Amazon Black Friday Australia: how to spot a real deal

Start a watchlist now, before the sale

The best evidence that a deal is real is a price you recorded before the sale started. Make a short list of the things you would buy anyway, open each Amazon AU listing, and note the price, the size or model and the date.

For a longer record, the free CamelCamelCamel tracker supports Amazon Australia at au.camelcamelcamel.com. It shows a product's price history and can email you when the price drops below a level you set. Check how the Black Friday price compares with the price over the past few months, not just with the day before.

Read "was", "RRP" and "up to" claims carefully

The ACCC has said it has seen sale claims that may mislead shoppers. In its sweep of Black Friday advertising, it flagged "was/now" prices and RRP-based savings where the higher price may not have been charged recently for a reasonable period. It also flagged "up to X% off" claims where only a few items get the top discount, and "sitewide" sales that had exclusions. In June 2025, three retailers paid penalties over alleged misleading Black Friday "sitewide" sale claims.

So treat a strikethrough price or an RRP as a claim, not proof. Ask what the product actually sold for in recent weeks. The ACCC's advice is to focus on the final price, not the advertised discount.

Ignore countdown pressure

Timers and "ends soon" banners make it easy to rush. The ACCC has named countdown timers and "3 days only" claims that don't match the real length of a sale as a concern. If the item is on your list and the price beats your recorded price, buy it. If not, let it go.

Compare the unit price, not the pack price

Beauty, personal care and household deals often change the pack size or bundle. A twin pack at a "big saving" can cost more per 100 ml than the single bottle did last month. Divide the delivered price by the total quantity. Our pack value calculator does the maths for two options side by side. Include delivery, because the delivered price is what you pay.

Make sure it is the same product

Deals are often tied to one colour, size or variant. Before you compare prices, check the exact model number, capacity, wattage and what's in the box. For skincare, check the size and the formula name. For appliances, check that it has an Australian plug and is rated for Australian voltage. An older model or an imported version is not the same deal.

Check who sells it and who ships it

Next to the price, Amazon AU shows "Ships from" (sometimes "Dispatched from") and "Sold by". If both say Amazon AU, Amazon's own change-of-mind policy applies. Under that policy, most unused and unopened items it fulfils can be returned within 30 days of delivery. A third-party seller that ships its own stock sets its own returns policy. For third-party orders, Amazon's A-to-z Guarantee may help if an item doesn't arrive or isn't as described. You need to contact the seller first.

Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply whoever the seller is. If a product is faulty, not as described or not fit for purpose, you can ask for a repair, replacement or refund, depending on how serious the problem is.

A five-minute deal check

1. Is it on the list you made before the sale?
2. Is today's price lower than the price you recorded or the recent price history?
3. Is the unit price lower, after delivery?
4. Is it the exact model, size and variant you wanted?
5. Do you know who sells and ships it, and what the returns and warranty terms are?

Five yeses means it is probably a real deal for you. A "no" on the first question is the most common reason a bargain ends up costing money.

Sources

• ACCC: Sweep finds concerning Black Friday "sales" advertising
• ACCC: Retailers put on notice ahead of Black Friday sweep
• ACCC: Penalties over alleged misleading Black Friday "sitewide" sales (June 2025)
• ACCC: False or misleading claims (was/now pricing)
• ACCC: Consumer rights and guarantees
• Amazon.com.au: About our returns policies
• Amazon.com.au: A-to-z Guarantee
• CamelCamelCamel: Amazon AU price tracker and price history