I’ll never forget the adrenaline rush of Black Friday 2022. It wasn't because I was fighting a stranger for a toaster in a Walmart aisle at 4:00 AM. In fact, I was in my pajamas, sipping lukewarm coffee, staring at a countdown timer on my laptop screen. I had been eyeing a specific Sony camera lens for months—retail price $900.
At exactly midnight, eBay dropped a code. I typed it in, expecting it to crash or fail. It didn't. The price dropped to $540. I hit "Confirm" so hard I almost broke my trackpad.
Most people write off eBay as a garage sale site, assuming eBay Black Friday is just a collection of random used goods.They are wrong. For the savvy shopper (and the smart reseller), it is the single most underrated event of the retail calendar. But you have to know how to play the game, because unlike Amazon's spoon-fed "Lightning Deals," eBay requires a bit of hunting.
Does eBay Have Black Friday Sales? (The Short Answer)
A common question I see in forums is: "Does eBay have black friday sales?" or "Will eBay have a black friday salethis year?"
The confusion makes sense. eBay is technically a collection of millions of individual sellers, so how can the "site" have a sale?
Here is where it gets interesting... eBay acts as the bank. During Black Friday and Cyber Week, eBay corporate steps in and subsidizes discounts. They issue a coupon codes eBay users can apply to millions of eligible items. The seller still gets their full price, but you get 15% or 20% off, paid for by eBay's marketing budget.
So, does eBay do black friday sales? Absolutely. But they don't look like traditional sales. You won't see a flyer in the newspaper. You have to look for the "drops."
In previous years, I’ve seen them release "Code of the Day" promotions starting as early as November 1st. These are usually category-specific:
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Nov 1-7: Home & Garden (Think Dyson vacuums and KitchenAid mixers).
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Nov 15-20: Tech & Gaming (The sweet spot for consoles).
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Black Friday Proper: The "Everything" codes.
Navigating eBay Black Friday Deals: The Refurbished Loophole
The biggest secret to crushing eBay Black Friday deals isn't buying new; it's buying "eBay Refurbished."
I admit, I used to be a snob about this. "Refurbished" sounded like code for "broken and glued back together." Then I bought a refurbished Bose soundbar. It arrived in a brand-new box, sealed, with a 2-year Allstate warranty included for free. It looked untouched.
Does eBay have sales on black friday for new items? Yes, specifically from big box outlets like Best Buy or Adidas that have official eBay stores. But the deep discounts—the 40-50% off retail ones—are almost always on Certified Refurbished items.
My Strategy for Tech:
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The "Watch" Trick: Find the item you want now. Click "Add to Watchlist."
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Wait: During Black Friday week, sellers often send out "exclusive" offers to watchers. I once got an extra 10% off offer on a MacBook just because I watched it for three days.
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Check the Warranty: Only buy if it has the "eBay Refurbished" badge. This guarantees the 1-or-2-year warranty.
The Hunt for the eBay Black Friday Coupon
This is the holy grail. Everyone wants an eBay black friday coupon.
Historically, eBay releases a code like CYBER15 or SAVE20 at 9:00 AM PT on Black Friday.Now the tricky part: These codes often have a cap. For example, "Save 15% off Tech, up to $100." This means if you buy a $2,000 camera, you aren't getting $300 off. You are getting $100 off.
Honest Failure: In 2021, I waited all day for a ebay coupon code for any purchase. I had a cart full of vintage clothing and random car parts. When the code finally dropped, I typed it in... and nothing happened. I read the fine print. The code was valid for "Select Sellers Only." I was crushed. I ended up paying full price because I needed the parts.Lesson:Always check the "Participating Sellers" list before you build your cart.
Understanding eBay Coupon Codes
There are two types of ebay promotion code offers you will encounter, and confusing them will cost you money.
1. The Site-Wide Code
This is the rare unicorn. An eBay coupon code that applies to almost everything.
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Frequency: Once or twice a year.
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Discount: Usually 10% or 15%.
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Exclusions: Coins, Paper Money, Real Estate, and Gift Cards are always excluded.
2. The Seller-Specific Code
These are more common. You might see "Extra 20% off with code ADIDAS20" on the Adidas outlet store.Tip: You can sometimes stack these. If a seller sends you a private offer (e.g., $20 off) and eBay has a public code (e.g., 10% off), the system usually only allows one code per checkout. You have to do the math to see which one saves you more.
