare price per mg, check the lab report and the FSA public list, and only buy what you’ll use before the best-before date.
Are fake ‘was’ prices illegal in the UK?
Yes. Misleading price comparisons are unfair commercial practices, and since April 2025 the CMA can fine businesses up to 10% of global turnover for them.
Is Cyber Monday better than Black Friday?
Not usually. Many retailers run the same offers across both, so check prices rather than waiting for a particular day.
Sources
- Which? (25 November 2025). Don’t believe the hype: most Black Friday deals the same price or cheaper at other times of the year.
- Competition and Markets Authority. Unfair commercial practices guidance (CMA207).
- Competition and Markets Authority. Fake reviews (CMA208).
- Food Standards Agency. CBD products public list.
