Is a robot vacuum really cheaper on Black Friday?
Official Italian shop prices of 32 robot vacuums read before Black Friday 2026, and how the EU 30-day rule helps you check if a discount is real.
Photo: Kowon vn / Unsplash
After reading this article you will be able to:
- Compare a Black Friday price with the official Italian shop prices of 32 robot vacuums read in early November
- Check a discount against the lowest price of the previous 30 days, as EU and Italian law require
- Keep proof, ask the shop the right question and know where to report a misleading discount in Italy
Drafted with AI from primary sources · checked by a separate AI agent · spot-checked by our editors · How we check
On this page
Not always, and you can check. On 31 October or 1 November 2026 we read the prices of 32 robot vacuums on the makers’ official Italian shops. On 3 November we read them again, more than three weeks before Black Friday on Friday 27 November.
Many were already shown as offers. Eight cost less than a few days earlier, and four cost more. Under EU law a discount is measured against the lowest price the shop charged in the 30 days before it, not against whatever higher price the shop chooses to show.
We will read the same shop pages again on 20 and 27 November 2026 and add those prices to the table as new columns. The site has tried no robot, and this page does not say which model to buy: for that, see How do I choose a robot vacuum and mop?.
What does the law say about a discount?
The EU rule is Article 6a of the Price Indication Directive 98/6/EC, added by the “Omnibus” Directive (EU) 2019/2161 and applicable across the EU from 28 May 2022. “Any announcement of a price reduction shall indicate the prior price applied by the trader”, and the prior price is “the lowest price applied by the trader during a period of time not shorter than 30 days prior to the application of the price reduction.”
In Italy the rule is Article 17-bis of the Consumer Code, added by Legislative Decree 26/2023: the prior price is “il prezzo più basso applicato dal professionista alla generalità dei consumatori nei trenta giorni precedenti” (the lowest price the seller charged consumers in general in the previous thirty days).
The European Commission explains how to apply it in its guidance on Article 6a (2021/C 526/02). The points that matter on Black Friday:
- What counts as a discount. “20 % off”, “EUR 10 off”, a new price next to a crossed-out older one, and also “‘Black Friday offers’ that create the impression of a price reduction”, even without a number.
- Earlier promotions count. The lowest price “shall include any previous ‘reduced’ price during that period”. When a shop runs one sale after another, such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas, the prior price for each new sale is the lowest of the 30 days before it, “including the reduced price during the previous promotions”. Article 6a lets countries make an exception, which Italy adopts, for a discount that grows step by step within one campaign without breaks: it may keep the prior price from before the first step.
- The percentage is calculated from the prior price. “50 % off” when the lowest price of the previous 30 days was €100 means half of €100, even if the last price was €160. The Court of Justice of the EU confirmed this on 26 September 2024 (case C-330/23, Aldi Süd).
What does the rule not cover?
- A price change with no announcement. A price that goes up or down without being presented as a discount is outside Article 6a.
- Comparisons with a recommended price. Comparisons with “the manufacturer’s recommended retail price” or with other sellers’ prices fall under the rules on unfair commercial practices instead. But a comparison that “is actually perceived by an average consumer as a price reduction” can break both sets of rules. The guidance does not deal separately with a “list price” shown by a maker on its own shop.
- Some coupons and member prices. Long-running loyalty schemes and personal vouchers (after a purchase, on a birthday) are outside the rule; codes “accessible/used by many or the majority of customers” are inside it, the Commission says. Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy draws the line differently: its FAQ lists as outside Article 17-bis “i buoni sconto, i voucher condizionati a particolari requisiti o destinati a una categoria determinata di consumatori” (discount coupons, and vouchers tied to particular conditions or reserved to a group of consumers), and discounts kept for members or loyalty-card holders.
- Bundles and conditions, such as “30 % off when buying three”, and cash-back paid by someone other than the seller.
- Below-cost sales in Italy. Article 17-bis does not apply to “vendite sottocosto” (selling below cost), a kind of sale that Italian law regulates separately, and the prices of those sales do not count when the prior price is worked out. A very low price does not by itself make a sale a below-cost sale in this legal sense.
- New models. For products put on the market less than 30 days ago, Italy asks the seller to state the period the prior price refers to. “Launch prices” that come with an announcement of later price increases are outside Article 17-bis altogether. The ministry adds that a new product code or version need not take the old model’s price into account.
