A promotion is easier to judge when your buying rule already exists. Use this edition to prepare that rule and inspect a listing when you find one. The task on 4 November is to make a comparison you can repeat as offers appear.
1. Set the job and the budget first
Write the problem a purchase must solve and the two or three requirements that matter most. Decide how much storage you need, whether you will consider refurbished stock and the maximum complete checkout payment you can justify. Keep the delivery country fixed.
Put a small number of candidates in the shortlist. Include keeping your present phone or paying for a suitable repair in the decision. If a battery problem started the search, use the separate battery edition to get a diagnosis and quote before treating replacement as the only answer.
2. Match the item before ranking the prices
Keep one row for each exact configuration and condition. A cheaper listing with less storage or a different condition answers a different buying question. When a field is missing, mark it unconfirmed and inspect the retailer’s product page; a photo or a shortened title is not enough to fill the gap.
| Field | What to record | When to keep a separate comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Model and version | Full model name and manufacturer model code when available; the market version you need. | A different generation, network version or unresolved model code. |
| Storage, RAM and colour | The exact storage and RAM configuration, plus the colour you would actually accept. | 128GB against 256GB, different RAM, or a colour-dependent price you cannot use. |
| Condition and contents | New or refurbished; the stated grade, battery terms and included accessories. | Different condition, grade or bundle contents that change your decision. |
| Seller and destination | Who sells the item, who fulfils it and the country where you need delivery. | A different seller or a destination for which the quoted total is not confirmed. |
| Returns and support | The seller’s written return process, applicable guarantee and service contact. | Terms that remain unclear or do not meet your requirements. |
Colour may be flexible for you; decide that in advance. Keep it visible so a colour-specific offer is an explicit choice. Where a listing does not confirm storage or condition, resolve that uncertainty before comparing it as the same item.
3. Ask what the discount is measured against
The EU general rule for an announced price reduction uses the same trader’s lowest prior price over at least 30 days. The Commission’s guidance explains the scope and national options for exceptions, including certain new arrivals and progressive reductions.
That reference answers a different question from “Is this the cheapest suitable offer I can buy?” A suggested retail price, a competing shop’s price and a model-wide chart are different comparisons. Identify which reference the seller is using before relying on the percentage.
- Source: Article 6a of the Price Indication Directive
- Source: European Commission guidance on prior prices and reductions
In its March 2026 report, the Commission said 30% of 314 online traders checked referenced discounts incorrectly. Those findings concern the inspected traders; they do not establish the quality of a particular offer you see today.
4. Compare the money actually due
Take the matched item through to the retailer’s final order review without placing an order. Check delivery, unavoidable charges, tax treatment and any discount conditions for your destination. Record the date, exact variant, seller and complete total together.
Cash due now = item price + delivery + unavoidable charges − an immediate discount you qualify for.
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Count tax once. Check whether the displayed item price already includes it and use the final total for your delivery address. Do not add a tax amount that is already included.
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Keep conditional money separate. Trade-in estimates, later cashback and a sale of your old phone can depend on conditions or happen after you pay. Record them separately unless the actual checkout confirms an immediate reduction.
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Check what the basket contains. Look for an added accessory, insurance or subscription. Include any commitment you would accept in the comparison; remove anything you did not choose.
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Compare a finance plan in full. If you are considering instalments, record the deposit, total payable, duration and fees from the offered terms. A monthly figure alone cannot be compared with a cash purchase.
Our worked guide uses fictional prices to show how a lower headline price becomes a higher delivered total. Use its arithmetic with your own confirmed figures. It does not identify a current deal or predict a future saving.
5. Recheck the evidence when you are ready
Read a tracked price beside its observation date and variant. A model’s lowest observed price can change when a different shop or configuration becomes the cheapest recorded option. Use the history as context, then check the exact item and checkout again at the retailer.
Keep the offer URL and the terms you relied on. Before paying, confirm that the selected configuration, seller, total and delivery promise still match your comparison. If a critical detail is unresolved, keep the purchase undecided.
When your buying rule is ready, inspect the dated listings that are available and compare the retailer’s terms. A gap in listings is useful information too: widen the search or wait for evidence rather than assume an unavailable price.
About this edition
Prepared 4 November 2026 as a Black Friday comparison checklist. It contains preparation and verification steps, with no announcement of confirmed 2026 sale offers. Prices in the linked worked example are explicitly fictional. Current price, stock, delivery and eligibility must be checked with the retailer.
Some comparison and model pages linked here contain marked affiliate links. FixIndex may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Compare the item, complete cost and terms before deciding whether to buy. How commercial links work.