Black Friday 2025 was Friday, November 28, followed by Cyber Monday on December 1. Those promotions are over, so the prices below are historical reference points—not live offers. They show which retailers were strongest for particular shopping missions and what to check when the next holiday sales begin.
Most major retailers started in early or mid-November, used several waves of deal drops, and extended selected offers through Cyber Monday or early December. Amazon’s own editorial coverage focused on deals through November 28, while seller communications described a broader Black Friday/Cyber Monday period reaching December 1; treat retailer labels as event windows, not one universal sale date.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Amazon eGift Card - Amazon Logo | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Amazon eGift Card - Happy Birthday | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Amazon eGift Card - Birthday Wishes | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Amazon Physical Gift Card in a Gift Box - Better than Gold - Black | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Amazon Physical Gift Card in a Mini Envelope - Candlelight Celebration | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Black Friday 2025 dates and sale windows
- Early Black Friday sales: Many retailers launched promotions before November 28, sometimes in rotating weekly or app-only drops.
- Black Friday: November 28, 2025.
- Black Friday weekend: November 28–30, with inventory and prices changing throughout.
- Cyber Monday: December 1, 2025. Some retailers extended Black Friday offers; others switched to online-only deals.
- Post-Cyber Monday clearance: Selected merchandise continued into early December, usually with less size, color, or model availability.
Amazon seller communications referred to a customer-facing Black Friday Week beginning around November 20, while another announcement described overlapping Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday events. Amazon also used “Lightning Deals” that could last up to 12 hours or end sooner when inventory sold out (seller communication; event announcement; deal mechanics).
Quick retailer comparison
| Retailer | Best fit | Reported 2025 signal | Main caution | Status now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Broad selection, devices, tech, home, gifts | Up to 60% on selected deals in NBC Select; Amazon highlighted up to 55% off selected home products and up to 50% off selected Nintendo games | Marketplace sellers, changing prices, limited quantities | 2025 offers expired |
| Walmart | Value, appliances, toys, household goods | Up to 50% in reported selected promotions | Event drops and membership conditions vary | 2025 offers expired |
| Target | Owned brands, toys, beauty, gifts | Up to 50% reported | Selected-item and time-limited offers | 2025 offers expired |
| Best Buy | TVs, computers, gaming, appliances | Up to 50% reported | Doorbusters and stock limits | 2025 offers expired |
| Nordstrom | Fashion, shoes, designer clearance | Up to 60% sitewide and up to 40% off designer clearance reported | Brand and style exclusions | 2025 offers expired |
| Macy’s | Apparel, accessories, home, gifts | Up to 75% reported | Largest percentages concentrated in selected merchandise | 2025 offers expired |
| Sephora | Beauty, fragrance, skincare, gift sets | Up to 50% on selected products reported | Brand exclusions and rotating offers | 2025 offers expired |
| Ulta Beauty | Cosmetics, hair tools, fragrance | Up to 50% on selected products reported | Coupon and prestige-brand exclusions | 2025 offers expired |
| Wayfair | Furniture, mattresses, décor | Up to 80% reported | Reference prices and inventory change constantly | 2025 offers expired |
| Home Depot and Lowe’s | Tools, appliances, home projects | Broad promotions and selected markdowns | Delivery, installation and local stock | 2025 offers expired |
| Zappos | Shoes, boots, apparel, accessories | Sale and clearance categories, coupons, VIP and email offers | Not automatically the lowest price; size and width availability matter | Check recurring sale pages |
These percentages were reported during the 2025 season by NBC Select, not guaranteed discounts on every product.
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- Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
- Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
- Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
- Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
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Amazon: strongest for breadth and fast-moving deals
Amazon covered home, electronics, beauty, apparel, toys and gaming. Its 2025 editorial roundup highlighted Apple, Dyson, Nike, Levi’s, Lancôme, Nintendo and Amazon devices such as Echo, Fire TV, Kindle and Ring (Amazon’s roundup). TVs, headphones, laptops, tablets, chargers, smart-home gear, kitchen appliances and gift sets were practical categories to compare.
How to verify an Amazon offer
- Match the exact model number, generation, storage, size and included accessories.
- Check the seller name, “Ships from” and “Sold by” fields, warranty and return terms.
- Confirm whether a coupon must be clipped and recalculate the checkout total after shipping and tax.
- Review price history rather than relying on the displayed “was” price.
