What was once very much an American phenomenon has become firmly entrenched here in the past two years. Where the term ‘Black Friday’ once conjured images of Australia’s horrific 1939 bushfires, new generation Aussies think, Black Friday sales.
The term refers to the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November. In the US, that’s Thanksgiving Day. American retailers have long used the next day to launch massive sales in the lead-up to Christmas. Originally it was a single-day event, but many retailers have now added ‘Cyber Monday’ to the lexicon, creating what some call ‘Cyber Weekend’.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are now very much part of Australia’s retail calendar. In short, that means there are bargains to be had. For those on the lookout for an item at a reduced price, that’s good news.
But a low price isn’t always an indicator of high quality, even during an event such as a Black Friday. While there will likely be high quality merchandise on sale at a discount price, the poor quality stuff is still out there. And if you’re planning to purchase a normally expensive item, making sure of its quality could save money and heartache.
Don’t buy a Black Friday bomb
Televisions are one such item. Top level models can command four-digit prices. If you spot one for well under $1000, you could be very tempted to grab one while it’s on sale. Before you do, though, it will be worth your while making sure the TV is as good as it seems. You might even consider subscribing to a consumer website such as CHOICE.
CHOICE provides public ratings for a plethora of products. For subscribers, it provides a wider range with far more detail.
Just in time for the Black Friday sales, CHOICE has released its latest television reviews, and there’s a red flag or two among them. While you’ll have to subscribe to access reviews to more than 30 models and brands, CHOICE warns against three specific TVs. Two are from Samsung, and one from Kogan.
Terrible televisions
The Samsung models in question are the far-from-user-friendly named Samsung QA65Q60DAWXXY and Samsung QA65QN85DBWXXY. If Samsung is setting out to confuse its potential customers, such model names will almost certainly help.
While the model numbers might look very similar, the pair differ dramatically in price. At $1895, the 64-inch QA65Q60DAWXXY is not exactly a Black Friday bargain. According to CHOICE, it doesn’t live up to what it says are Samsung’s normally very high standards. Its picture falls down when viewed in both standard definition (rated ‘okay’) and high definition (rated as ‘borderline’). CHOICE is also critical of the model’s sound and its remote control, which it says spoils an otherwise excellent interface.
The Samsung 65-inch QA65QN85DBWXXY is much pricier, retailing at $2995. One would expect a lot more from a model with a price tag nearly 60 per cent higher. Those expectations are not met at all, says CHOICE. Its summary is rather brutal: “For around $1100 more, you can buy … a different 65-inch Samsung that’s not much better.”
In terms of picture and sound, it’s barely better than the cheaper model, CHOICE says.
The Kogan KAQLED65XQ98JSTA is also a 65-inch TV, but much cheaper, with a retail price of $829. CHOICE praised its Smart TV functions and interface, but said it also fell short of the mark in picture quality.
For the price it’s not bad (especially compared to the Samsung models), but CHOICE suggests better options are available.
A Black Friday warning
CHOICE’s Samsung reviews provide a pointer to what could happen in Black Friday sales. You might see a television marked down from $1895 to $995 – what a bargain, right? Well, not if there’s another brand that provides the same features and quality at a cheaper price. And that cheaper price could be the usual retail price, meaning a better option might be available all year round.
In short, the lesson here is to do a bit of research before you buy. That Black Friday ‘bargain’ may not be a bargain at all.
Do you look forward to the Black Friday sales? What bargains have you found in previous years? Let us know via the comments section below.
Also read: Lifetime costs on the rise, says Zurich
