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Okay, Black Friday's here, and the 3D printing world is predictably drowning in "deals." G... Okay, Black Friday's here, and the 3D printing world is predictably drowning in "deals." Give me a break. Every year it's the same song and dance. But let's be real, are these discounts actually worth a damn, or are they just another way for companies to trick us into buying stuff we don't need?
The Bambu Lab Hype Train
Bambu Lab is, offcourse, the name everyone's throwing around this year. Best Buy's suddenly an "official reseller," which they're spinning as some kind of consumer victory. Please. It just means Bambu gets wider distribution and Best Buy gets a cut. The Best Black Friday 3D Printer Deals Are at Best Buy, an Official Bambu Lab Reseller They're pushing the P1S Combo hard, claiming it's the "best for most people" because it has an enclosed chamber and can print a benchy in 18 minutes. Whoop-dee-doo.
And the AMS? Oh, it's a steal because it normally retails for $350. But do you really need multi-filament printing? If you're just printing toys for your kids, probably not. If you're doing anything other than basic single-color prints, it is a must have though.
Then there's the A1 Mini, marketed as the "most affordable" and "excellent entry level printer." Translation: it's cheap and limited. Great for smaller projects using PLA filament, they say. So, basically, anything substantial is off the table. But hey, at $199, you can't expect much, can you?
They are tempting though, I'll give 'em that.
Creality's Corner: Laser Focus or Laser Scam?
Creality's also in the mix, pushing their Falcon A1 10W laser engraver for $466. They claim it's an "insanely low price" for a laser engraver. Maybe. But let's not forget that these things usually retail between $2-3K. So, what corners did they cut to get it that cheap? Is it going to break down after a month? Probably.
I saw this one article raving about how easy it is to use, even for newbies. That's great and all, but what about the quality? Is it actually any good, or are you just paying for something that's easy to break?
And speaking of corners cut, I saw a post where someone's Anycubic Kobra 3 V2 couldn't even detect spaghetti. AI spaghetti detection my ass.
Filament Frenzy: SUNLU's Silk Scam?
SUNLU's offering 57% off its silk spools, but only if you buy at least three. So, you're forced to buy in bulk to get the "deal." Sounds like a great way to clear out old inventory, if you ask me.
They're showing off these Cinderwing dragons printed with the filament. Yeah, they look cool, but how long will that silk finish last? Will it fade, chip, or peel? They ain't telling us that, are they?
I saw this one blogger even made a whole video about these silk filaments. Seriously? A video for filament? We've reached peak consumerism, folks.
The "Discontinued" Conspiracy
And what's the deal with the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon disappearing from their website? "Not found" errors and greyed-out options. Are they trying to create artificial scarcity to drive up demand for their other models? Or is it just a website glitch? Knowing these companies, it's probably the former.
It was just a few days ago it was on sale at Best Buy, too. What a coincidence.
So, What's the Real Story?
Look, I'm not saying all these deals are complete garbage. But you gotta be smart. Don't fall for the marketing hype. Do your research, read the fine print, and ask yourself if you really need another 3D printer or a bunch of shiny filament. Because, let's be honest, most of us probably don't. And if you do, remember that a deal ain't a deal if the thing breaks down in a week.