Official prices before Black Friday
How to read the table:
- Source. Each row comes from the model’s product page on the maker’s official Italian shop, linked from its name; Xiaomi’s 31 October prices come from its product list page. Prices include VAT. They are the selling prices before any coupon or member discount, so the total at checkout can be different. No affiliate links.
- Dates. The first price column was read on 31 October 2026 (Ecovacs, iRobot, Xiaomi, eufy) or on 1 November 2026 (Roborock, Dreame, Narwal, Dyson), as each cell says; the second on 3 November 2026, between about 12:30 and 13:30 Italian time. The readings of 20 and 27 November will be added as new columns.
- Status of the offer. The “Comparison price” column gives the other price, usually higher, that the shop paired with the selling price on 3 November. For iRobot, Ecovacs, Xiaomi, eufy and Dyson it is the price shown on the page, with the shop’s own words when it labeled it (“List price”, “lowest in the 30 days”, “Previous price”); “Crossed out” is a struck-through price, reported as shown. For Roborock, Dreame and Narwal, “comparison price” is the higher price in the shop’s product data: we did not check whether or how the page showed it to shoppers. “None” means no higher price was shown or found. The Note column records sold-out models, “Black Friday” labels, coupons and variants.
- Which models. The 28 models in the table of How do I choose a robot vacuum and mop? and four more from the Roborock and Dreame shops: Qrevo 2 Pro, Saros Z70, Saros 10R and X60 Pro Ultra Complete. It is not every robot on sale and it is not a ranking: rows are sorted by the 3 November price, lowest first.
| Model (maker) | Price on 31 Oct or 1 Nov | Price on 3 Nov | Comparison price on 3 Nov | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robot Vacuum S40 (Xiaomi) | €159.99 (31 Oct) | €129.99 | None | |
| Q7 M5 (Roborock) | €139.99 (1 Nov) | €139.99 | €239.99, comparison price | Black and white |
| Roomba 115 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock (iRobot) | €219 (31 Oct) | €199 | List price €349; lowest in the 30 days before the promotion €219 | |
| D20 Air Plus (Dreame) | €179 (1 Nov) | €199 | None | Up €20: €199 was the comparison price on 1 Nov |
| Roomba Mini Combo + AutoEmpty Dock (iRobot) | €299 (31 Oct) | €279 | List price €399; lowest in the 30 days €299 | |
| Deebot T30C Gen2 (Ecovacs) | €349 (31 Oct) | €299 | €699 crossed out | |
| Freo X10 Pro (Narwal) | €299 (1 Nov) | €299 | None | With parts kits €341.99 and €363.99, sold out |
| Robot Vacuum H50 (Xiaomi) | €329.99 (31 Oct) | €299.99 | None | |
| Roomba Plus 415 Combo + AutoWash Dock (iRobot) | €349 (31 Oct) | €329 | List price €419; lowest in the 30 days €349 | |
| Deebot T30e Omni (Ecovacs) | €349 (31 Oct) | €349 | €399 crossed out | |
| C10 (eufy) | €349 (31 Oct) | €349 | None | “Save €110 with the coupon” |
| Qrevo S Pro (Roborock) | €349.99 black (1 Nov) | €349.99 black; €589.99 white | €589.99, comparison price | |
| Deebot mini 2 (Ecovacs) | €399 (31 Oct) | €399 | None | |
| Deebot T50 Pro Omni Gen3 (Ecovacs) | €399 (31 Oct) | €399 | €599 crossed out | |
| Robot Vacuum H50 Pro (Xiaomi) | €449.99 (31 Oct) | €399.99 | None | |
| R1 Nurovi Dry (Dyson) | €449 (1 Nov) | €449 | Previous price €549 | Labeled “Black Friday” |
| Freo Z10 Ultra (Narwal) | €474 (1 Nov) | €474 | None | |
| L50 Ultra AE (Dreame) | €499 (1 Nov) | €499 | €599, comparison price | |
| Deebot T90 Pro Omni (Ecovacs) | €549 (31 Oct) | €549 | €799 crossed out | |
| Matrix10 Pro (Dreame) | €569 (1 Nov) | €569 | €999, comparison price | Sold out on 3 Nov |
| Omni C20 (eufy) | €599 (31 Oct) | €599 | None | “Save €250 with the coupon” |
| R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry (Dyson) | €649 (1 Nov) | €649 | Previous price €849 | Labeled “Black Friday” |
| Roomba Max 775 Combo + AutoWash Dock (iRobot) | €699 (31 Oct) | €649 | List price €899; lowest in the 30 days €699 | |
| Robot Vacuum 5 Pro (Xiaomi) | €529.99 (31 Oct) | €679.99 | None | Up €150; see the note under the table |
| Qrevo 2 Pro (Roborock) | €689.99 (1 Nov) | €689.99 | €689.99, the same as the price | |
