Black Friday and January Sales in Madrid: Your Rights as a Shopper
Black Friday falls on Nov. 27, 2026 and the rebajas start in January. The price rules shops must follow, what you can return, and where to complain in Madrid.
In Spain, a shop that advertises a discount must show the previous price, and that previous price must be the lowest it charged for the same item in the last 30 days. This rule covers Black Friday on Nov. 27, 2026 and the January sales (rebajas). Goods bought from a business also carry a three-year legal guarantee, sales or not.
What counts as a real discount?
Article 20 of Spain’s retail trade law, Ley 7/1996, says every item offered at a reduced price must show the previous price next to the reduced one. Since May 28, 2022, the previous price is defined as the lowest price applied to the identical product in the 30 days before the reduction. A shop that raises prices in early November and then “cuts” them for Black Friday breaks the rule.
- Items on sale for the first time are exempt: there is no previous price to show.
- Discounts on food close to its expiry date do not count when working out the lowest price.
- Damaged goods cannot be offered as rebajas (sale) items.
- Since 2012, each retailer decides when its sales start and how long they last; there are no fixed official sale dates.
Before Black Friday, take screenshots of the price of anything you plan to buy. If the “before” price on the day is higher than what you saw, keep the evidence for a complaint.
Can you return something bought on sale?
It depends on where you bought it and whether the item is faulty.
| Situation | Your right |
|---|---|
| Bought in a shop, item fine, you changed your mind | No legal right to return. Only the shop’s own policy applies, which must be clearly displayed. Many chains offer 15 to 30 days. |
| Bought online, by phone or away from the shop | 14 calendar days to withdraw without giving a reason, from the day you receive the item. You may pay the return shipping if the seller told you in advance. |
| Item faulty or not as described | Legal guarantee: repair, replacement, price reduction or refund. Three years for goods bought from January 2022, two years for digital content. |
| Second-hand goods from a business | Guarantee can be shortened by agreement, but not below one year. |
The online withdrawal period is set in the consumer protection law (Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2007). It is extended to 12 months if the seller did not inform you of the right. Some products are excluded, such as custom-made items and sealed goods opened for hygiene reasons.
How does the three-year guarantee work?
The seller is responsible for any lack of conformity that shows up within three years of delivery. During the first two years, the law presumes the fault existed at delivery, so the seller has to prove otherwise. You choose between repair and replacement, unless one is impossible or disproportionate. If neither works, you can ask for a price reduction or a refund.
Manufacturers must also keep spare parts and technical service available for at least ten years after a product stops being made. Keep the receipt or bank statement: the guarantee is yours whether or not you have the box.
Where do you complain in Madrid?
Every shop and business in the Comunidad de Madrid must have complaint forms (hojas de reclamaciones) and give you one on request. If the business refuses, you can call the local police to record it, or write your complaint on plain paper.
- Contact the business first, in writing (email with receipt, certified letter or burofax), describing the problem and what you want.
- Fill in the hoja de reclamaciones in the shop if there is no solution. Keep your copy; the business can add its comments.
- File the complaint with the municipal consumer office (OMIC) of your district or with the Comunidad de Madrid’s Dirección General de Comercio, Consumo y Servicios, in person or online with a digital certificate. The Comunidad explains the process on its consumer complaints page.
- Consumer arbitration: if the business belongs to the Junta Arbitral de Consumo system, a free arbitration decides the case and the award is binding on both sides.
Attach copies of the receipt, ads, screenshots and emails. Our guide to tenant problems in Madrid covers the same offices for rental disputes.
What should you watch out for online?
- Fake shops: new websites with huge discounts on brand goods, no company name, no tax ID (NIF) and no physical address. Spanish law requires online sellers to show who they are.
- Countdown pressure: timers and “only 2 left” messages are not legal proof of a limited offer.
- Payment: pay by card rather than bank transfer; card payments can be disputed with your bank if goods never arrive (see our guide to opening a bank account in Madrid for complaints to your bank).
- Sellers outside the EU: marketplace sellers based abroad may not apply EU rules in practice, and returns can cost more than the item.
Bottom line
Ask about the returns policy at the till and get it written on the receipt if it is unusual, because in-store returns of items that work depend only on the shop. For anything expensive, buying online gives you the 14-day withdrawal right that a shop counter does not.
FAQ
When is Black Friday 2026 in Spain?
Friday, Nov. 27, 2026. Many shops start offers days earlier and extend them to Cyber Monday, Nov. 30.
When do the January rebajas start in Madrid?
There is no fixed date: each shop chooses since a 2012 reform. Many big chains start on Jan. 7, the day after the Day of the Kings, and some begin online earlier.
Can a shop refuse a refund on a sale item?
For working items bought in person, yes, unless its own policy offers returns. For faulty items, no: the legal guarantee applies in full during sales.
Is the 30-day lowest-price rule enforced?
Consumer authorities inspect promotions and can fine shops. You can report a misleading discount through the OMIC or the Comunidad de Madrid’s consumer office.
