Real UK Saving Examples
These examples are based on typical price drop patterns at UK retailers. Actual savings depend on your target price and timing.
65" LG OLED TV
OLED TV prices drop significantly during Black Friday and spring model refreshes at Currys. A £400 saving on a £1,499 TV is well within the range of real Black Friday discounts.
MacBook Air M2
MacBook Air prices drop during Amazon Black Friday and occasionally during Prime Day. £100–£150 savings on the M2 model are realistic at these events.
iPhone 15 (previous generation)
When Apple announces a new iPhone each September, previous models drop at John Lewis, Amazon and Currys. £100–£150 savings on the previous generation are typical.
Samsung 9kg Washing Machine
Currys runs major appliance promotions during Black Friday and January. A £150 saving on a mid-range washing machine is a realistic outcome for a patient buyer.
Gaming PC (RTX 4070)
Prebuilt gaming PC prices drop significantly when new GPU generations launch. £200–£400 savings on previous-gen builds are common during clearance events.
Is a £5 Alert Worth It? The Maths
| Product | Typical saving | Alert cost | Return on £5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| OLED TV (65") | £200–£500 | £5 | 40x – 100x |
| Laptop | £50–£200 | £5 | 10x – 40x |
| iPhone (prev gen) | £50–£150 | £5 | 10x – 30x |
| Washing machine | £50–£200 | £5 | 10x – 40x |
| Gaming PC | £100–£400 | £5 | 20x – 80x |
| Samsung Galaxy | £50–£150 | £5 | 10x – 30x |
The logic is simple: A £5 alert only needs to save you £6 to be worthwhile. On any product over £100 with genuine sale pricing, this is almost always achievable.
What Affects How Much You Save?
Your target price
Set your target at the product's previous Black Friday or clearance price. Too ambitious and the alert never triggers. Too conservative and you're paying more than necessary. Research previous sale prices before setting your target.
Your patience
Price alerts reward patience. If you need the product urgently, you may buy at a less ideal price. If you can wait 1–6 months, you're likely to catch a significant drop.
The product category
TVs and gaming hardware produce the largest absolute savings. Phones and laptops produce reliable mid-range savings. Budget products have smaller absolute discounts but the percentage savings can still be significant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these savings guaranteed?
No. These are examples based on typical UK sale pricing patterns. Actual savings depend on the specific product, retailer and timing. Setting a realistic target based on previous sale prices gives you the best chance of a meaningful saving.
What if the price never drops to my target?
Your alert stays active indefinitely. You can adjust your target at any time. If you set a target that's too ambitious, raising it slightly to match real sale pricing will produce a trigger.
How do I know what a realistic target price is?
Search for what the product sold for during previous Black Friday events or clearance periods. This gives you a real floor to target rather than a wishlist price.