• 

  Topic

  Bag a bargain!

  There are great deals to be found in sales, but there are also plenty of duds. Follow our expert tips and check our product reviews to make sure you're getting the best value for money. 

Advice from our experts

• Products to avoid in the Black Friday sales

  No matter how discounted they are, we'd advise you to steer clear of these products in the sales frenzy.
• Everything you need to know about Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2021

  How to avoid the duds and find the best bargains in the sales.
• Top tips for sales season

  Avoid sales fails with our top tips for the sales season.
• Buying a mattress? We bust 5 shopping myths

  We cut through the sales spin to help you shop (and sleep) better.
• Is it worth buying a home espresso coffee machine?

  We compare the cost and convenience of caffeinating at home versus a café. 
• Buying a fridge? We bust 7 common myths

  Our expert sorts fact from fiction to help you buy better.
• Should you buy a Dyson vac, fan or dryer? Our verdict

  Is the cult brand worth the hype and higher price? Our expert reveals how they compare against other brands in our tests. 
• Smeg appliances: Best buys and what to avoid

  Should you buy something just because it's from Smeg? It's complicated.

Give these a miss

• Boxing Day duds: The products to avoid in the sales

  Think twice before adding these low scorers to your cart. 
• Air fryers to avoid buying

  These not-so-hot air fryers will leave you underwhelmed.
• 3 robot vacuum cleaners to avoid

  Need some help around the house? Don't count on these poorly performing robot vacs.
• Grounded! The coffee machines that failed

  Don't make a bad coffee mistake – these models rated lowest in our product tests.  
• Stick vacuum cleaners to avoid buying

  If you want clean floors and carpets, steer clear of these suckers. 
• Noise-cancelling headphones to avoid

  Looking for headphones that deliver both great sound and silence? Listen to our experts and give these a miss.
• Mattresses to miss if you want a good sleep

  Don't wake up on the wrong side of the bed – give these low-scoring mattresses a miss.
• Worst electric heaters to avoid

  Don't count on these to keep you warm this winter.
• 3 barbecues to avoid buying

  Set yourself up for a summer of brilliant barbecues by avoiding these duds.
• Wireless speakers to avoid

  These poor-performing Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speakers are anything but music to your ears.
• The worst-rated TVs to watch out for

  Don't make a costly mistake – our lab tests reveal the mediocre models you might want to think twice about buying.
• Soundbars to avoid buying

  Check 1, 2? These models set the bar lowest in our lab tests. 
• Three fridges to avoid buying

  Beware these subpar shockers that rated lowest in our lab tests. 
• Reverse-cycle air conditioners to avoid 

  The models that rate lowest for cooling and for heating in our small-size air con review.
• Worst washing machines

  We reveal the models that rated lowest in our lab test. 
• Dishwashers to avoid buying

  We dish the dirt on the poorest performers in our latest lab test.
• Ceiling fans to avoid

  Don't lose your cool this summer with these poor performers. 
• 'Worst fridge ever': Smeg model rates lowest in CHOICE test history

  Smeg's new $3990 retro fridge flunks our lab test with dismal 22% rating. Here's why.
• Should you buy a Kmart Anko vacuum cleaner?

  You may be enticed by the low price, but some of the worst-performing vacuums in our tests come from the budget retailer. 
• Inkjet and laser printers to avoid

  These printers were the lowest scorers in our lab tests. 
• Products to avoid in the EOFY sales

  CHOICE experts name the products you should avoid, regardless of how cheap they are.
• The baby monitors that rated lowest in our tests

  If you want peace of mind, we suggest you give these a miss.
• Samsung shocker: The washing machine that scored 0% for water efficiency 

  This top-loader is one of the least water-efficient washing machines we've ever tested.

What to buy

• Air conditioners

  We compare over 200 air conditioners, including models from Daikin, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi, LG and more.
• TVs

  CHOICE rigorously tests the latest TV models from LG, Sony, Samsung, Hisense and more top brands to show you which ones deliver the best picture and value for money.
• Washing machines

  We test both front and top loading washing machines in the CHOICE labs, including models from Bosch, Fisher & Paykel, LG, Miele, Samsung and Simpson.
• Mattresses

  How do the online bed-in-a-box mattresses from Sleeping Duck, Ecosa, Emma and more compare to brands from bricks-and-mortar retailers?
• Coffee machines

  We test manual, semi-automatic and pod coffee machines in the CHOICE labs, including Sunbeam, Breville, Kmart, DeLonghi and Nespresso.
• Fridges

  We test the coolest new fridges in the CHOICE labs to help you find the best one for your home, including models from Electrolux, Fisher & Paykel, LG, Samsung and more.
• Dishwashers

  We dish the dirt on the most popular dishwashers from Bosch, Fisher & Paykel, Miele and more.
• Clothes dryer reviews

  See which dryers are high flyers – we test top models from Bosch, Electrolux, Fisher & Paykel, LG, Simpson, Miele and more.
• Printer reviews

  We review inkjet and laser multifunction and basic printers from Canon, Brother, Epson, HP and more.
• Ovens

  Our lab test results tell you which electric ovens cook best and are easiest to use.

Where to shop

• Best and worst electronics stores 

  Our survey results reveal the best shops and online stores for electrical appliances.
• Kmart Anko: Best buys and what to avoid 

  We reveal the products that impressed in our tests – and the duds that disappointed.
• Shopping at Aldi: best buys and what to avoid

  Should you just buy everything at Aldi? Well, no. We look at ski gear, TVs, coffee machines, nappies and more.
• Big W Contempo best appliance buys

  We reveal the products that impressed, and those you might want to think twice about before adding to your cart.
• The Kogan brand products to avoid

  Beware these Kogan buys that rated poorly in our lab tests.
• Ikea: Best buys and what to avoid

  From mattresses and ovens, to one of the dodgiest fridges we've seen.

More tips for bargain hunters

• 5 times cheap products outperformed expensive brands

  That awkward moment when a $700 no-name fridge outperforms a $2700 Miele.
• Is it worth signing up for Amazon Prime or eBay Plus?

  We compared Amazon Prime and eBay Plus to see which offers the most value.
• Know your consumer rights

  Faulty product? Buyer's regret? Your right to a refund.
• One in two Aussies are keen to bag a Black Friday bargain

  The four-day shopping event is bigger than ever, but CHOICE data finds not everyone is convinced the discounts are worth it.
• Expert tips for TV shopping in-store

  What to look out for when faced with a wall of screens.
• Freight-forwarders compared: ShopMate, Shipito, US to Oz and more

  What are your postage options when US retailers won't ship your purchases to Australia?
• Five products to think twice about before buying from overseas

  Shopping for these products on foreign shores could end in disappointment, injury and even arrest.
• What's the problem with buying cheap appliances?

  A great bargain or just suspiciously cheap? Here’s what you need to consider before buying a budget appliance.
• Click Frenzy online sale: deal or dud?

  Here's how to shop smart when the sale kicks off this Tuesday 9 November.