Black Friday has been established to be celebrated every last Friday of November. So, like every year, businesses are preparing for their sales, which will be officially announced on November 29.
Black Friday is the unofficial name of the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. It is the fourth Friday of November (between November 24-30), a day which has been considered the beginning of the Christmas shopping season in the country since 1952.
Most big businesses open very early and give great deals. Black Friday has been the biggest sales day of the year in the US since 2005.
On the other hand, three days later on December 2, comes Cyber Monday. This is an attempt to increase business sales on the internet.
Tips for consumers
The General Secretariat of Trade and Consumer Protection of the Ministry of Development and Investments announces the Black Friday ten list for safe shopping.
Be wary of would-be scammers and fraudulent practices
Black Friday is also an opportunity for scammers who take advantage of consumers’ desire for many good offers. So even if you come across terms like “cheap”, “offer” etc., don’t assume that this is really a good deal. Experience has shown that where prices are particularly low or even significantly lower than usual, the goods may be counterfeit or defective. Do your research some time before you make your purchases so that you are able to spot the fake offers.
Read the terms of use in online stores and ask about guarantees in physical stores
While large chain stores often update their return policy for the benefit of the consumer, smaller businesses may show less flexibility. Carefully read the terms of use of the online store before making a purchase or ask about the store’s policy, when it is a physical store, in case of returning the goods.
Watch out for impulse buying before you make a transaction
Do you really need the product you saw in the window or in the e-shop? Does the final amount of your purchases divert your budget? Black Friday causes such excitement among consumers that many times they make purchases that are not really necessary for fear that they may not be able to take advantage of the offers! Remember that despite the attractive offers that stores may promise in the run-up to Black Friday, as we move into the Christmas holiday season, the market will once again restock with new discounts and new goods!
Beware of unknown or new online businesses
The best deals are not always provided by the big online businesses. Even small online businesses can offer significant shopping opportunities, but in the case of a new or unknown business, you should be especially careful not to lose money. If you find that critical information to identify the identity of the online business is missing such as the company name, postal address, contact numbers, email address and VAT number, it is better to avoid making a purchase until you cross the credibility of the business by first investigating its online reputation.
Beware of misleading offers
Even if you buy from a website you trust, it is important to check all the details regarding your transaction: the price, warranty, transport costs, availability or delivery time, may be some of the important information that you will determine your final choice. Many times, however, pop-up banners may appear with offers unrelated to those provided by the supplier company, from websites that ask you to enter the details of your bank accounts or your codes to complete the transaction. In these cases, contact both the company and your bank and confirm the authenticity of the content of these messages. We should avoid offers that appear in pop-up windows if they come from unknown websites.
Be very careful when providing sensitive personal information
In cases where you intend to use a credit or debit card, carefully review the terms and conditions and emails related to your transaction. You should also not proceed with a transaction if you are asked to install software to obtain an offer.
Don’t be swayed by unusually low prices or offers
Check brochures, social media promotions and store newsletters for the prices of the products you are interested in. Gather several days before Black Friday so that you have a yardstick for the final price offered and to be able to ascertain that you got a really good buying opportunity.
Coupons and giftcards
When you have discount coupons or giftcards, confirm if the products you want are available on Black Friday or if the companies you are interested in accept these coupons and are not excluded from the offers.
Check the security policy in online transactions
If you plan to go shopping online, prefer to use your personal devices that have an antivirus and firewall installed. When entering your transaction details, make sure encryption is in place. You can recognize this if you notice the closed lock icon in the top left of the website address and if the address starts with “https://”.
Agree on the delivery date of the product
In the event that the business does not deliver the product on time, remember that debit or credit card transactions offer substantial safeguards for consumers in case of cancellation of the transaction. Conversely, payment by deposit into the supplier’s bank account should be avoided.
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