| Saros Z70 (Roborock) | €799 (1 Nov) | €799 silver; €759 black | €1,799, comparison price | Black not read separately on 1 Nov |
| Spot+Scrub Ai (Dyson) | €849 (1 Nov) | €849 | Previous price €1,199 | Labeled “Black Friday” |
| Flow 2 (Narwal) | €999 white (1 Nov) | €999 white; €1,299 black; €1,499 with the compact station | None | White with one-year parts kit €1,079, two-year kit €1,179 (€1,299 and €1,399 on 1 Nov) |
| Saros 20 (Roborock) | €999 (1 Nov) | €999 | €1,489, comparison price | |
| Saros 10R (Roborock) | €1,099.99 (1 Nov) | €1,099.99 | €1,499.99, comparison price | A variant called “Set” at €749.99 (comparison €1,549.99); contents not checked |
| Deebot X12S OmniCyclone (Ecovacs) | €1,049 (31 Oct) | €1,299 | None | Up €250 |
| X60 Pro Ultra Complete (Dreame) | €1,199 (1 Nov) | €1,499 | None | Up €300: €1,499 was the comparison price on 1 Nov |
Method: prices read in a browser on the makers’ official Italian shops, VAT included, on 31 October (Ecovacs, iRobot, Xiaomi, eufy) or 1 November 2026 (Roborock, Dreame, Narwal, Dyson), and on 3 November 2026 between about 12:30 and 13:30 Italian time; prices can change during the day. For Roborock, Dreame and Narwal, prices come from the shop’s own product data, where the “comparison price” is the higher price the shop pairs with the selling price; the data does not say whether or how the page shows it. Narwal’s pages and shop data showed no comparison price when read again in the browser at about 14:30 on 3 November. Xiaomi’s 31 October prices come from its product list page, the 3 November ones from the product pages; the Robot Vacuum 5 Pro was not in the list on 3 November. Rows are sorted by the 3 November price, lowest first. No affiliate links.
What changed between 31 October and 3 November?
Of the 32 models, eight cost less on 3 November than at the earlier reading, four cost more and 20 cost the same. The four that went up: the Dreame D20 Air Plus (€179 to €199), the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum 5 Pro (€529.99 to €679.99, read on two different pages), the Ecovacs Deebot X12S OmniCyclone (€1,049 to €1,299) and the Dreame X60 Pro Ultra Complete (€1,199 to €1,499).
These readings do not show that any shop is breaking the rule. We have no prices from before 31 October, so we cannot know the lowest price of the previous 30 days. A crossed-out price may be meant as a list price rather than a prior price, a kind of comparison the Commission places under other rules unless shoppers take it for a discount; a recent model may have a shorter reference period; a shop may show the prior price in a part of its site we did not read. (For a sale announced with a general banner, the Commission says the prior price of each product must appear with its price in the online shop, so a prior price that appears only at checkout may not be enough.) What the readings do give you is a price with a date. For a discount that starts between 4 and 30 November, both readings fall within the 30 days before it. Two readings do not tell you the lowest price of all 30 days, but if a shop’s prior price is higher than a price in this table, you can ask the shop why.
On the pages read for this table, only iRobot used the label “Prezzo di vendita inferiore nei 30gg antecedenti alla promozione” (lowest selling price in the 30 days before the promotion), and for all four models that price matched the one read on 31 October. Dyson wrote “Prezzo precedente” (previous price), the words Article 17-bis uses. eufy showed coupons instead of a comparison price.
There were banners too. eufy announced “Offerte anticipate del Black Friday” (early Black Friday deals), Narwal “Il Black Friday è iniziato” (Black Friday has started), Roborock “Fino al 66% di sconto dal 10 novembre!” (up to 66% off from 10 November). iRobot invited visitors to sign in for “offerte esclusive del Black Friday” (exclusive Black Friday offers), and Dyson has labeled its three robots “Black Friday” since 1 November.
How can you check a discount yourself?
- Note today’s price and keep a screenshot of the product page, with the date, the price and any crossed-out or “previous” price with its label.