- Read reviews for the exact variant; combined listings can mix different products.
Amazon’s breadth is useful when you need one search across categories, but Best Buy, Walmart and Target may offer clearer fulfillment, matching model numbers or easier service for a specific item.
Rank #2
- Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
- Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
- Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
- Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
- No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.
Zappos: a footwear and apparel specialist
Zappos was most useful for running and walking shoes, boots, sneakers, kids’ footwear, clothing, handbags and accessories. Its official savings hub organized women’s, men’s and kids’ clearance, footwear, clothing and bags, alongside coupons, VIP membership and email offers (Zappos Sale Central).
When a Zappos sale is worth checking
- You need a particular brand, width, size or color and value convenient returns.
- A clearance price remains available in your required fit.
- The final price beats the brand site, Nordstrom, DSW, Famous Footwear or a department store after coupons and shipping.
An “up to” claim may apply to only a small slice of inventory. Confirm whether an item is final sale or has special return conditions; fit and availability can matter more than the percentage.
Rank #3
- Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
- Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
- Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
- Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
- No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.
Best retailers by shopping mission
Tech, TVs and gaming
Start with Best Buy for exact-model comparisons across TVs, laptops, monitors, consoles, games, headphones, speakers and major appliances. Amazon, Walmart and Target were useful for alternative prices, accessories and budget electronics. Compare model numbers, included warranties and delivery dates; a cheaper older generation is not automatically better value.
Shoes and fashion
Use Zappos for broad shoe sizing and clearance, Nordstrom for service and premium fashion, and Macy’s for apparel, accessories and gifts. Nike, Adidas and department-store sites can beat a marketplace price on the same style. Check brand exclusions, size availability and return windows before paying.
Rank #4
- Gift Card is redeemable towards millions of items storewide at Amazon.com
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Beauty and fragrance
Sephora and Ulta were the main destinations for skincare, makeup, hair tools, fragrance and gift sets, with Amazon and Macy’s providing comparison points. Calculate the effective price after coupons, loyalty points and gift-card promotions, and check whether prestige brands are excluded.
Toys, games and gifts
Amazon, Target and Walmart offered broad toy, game, household and budget-gift assortments; Best Buy was stronger for gaming hardware and accessories. Compare bundles carefully—an apparently large discount may reflect a different edition or fewer included accessories.
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- Gift Card is redeemable towards millions of items storewide at Amazon.com
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Furniture, mattresses and home décor
Wayfair offered the widest home assortment and reported discounts as high as 80% on selected items. Compare construction, dimensions, shipping, assembly and return costs rather than relying on the reference price. For mattresses and furniture, verify damage procedures and restocking terms.
Tools, appliances and home projects
Home Depot and Lowe’s were natural starting points for tools, power equipment, appliances, storage, lighting and seasonal projects. Best Buy, Walmart and Costco supplied alternatives. Add delivery, installation, haul-away and local-inventory charges to the sticker price.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to tell whether a Black Friday deal is genuinely good
- Identify the exact item: Record model, generation, capacity, size, color and accessories.
- Check recent history: Compare with the item’s normal selling price, not only a crossed-out reference price.
- Calculate the final cost: Include coupons, membership requirements, shipping, taxes, rebates and required payment methods.
- Review returns and warranty: Confirm manufacturer coverage, seller responsibility, restocking fees and holiday extensions.
- Check fulfillment: Make sure the promised delivery date works and inspect bulky-item installation or haul-away terms.
- Compare alternatives: Search the brand site, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, specialty stores and department stores for the same model.
- Separate need from novelty: A heavily discounted older or obscure product can be worse value than a modestly discounted, well-supported model.
A practical deal-quality label
- Strong buy: The exact item has a well-supported low price or an unusually valuable bundle.
- Worth comparing: The offer is attractive, but equivalent pricing may exist elsewhere.
- Only if you need it: It is an older model, has limited warranty coverage or offers modest real savings.
- Skip unless verified: Seller, reference price, variant or return terms are unclear.
What to expect from future Black Friday events
The 2025 pattern supports a cautious forecast—not an announced schedule—for earlier launches, multiple promotional waves, more app or membership pricing, and “up to” discounts concentrated in selected products. Retailers are also likely to overlap Black Friday and Cyber Monday or continue clearance into early December. Treat each future date and discount as unconfirmed until that retailer publishes its terms.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
