How to use AI to check whether a Black Friday deal is actually a good deal

Write your want list and max prices before the sales

I'm planning purchases for Black Friday / Cyber Monday. Here's what I want: [items], and my total limit is $[amount].
For each item, help me write: the must-have features, the nice-to-haves, the most I'd pay, and whether I'd be fine waiting until after the holidays.
Then rank the list by how much I'd regret not buying it, so I know what to cut if prices disappoint.

Setting a max price now, while you're calm, is the single best defense against a countdown timer.

Pin down the exact model number

Sale listings for TVs, laptops and appliances sometimes use a model number that's slightly different from the one reviewers tested, with different parts or features. The FTC online shopping advice suggests noting the manufacturer and model number plus details like size and color before you compare.

Here are two product listings. Listing A: [paste specs]. Listing B: [paste specs].
Compare them line by line in a table. Mark every difference, even small ones (model number suffix, ports, storage, panel type, warranty length, included accessories).
If a spec is missing from one listing, write "not listed" instead of guessing.
Then tell me whether these are the same product.

Compare the total cost at 3 stores

Paste what you see at each store. The sticker price is only part of it.

Here's what three stores show for [model number]:
Store 1: [price, shipping, tax, fees, return window, restocking fee, delivery date]
Store 2: [same]
Store 3: [same]
Build a table with the total cost to my door, the return window, any restocking fee and the delivery date.
Flag anything that makes a cheaper price worse (restocking fee, short return window, delivery after [date I need it]).

Also ask the stores you like about price matching and price adjustments. The FTC's shopping advice suggests checking whether a seller matches competitors' prices and whether you can get a credit if the item drops in price after you buy, and what receipts you'd need.

Last checked Oct 26, 2026 on the official source linked. Rules and policies change, so check the source before you rely on it.

Check whether the "was" price is real

A discount from a price nobody ever paid isn't a discount. Use the store's own price history if it has one, a price-tracking tool or price alerts on a comparison site you trust. The FTC notes that some comparison sites are run by manufacturers or only list sellers who pay, so stick to well-known ones.

Here is the price history I found for [model]: [paste dates and prices, or describe the chart].
The current "sale" price is $[price], advertised as [X]% off $[was price].
Tell me: the lowest price in this history, how the current price compares, and whether the "was" price looks like what it usually sold for.
Then say: buy now, wait, or skip, with one line of reasoning. Only use the numbers I gave you.

Read the fine print and check the seller

Here's the full text of a deal page: [paste the description, terms and seller info].
List anything I should know before buying: refurbished, open-box or close-out wording, bundle requirements, rebates I'd have to mail in, different return rules for sale items, restocking fees, shipping times and who the actual seller is (store vs third-party seller).
Then list any scam warning signs you see.

What the FTC says to watch for (from its holiday shopping alerts, last checked Oct 26, 2026):

• Unusually low prices on expensive, brand-name items, especially in social media ads, are a common sign of a fake store.
• Search the seller's name and web address with words like "review," "complaint" or "scam" before you buy from somewhere new.
• Pay by credit card when you can. If you're charged twice, never get the item, or get the wrong one, you can dispute the charge.
• A seller that only takes gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps or cryptocurrency is very likely a scam.
• Shipping: sellers must ship when they or their ads say they will. If no time is stated, an FTC rule says they have 30 days, or must give you the chance to cancel and get your money back.

Sources: FTC online shopping advice and FTC: how to avoid an online shopping scam this holiday season.

Last checked Oct 26, 2026 on the official source linked. Rules and policies change, so check the source before you rely on it.

Decide with your own rule, and keep the receipts

My rule: I buy only if the item is on my list, the total cost is under my max of $[max], the return window is at least [N] days and the seller checks out.
Here's the deal: [summary from the steps above]. Does it pass each part of my rule? Answer pass/fail per line, then a final yes or no.

Save the order number, a screenshot of the price and the return policy. If something goes wrong, contact the seller first; if that fails, our guide to disputing a credit card charge with AI covers the letter and the deadlines. Buying gifts? Pair this with our AI holiday gift list guide.