Thursday, October 1, 2026
®
The World's Local News Source®
Cherryville, NC (WNN) - Everyone knows that in the modern landscape of brighter-than-life colors with ads that have more interesting concepts than movies, everything created exists for one purpose: to get you to spend money. That's the reason for the season when it comes to Black Friday and Cyber Monday! Scrolling through endless "ON SALE!" tags can seem like a wonderland of savings, but what products should buyers beware?
Perpetual Sales are some of the most common Black Friday deals. They are items that are always at a discount and are used to bolster the regular catalog of goods, actually at a discount, into the "thousands". A reliable way to identify a potential perpetual sale is to check if the item is significantly under MSRP. These can take the form of items like the Amyet G60 Peak Electric Bike, which has a listed MSRP of $1400.00. Walmart's Black Friday deal on this brings it down to $592.99 before tax. Despite the MSRP, the bike normally sells for $650.00. Notably, this is still a deal, it's just more appealing to say you saved almost $800.00 vs $50.00.
You may find yourself asking, "How do you know this random bike is normally $650.00, news-guy?", and to that entirely hypothetical question, I would say Google Shopping has a tool that shows the typical price range of any item commonly sold online. This tool examines the preceding three months to determine a range for a specific good. However, those with some level of foresight can track the online prices of items they want using the tool for more extended periods by adding them to their list.
Perhaps as a direct response, marketers across the US have begun using a different tool. During the spring and summer seasons, some companies will quietly raise the prices of goods, only to drop them slightly back below retail price for the holidays. One that failed to do so quietly was Sony Entertainment.
Earlier this year, Sony announced that the PS5 models would be raised in price by $50.00 to $100.00 per model. The alleged reason for this was the increased price of the base hardware on the company's end. This was an unpopular move, as in almost every console generation before this one, users have typically seen price drops as the device's lifespan progresses. For Black Friday, the price drops on PS5s are around $100.00 to $150.00 lower, resulting in prices that are $50.00 below the original MSRP for PS5s.
However, this is where it pays to keep your eye on pricing. Markets with heavy resale, numerous bundles, and scalping will skew the Google Shopping tracker. In this case, it lists the average PS5 as being sold for between $525.00 and $850.00, which is somewhat misleading when considering the original price.
Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Amazon are all industry leaders with endless amounts of "deals" for these two holidays. Walmart boasts many items under $20.00, as well as top brands up to 60% off. The lower-priced items make a great way to wrap up your shopping list for the holidays, but which big-ticket items are some of the best deals?
Tires: Walmart is offering a flat discount of $30.00 on many of its Goodyear and Cooper tire selections. This could result in a potential $120.00 in savings for those due for a change. An online store called Giga Tires and More is currently offering deals on Firestone and Michelin tires, with discounts ranging from $15.00 to over $100.00 per tire.
Electronics: Best Buy, known for its electronics, offers numerous deals in this department. Select HP and Lenovo laptops are available for $50.00 below the normal market price, making them a good deal for college students or those in need of a work replacement. Those looking for gaming builds can find prices from $100.00 to $300.00 off prebuilt PCs and $10 to $60 off monitors. Many tablets are available for $60.00 to $100.00 off, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11, which is $100.00 below its regular price.
For those looking to get into photography, one of the best discounts we've found is on the Panasonic Lumix S5 at Macy's. While it's generally around $ 1,500.00, it is currently available for $997.99 for the camera body. B&H also has some good deals on used equipment for those looking to make a customized camera bundle.
For the Kids: Many popular toy brands, such as Lego and VTech, are offering $5.00 to $10.00 off for a majority of their lineup, which is a 25% to 50% discount on some toys. Brands like Kohl's and Belk's are offering 20% to 40% off clothing from brands like Nike and Columbia for new winter clothes. Those expecting or with newborns can save $100.00 off the typical price with the Graco 3-in-1 at Walmart.
Kitchen Appliances: Those looking for blenders can find $20.00 to $30.00 off Ninja systems at Best Buy. Macy's has several deals on new knife sets from brands like Henckels, as well as Air Fryers, for $50 off. You can head to Kohl's to find good deals on pots and pans. If you need the larger appliances, such as a range, Home Depot is offering discounts of around $100 on some Frigidaire models.
Furniture: Many online furniture retailers offer sizable discounts on select brands, such as Homaker's Furniture, offering $100.00 to $200.00 off Ashley brand couches and chairs. Macy's has some huge discounts, such as their three-piece Sebaston Sofa for nearly $1,200.00 off. Mattress Firm is offering discounts of 40% to 80% causing some mattresses to be over $1,000.00 off. NFM is offering $80.00 to $150.00 off many of their tables, dining sets, and dressers, making it a good place to shop for these larger items.
As previously discussed, online tools like the Google Shopping Assistant can help identify actual deals. It is worth noting that the "sponsored" selection does not offer the price assistant tool, so be sure to scroll past it to find out the standard market price.
There are also browser extensions, such as Camelcamelcamel and Keepa, that offer longer histories on select items. When wrapping up your Christmas list, one of the best ways to save is to stick to it. If something you hadn't planned on finding catches your eye, remember to do a quick check on the prices, and your wallet will thank you when it's time for those New Year's resolutions. Happy hunting this holiday season to all our bargain-seeking readers.
For further WNN articles and news stories, visit https://wisenewsnetwork.com
For more WNN video news stories, visit YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wisenewsnetwork
Contact WNN at newsdesk@wisenewsnetwork.com
North Carolina Press Association Member
©️Copyright 2025 Wise News Network. All rights reserved.
