Christine Cyr-Clessette

From The New York Times, you're listening to The Wirecutter Show. I'm Christine Cyr-Clessette. I'm Kyra Blackwell.

These days, Black Friday has come to refer to an almost entire week of deals, today through Cyber Monday. And while it's the single biggest shopping weekend of the year, it's also a day that's become increasingly confusing for shoppers. More days of advertised sales, bigger pile of things to sift through.

These days, Black Friday has come to refer to an almost entire week of deals, today through Cyber Monday. And while it's the single biggest shopping weekend of the year, it's also a day that's become increasingly confusing for shoppers. More days of advertised sales, bigger pile of things to sift through.

Plus, retailers have gotten really good at the game, to the point where much of what looks like a deal that's too good to be true disappears. actually is too good to be true.

Plus, retailers have gotten really good at the game, to the point where much of what looks like a deal that's too good to be true disappears. actually is too good to be true.

Okay, so can you start by telling us exactly how many products you've reviewed this year?

Okay, so can you start by telling us exactly how many products you've reviewed this year?

Wow, that is so many products, Nathan. And of those, how many did we actually recommend?

Wow, that is so many products, Nathan. And of those, how many did we actually recommend?

That is so tricky. So you're actually, when you're looking for the deals that you're going to feature on our deals page, you're actually looking for deals that are significantly lower than the lowest prices you've seen all year, right?

That is so tricky. So you're actually, when you're looking for the deals that you're going to feature on our deals page, you're actually looking for deals that are significantly lower than the lowest prices you've seen all year, right?

Okay, so, Nathan, let's get into why it's gotten so hard to find an actually good deal.

Okay, so, Nathan, let's get into why it's gotten so hard to find an actually good deal.

Nathan, where do you see this kind of thing in its most nefarious form? Like, how can you, as a non-deals editor, spot these?

Nathan, where do you see this kind of thing in its most nefarious form? Like, how can you, as a non-deals editor, spot these?

So given that as a shopper, you might be seeing a page that has a photo of one model, but you might be actually buying something else. It's really important to do your homework and look for the features you want. Don't just trust the photo, right?

So given that as a shopper, you might be seeing a page that has a photo of one model, but you might be actually buying something else. It's really important to do your homework and look for the features you want. Don't just trust the photo, right?

I kind of always thought that those sales periodicals were just meant to go directly into the recycling bin and not into my home. That's what they do at my house. Yeah. Or for the fire. But you might find some good deals in there. So worth a look. All right. We're going to take a quick break.

I kind of always thought that those sales periodicals were just meant to go directly into the recycling bin and not into my home. That's what they do at my house. Yeah. Or for the fire. But you might find some good deals in there. So worth a look. All right. We're going to take a quick break.

And when we come back, we're going to talk with Nathan all about the types of products you're likely to find most heavily discounted today on Black Friday and throughout the weekend, as well as some of the products you should probably avoid. You're listening to The Wirecutter Show. New episodes drop every Wednesday wherever you listen to podcasts. We'll be right back.