Black Friday is established to be celebrated every last Friday of November. So, like every year, businesses are preparing for their sale, 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 24-30 November), a day that has been considered the start of the Christmas shopping season in the country since 1952.
Most of the 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 2nd, comes Cyber Monday. This is an attempt to increase business sales on the internet.
Tips for consumers
The High Secretariat of Trade and Consumer Protection of the Ministry of Development and Investments announces a list of ten Black Fridays for safe shopping.
Beware of scammers and fraudulent practices
Black Friday is also an opportunity for scammers who take advantage of consumers’ desire with 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 shows that the goods may be counterfeit or defective where prices are very low or even much lower than usual. Do your research some time before you make your purchases so that you can 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, small businesses may have less flexibility. Read the online store’s terms of use carefully before making a purchase or ask about the store’s policy, when it’s a physical store, in case of returning the goods.
Watch out for unnecessary buying behavior 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 affect your budget? Black Friday gets consumers so excited that they often make unnecessary purchases in case they can’t take advantage of the offers! Remember, despite the attractive offers that stores may have promised before Black Friday, as we approach the Christmas holiday season, the market will be restocked again with new discounts and new items!
Be wary of unknown or new online businesses
The big online businesses don’t always provide the best deals. Even small online businesses can offer significant shopping opportunities, but for a new or unknown business, you should be careful not to lose money. If you find that vital information to identify the identity of the online business such as company name, postal address, contact numbers, email address and VAT number is missing, it is best to avoid buying until you cross the credibility of the business. by first investigating its online reputation.
Avoid misleading offers
Even if you buy from a website you trust, it is important to check all the details of your transaction: it may be the price, warranty, transport costs, availability or time delivered, some of the important information that will determine your final choice. Many times, however, you may see pop-up banners with offers unrelated to those provided by the supply company, from websites that ask you to enter your bank account details or 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 appearing 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 associated with your transaction. You should only proceed with a transaction if you are asked to install software to receive an offer.
Don’t be swayed by unusual prices or offers
Check brochures, social media promotions and store newsletters for the prices of the products you are interested in. Gather a few days before Black Friday so you have a yardstick for the final price offered and to make sure you got a really good buying opportunity.
Coupons and gift cards
When you have discount coupons or gift cards, 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 shop online, you’d better use your personal devices with an antivirus and firewall installed. When entering your transaction details, ensure encryption is in place. You can recognize this if you notice the green closed icon at the top left of the website address and if the address starts with “https://”.
Agree on the product delivery date
In the event that the business does not deliver the product on time, remember that debit or credit card transactions offer consumers substantial protections in the event that the transaction is cancelled. Conversely, payment by deposit into the supplier’s bank account should be avoided.