Black Friday and Cyber Monday are an annual source of deals and excitement, but the Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns consumers to be wary of deals that sound too good to be true.
“Each year, the BBB receives hundreds of complaint after these shopping holidays,” said Gary Almond, president of the BBB serving Northeast California. “It’s important to be aware of the fine print and the nature of the company you’re dealing with.”
Common disputes involve the advertised price of items, availability of advertised items or failing to receive items after ordering in-store.
Black Friday shoppers should keep these tips in mind:
- Plan your day and your budget. Bring all advertisements with you and avoid impulse buys.
- Read the fine print of advertisements. Make sure you are truly saving money, that the prices on the shelf match the ad and verify the price when checking out.
- Read the details on gift cards. There could be limitations or exclusions on what you can buy with the card.
- Ask about return policies. Some items may be nonreturnable or carry restocking fees.
- Pay with a credit card. These carry more protection than debit.
- Keep all receipts in case a charge needs to be disputed.
- Think twice about store credit cards. Many retailers offer discounts for signing up for their card, but these can carry high interest rates and annual fees.
When shopping online:
- Make sure the site has a privacy policy and read it. Understand how your information will be used by the company.
- Call the customer service number listed. Verify the number is working and that someone picks up the phone.
- When purchasing, verify it is a secured server with “https://” at the beginning of the address.
- Make a file to keep copies of all purchase confirmations on web pages and through email.
- Check all websites at necal.bbb.org for complaint history, licensing verification and contact information.
- Never wire money to pay for a transaction.
- Keep an eye on your credit card statements to catch any fraudulent activity quickly.