I will never forget the worst holiday gifts I have received over the years.

Among them: A tech-accessory holder that lives between couch cushions. Countless Best Buy gift cards I never used. (More precisely, they were a bonus for Best Buy shareholders.) And the Chopula, an oddly shaped spatula designed to flip and chop food .

There’s no mystery behind why this lousy gift-giving happens. Many holiday purchases happen during Black Friday , when retailers slash prices to clear their inventory of unwanted junk. And that means a lot of dreck goes on sale.

For years, I have collaborated with Wirecutter, a New York Times company that tests products, to warn shoppers about dubious Black Friday deals while advising them on how to score discounts on quality items.

This year, we are rounding up the worst tech products we often see presented as holiday gifts and are recommending superior alternatives, many of which may go on sale on Black Friday. Consider this a guide to steering away from presents that end up in landfills and toward buying what may bring your loved ones joy.