Which? has sounded the alarm on the “dud deals” consumers should steer clear of this Black Friday, as people across the country will be scrambling to get the top products.
However the consumer watchdog has pointed out some items you should be avoiding, as reported in Birmingham Live.
The Beko CNG4601DVPS fridge freezer has been singled out, priced at £479, as a product to avoid due to its “inconsistent” cooling and freezing capabilities alongside “poor” energy efficiency.
The Swan Alexa Smart Kettle SK14650BLKN, retailing at £59, also received a thumbs-down from Which? for its slow boiling time, tendency to overboil, and absence of a filter – making it a “terrible choice” for those in hard water areas.
Parents are advised to give the Kinderkraft 2 in 1 Nea pram, costing £349, a wide berth as well. It “performed very poorly” in lab tests earlier this year and presented “a range of safety issues”.
Which? highlighted that the pram had a harness that could break under pressure, a plastic toggle on the rain cover that detached too easily posing a choking risk, and a broken spring in the wheel suspension.
A warning was also issued against the Swan Nordic ST14620WHTN toaster, which is on sale for £49. It was criticised for subpar test results and toasting slots that “are not deep enough”, resulting in “uneven or uncooked bread”.
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Which? further highlighted the Withings Scanwatch 2 42mm, priced at £249.95, branding it “a flawed watch that does not track heart rates accurately”. It reportedly falls short on smart features.
Additionally, the Hisense HS214 sound bar, with a price tag of £78.17, was slammed for its “nasty audio quality and ease of listening issues” and for lacking “a proper display”.
The Tower Optimum VL100 cordless vacuum cleaner, priced at £119, has been labelled a flop after it “struggled to pick up dirt from deep within the carpet pile” in tests conducted by Which?.
Harry Rose, Editor of Which? Magazine, commented: “It can be tempting to buy on impulse in the Black Friday sales, but our list of dud deals shows why finding the time to do some research could be worth your while and save you money.
“Which? reviews are based on rigorous and independent testing and separate products that have a hefty price tag but simply don’t perform from the hidden gems that punch above their weight.”
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