- Compare the prior price the shop shows with this table and your screenshot. If you saw a lower price in the 30 days before the discount, ask the shop why.
- Check the exact variant. On 3 November the Qrevo S Pro cost €349.99 in black and €589.99 in white.
- Check coupons and member prices at checkout, before you pay.
- Compare bundles with bundles. Narwal’s Flow 2 with a one-year parts kit fell from €1,299 to €1,079 between 1 and 3 November; the robot alone stayed at €999.
- Know your return rights. For goods bought online you have 14 days from delivery to withdraw “without giving any reason” (Article 9 of the Consumer Rights Directive, Article 52 of Italy’s Consumer Code), and under Article 57 the only return cost is the direct cost of sending it back, and you do not pay it if the shop agreed to pay it or did not tell you that you would have to pay it. You can also be asked to pay for any loss in value if you handled the robot more than needed to check what it is, its features and how it works, unless the shop did not tell you about your right to withdraw. Some shops give more: on 1 November Narwal’s pages said “Reso gratis entro 30 giorni” (free returns within 30 days).
When should you ask the shop, and where can you complain?
Ask the shop in writing, by chat or email, when a discount has no prior price, when a crossed-out price has no label, or when the prior price is higher than a price you saw in the previous 30 days. Ask it like this: what was the lowest price of this model in the 30 days before this promotion? Keep the answer with your screenshots.
In Italy, the AGCM, the Competition Authority, takes reports of unfair commercial practices and misleading advertising by email or online form, with no fee and no lawyer. It does not reply unless it opens an investigation.
Where to go next
- How do I choose a robot vacuum and mop? explains what to look for, with the makers’ specifications for most of these models.
- Which robot vacuum is best? sums up what independent testers published in 2026.
- Does my robot vacuum have a camera, and who can see the map of my home? covers maps, cameras and data.
- The robot vacuum glossary entry explains sensors, maps and security.
Common questions
What does the 30-day price rule mean?
When a shop in the EU announces a discount, it must show the prior price, and the prior price is the lowest price it charged in at least the 30 days before the discount started. Earlier promotional prices in those 30 days count. A percentage off must be calculated from that prior price, as the Court of Justice of the EU ruled in 2024.
Is the crossed-out price the real previous price?
Not always. A crossed-out price can be the prior price the law asks for, or another price such as a list price. The European Commission treats a comparison with a recommended retail price as a different kind of comparison, unless shoppers would take it for a discount. Look for a label such as "lowest price in the 30 days before the promotion", and if there is none, ask the shop in writing which price it is.
Do coupons and member prices count under the rule?
It depends on who can use them. The European Commission says codes or member offers open to many or most customers are covered, while long-running loyalty schemes and personal vouchers are not. Italy's Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy draws the line differently: it lists discount coupons, vouchers tied to particular conditions or reserved to a group of consumers, and discounts kept for members or loyalty-card holders as outside Article 17-bis. Check the final price at checkout before you pay.
Can I return a robot vacuum bought online on Black Friday?
Yes. For goods bought online in the EU you have 14 days from delivery to withdraw without giving a reason. The only return cost is the direct cost of sending it back, and you do not pay it if the shop agreed to pay it or did not tell you that you would have to pay it. You can also be asked to pay for any loss in value if you handled the robot more than needed to check what it is, its features and how it works, unless the shop did not tell you about your right to withdraw. Some shops offer longer return periods of their own.
Where do I report a fake discount in Italy?
The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) takes reports of unfair commercial practices and misleading advertising, by email or with an online form, with no fee and no lawyer needed. It does not reply unless it opens an investigation. Keep your screenshots and the shop's answer to send with the report.
- November 9, 2026: corrected the rule for new models (products on the market for less than 30 days, and the exception for launch prices), the return rights (you can also owe the loss in value if you used the robot more than needed to check it) and the description of the comparison price column (for Roborock, Dreame and Narwal it comes from the shop's data, and we did not check how the page showed it); added the Italian exception for below-cost sales and that the table shows prices before coupons; no price or reading date changed
- November 8, 2026: a note above the table now states the source, the dates and times of the readings, what the comparison price column means and which models are included; no price changed
- November 3, 2026: first version, with prices read on the makers' Italian shops on 31 October or 1 November and on 3 November 2026; next readings on 20 and 27 November
How corrections are handled: editorial policy.
Topics: robotics, robot vacuum, black friday, prices