Can You Find an eBay Coupon Code for Any Purchase?
If you are searching for an "ebay coupon code for any purchase," be careful. Most coupon aggregator sites (the ones that pop up on Google) are filled with junk. They list expired codes or "deals" that aren't actually coupons.
My "Uncertainty Admission": I have spent hours trying codes like FREESHIP or WELCOME10 on checkout pages. They almost never work for existing accounts. eBay is very stingy with generic, evergreen coupons. The only reliable way to get a discount on any purchase is to use the "Make Offer" button. Don't wait for a code. Message the seller. "Hey, I see you have this listed for $50. Would you take $40?" It works 60% of the time. That is your manual coupon.
Tools to Track the Madness
If you are serious about ebay black friday, you cannot rely on refreshing the homepage. You need a stack.
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CamelCamelCamel: Yes, this is for Amazon, but I use it to price check. If eBay's "deal" is $200, I check the Amazon price history. If Amazon sold it for $180 last March, the eBay deal isn't actually a deal.
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The eBay App: Enable push notifications. The best ebay special offer codes are often "Flash Coupons" that last for only 4 hours.
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Closo (For Sellers): If you are a seller trying to capitalize on this rush, you need to cross-list. I use Closo to ensure my inventory is visible on eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari simultaneously during the holiday rush. It saves me about 3 hours weekly by syncing my listings so I don't oversell.
Comparison: eBay Refurbished vs. Amazon Renewed
I honestly prefer eBay for electronics purely because of that 2-year warranty. Amazon's 90-day window feels too short for a $500 laptop.
Strategies for Sellers: Don't Get Left Behind
If you are reading this as a reseller, eBay Black Friday is your Super Bowl. But you don't have to discount your items to zero to compete.
1. Launch Your Own Coupon You don't need eBay corporate to do it for you. In your Seller Hub, you can create a "Coded Coupon." Make a code like BLACKFRIDAY25 for 25% off your store. eBay will highlight this on your listings. It looks professional and catches the buyer's eye.
2. The "Fast 'N Free" Badge During Black Friday, shipping speed is everything. Buyers are terrified their gifts won't arrive by Christmas. If you can ship same-day, shout it from the rooftops.
I use Closo to help manage my delisting process when things sell. The last thing you want on Black Friday is to sell an item on eBay that you already sold on Poshmark an hour ago. That leads to a defect, and defects kill your account health.
Common Questions I See
People always ask me... Is eBay safe for expensive electronics?
"Common question I see..." is whether buying a $1,000 camera on eBay is risky. My answer: It is safer than Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, but you must read the description. If you buy "eBay Refurbished," it is incredibly safe because of the warranty. If you buy from a random seller with 0 feedback, you are rolling the dice. Always pay with PayPal or a Credit Card so you have chargeback protection.
People always ask me... Do eBay coupons stack?
No. This is the biggest bummer. You cannot use a "10% off" coupon and a "Free Shipping" coupon in the same transaction. You have to pick the one that saves you the most money.
Common question I see... Does eBay price match Black Friday deals?
Sort of. eBay has a "Best Price Guarantee" on specific deals featured on their daily drops page. If you buy a qualified item and find it cheaper on Amazon or Walmart within 48 hours, they will cover 110% of the difference. But this only applies to very specific "Deals" items, not the vintage lamp you bought from a guy in Ohio.
Conclusion
eBay Black Friday is a chaotic, beautiful mess of opportunities. It isn't as polished as Amazon, and you won't find doorbusters on toilet paper. But if you are looking for high-end tech, tools, or appliances, the eBay black friday coupon code drops are unbeatable.
My recommendation?
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Download the app now.
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Add your "Must Haves" to your Watchlist today.
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Check the "Certified Refurbished" hub before you buy new.
I managed to outfit my entire home office for 40% less than retail by waiting for these exact weeks. It takes patience, but the savings are real.
If you want to ensure you are getting the absolute best price (or profit, if you are selling), check out the Closo Seller Hub for advanced tactics.
For a deeper dive into how fees might affect your purchase or sale price, read this guide on Poshmark Fees 2025 (it compares them to eBay, which is helpful context).
And if you are a seller looking to expand beyond eBay this holiday season, the Best Cross Listing Software 2025 is required reading.
