Black Friday

El Black Friday does not start on the last Friday of November. Marketing campaigns usually start weeks earlier, and online stores already show early deals: “pre-Black Friday,” “exclusive prices,” “Black Week,” and more.

But… do prices really drop that day, or does it just seem that way?

If you want to know for sure, we suggest tracking online promotions by certifying the prices and offers of products with SaveTheProof. This way you can check which online stores genuinely lower prices and which ones “dress up” them.

Why start price tracking before Black Friday?

Every year, the Consumers and Users Organization (OCU) warns that many stores inflate prices before Black Friday to simulate big discounts.

With the digital certification of SaveTheProof, you can get ahead, and:

  • Register the real prices of the products you are interested in days (or weeks) in advance.

  • Verify if the discount advertised on Black Friday is authentic.

  • Have certified proof in case you detect misleading practices for future claims.

It’s not just about buying cheaper, but about buying with data and evidence.

With SaveTheProof, you can obtain digital certificates of the prices and promotions published in any online store, which comply with European eIDAS standards, with advanced digital signature and qualified timestamp (read more about the Legal Validity of SaveTheProof certificates).

What should you look at before buying?

These are the key signals to detect if an offer is truly good (or just fiction):

  • Real previous price: check if the “before” matches the price it had in previous days (you can verify it with the certified screenshots you have made with SaveTheProof).

  • Return and warranty conditions: check if policies change during the promotion.

  • Delivery times: some stores extend them without notice.

  • Reviews or ratings: beware of fake reviews or those that disappear during sales.

  • Offer duration: make sure the dates are clear and the promotion is not shortened.

What does the Spanish law say about prices and offers?

According to the General Law for the Defense of Consumers and Users (Royal Legislative Decree 1/2007) and Law 7/1996 on the Regulation of Retail Trade, companies are obliged to:

  • Show the real previous price (i.e., the lowest applied in the last 30 days).

  • Do not use false or ambiguous information to promote discounts.

  • Maintain the offer conditions during the announced period.

If you detect violations, you can claim by presenting SaveTheProof certifications as electronically valid evidence before consumer authorities.

In this post we explain how to submit a SaveTheProof certificate: https://www.savetheproof.com/en/how-to-bring-a-savetheproof-certificate-to-a-legal-proceeding/.

Seguimiento de precios del Black Friday

How to properly track prices with SaveTheProof

Here is a simple Tracking Plan to arrive prepared for Black Friday:

1️⃣ Make a list of URLs of your target products: technology, fashion, travel, or any category that interests you.

2️⃣ Start certifying prices one or two weeks in advance:

  • Choose the option Web Browsing Session, enter the URLs you have listed, and take visible area or full-page screenshots of the product price(s) and published purchase conditions. You have 50 captures per browsing session, which will be part of the certificate.
  • The certificate will be saved in your SaveTheProof account, with date, time, and URL.

3️⃣ Repeat the process every few days: this way you can create a small “timeline” of prices.

4️⃣ On Black Friday, certify again and compare the prices with your previous certificates.

Tips for price tracking

  • Start early: ideally 30 days in advance, plus prices change constantly and some stores launch “staggered discounts.”

  • Also pay attention to shipping and return costs (sometimes the discount is offset elsewhere).

  • Also certify promotional messages or newsletters with SaveTheProof: they are part of the offer.

  • If you see suspicious changes, keep all certifications; they will serve as evidence for Consumer Protection.

What to do if you detect misleading practices?

If you confirm that a store raised the price before Black Friday, or changes the conditions without notice:

  • Contact customer service showing your certificates.

  • If you get no response, file a claim with the Directorate General of Consumer Affairs or your regional authority.

  • Remember that, according to the law, these practices may be considered misleading advertising or unfair competition.

Conclusion

The real trick of Black Friday is not to buy quickly, but to know when and how to buy.

With SaveTheProof you can anticipate, track real prices, and certify the offers that interest you. This way you will reach the big day with evidence, data, and total transparency.

SaveTheProof is your best ally to discover if Black Friday deals are as good as they seem.

Do you have questions? Write to us at [email protected] or use the chat on the website. We’ll be happy to help you. 😉

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