Which? reveals deals you should avoid this Black Friday – and what to buy instead

Black Friday is fast approaching and many will be getting ready to tick off their Christmas list without breaking the bank on November 29th.

As shoppers flock to malls and fight tooth and nail for the best deals, a smarter set will be packed at home making the same bargains online.

But whether you’re shopping from the comfort of your own home or the chaos of the high street, don’t be dazzled by the apparent brilliance of a Black Friday purchase without first checking that the product is also a Don’t Buy.

Which? has compiled a comprehensive list of the deals it says should be avoided in Black Friday sales, including a faulty fridge, freezer and a not-so-‘smart’ kettle.

Based on the thousands of products the consumer magazine tests in their labs each year, here are the top seven deals to avoid.

At the top of the Don’t Buy list is the Beko fridge freezer as its cooling and freezing performance was inconsistent and energy efficiency was poor.

A cheaper and superior alternative is the Fridgemaster, which is on sale on AO.com for £315.

It has great cooling and freezing power and an accurate thermostat, according to Which?

Another product that did not live up to Which?’s expectations was the Swan Alexa Smart Kettle.

This retails at £59 and was rated poorly by Consumer Champion as it boils slowly, boils too long and lacks a filter, meaning it’s a terrible choice for hard water users.

Earlier this year, the boiler also won a Which? Shoddies Award for ‘Stupidest Smart Product’.

As an alternative, shoppers should consider Bosch’s MyMoment Delight, on sale on Amazon for around half the price (£30) of the inferior option.

It is not as flashy as the Swan model, but cooks quickly and is easy to use.

The third product to miss out on this Black Friday is the Kinderkraft 2 in 1 Nea stroller, which fared very poorly in Consumer Champion’s lab tests earlier this year and had a number of safety issues.

The £349 product had a harness that broke under pressure, a plastic button on the rain cover that comes off too easily and could be a choking hazard and a broken suspension spring.

For a better alternative, which one? recommends the Jane Ruler pram, which can be bought from Trendybaby.co.uk for £379 and includes the Smart pram.

It is a light all-round pram and pushchair.

Although the Swan Nordic Toaster may seem enticing as it has been reduced to £49 in the sale, Which? advises consumers to look the other way.

The kitchen appliance tested poorly because its toasting slots are not deep enough, leading to uneven or uncooked bread.

Instead, which one? recommends the Argos Cookworks Illuminated toaster, which costs £30 and quickly pops out golden brown toast every time.

The Withings Scanwatch is another dud deal as it doesn’t track heart rate accurately and lacks smart features.

Although consumers have to pay a little more, Which? advises them to choose Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm to bag a great product that offers accurate tracking and a host of smart features.

The Hisense HS214 soundbar, offered at £78.17, is another dud.

Which? found that it had poor sound quality and problems listening – it also lacked a proper screen.

Instead, the Sony HT-S2000 is also on sale on Amazon and is worth paying a bit more for (£298) as it’s a great value product that produces adequate sound.

When it comes to vacuum cleaners, which ones? recommends that consumers avoid the Tower Optimum VL100 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner (retail £119).

This vacuum struggled to pick up dirt from deep in the carpet pile as well as dog and cat hair.

At this price there are many better options. For example, the Russell Hobbs Glide Pro Plus retails for £105 on Robert Dyas’ website and was deemed a ‘solid choice’ during Which?’s test.

Harry Rose, which one? Magazine Editor said: “It can be tempting to buy on impulse in the Black Friday sales, but our list of dud deals shows why it can be worth taking the time to do some research and save yourself some money.”

‘Which? reviews are based on rigorous and independent testing and separate products that have a great price tag but simply don’t deliver from the hidden gems that punch above their weight.’