many suppliers are trying to hunt for a Black Friday bargain. It is indeed recommended to be careful so that the intended market is not a rip-off. Overview and tips for shopping.
Create a list to protect against impulse buys
Many retailers advertise high percentages - but calculate the discount based on the manufacturer’s original suggested retail price (RRP). These are free suggestions that many retailers fall for in other ways. According to consumer advocates,raising prices shortly before discount days and then lowering them again is a common practice. Additionally, slow-selling or discontinued models are frequently enough offered at bargain prices.
Florian Kriegel from the price comparison portal idealo has been evaluating how the prices of around 10,000 items develop around “Black Friday” for years. The result: The day itself no longer guarantees a deal. ”66 percent of items are cheaper on ‘Black Friday’ then in October. But more than half of the products already examined are cheaper on another day in November,” says the expert WDR. “Black Friday” has been around for a long time all month.
What’s more, the savings are usually less than expected, Kriegel says. “Only one in ten products have savings of 20 percent or more.” If you take a closer look at the average discount across all the products examined, it’s only around six percent.According to Kriegel,the discount varies depending on the category. As a general rule, the savings on new smartphones and tablets are usually smaller (around two to four percent). The expert says that there are often more in televisions, speakers, cosmetics and fashion with up to 16 percent.
Compare prices
To protect consumers,suppliers had to quote the cheapest price of the previous 30 days when advertising prices fell from 2022 – regardless of whether they were online or offline.According to the no However, examples show that not all retailers are still complying with the new price facts regulation. Where goods are filled by weight or volume, they must also display the prices per kilogram or litre. This should make price comparison easier.
Customers can easily find out what the final cost of the item is in stores: Almost all comparison portals offer price history curves for free,where you can easily look at the real market price over the last few months . Sometimes this is surprising: ”We found that every third offer was not profitable,” says Daniela Berg from the comparison portal guenstiger.de WDR. This means that the price has remained stable compared to the previous month or that you have to pay more.
Beware of fake shops
Customers should especially check online stores carefully. Consumer advice centers warn that fake shops that don’t even exist or ship inferior goods remain a major problem. About www.verbraucherzentrale.de/fakeshopfinder A provider can be checked for free.
Hamburg’s consumer advice center is currently warning against bogus suppliers of alcoholic beverages: Websites such as alltimesupermarket.com, thebottleclubs.shop, biovinos.shop, evas-getraenkemarkt.com or angelikas-leckerlies.com claim to offer high-quality alcoholic beverages at particularly low prices to sell. However, there was a risk that customers would end up without goods. Apparently they never see the money they paid again.
A good sign of reliable suppliers is the Trusted Shops functional seal, which opens a window with the certificate when clicked. This also allows consumers to compare the Internet address – as sometimes scammers build clones of reliable Internet stores that are only different from the original in one letter in the URL line.
Small print may contain references to fake websites such as legal notice, data protection declaration and cancellation policy.According to the Hamburg consumer advice center,caution is particularly advised when it comes to seasonal items.
Sometimes vouchers appear on voucher portals that make shopping even cheaper. However, these are sometimes attached to conditions such as subscribing to a newsletter – and in some cases cannot be combined with other discount campaigns.
Delivery times and shipping costs
A nasty surprise often lies at the end of the ordering process: high shipping costs. Consumers should try different shipping options - perhaps delivery to the branch around the corner is free – and also pay attention to the delivery time.Some products may only be out of stock in two or three months, when prices may have fallen even further.
Secure payment methods
Payments should only be made on secure websites whose URL begins with the abbreviation “https” and the lock symbol. Payment details should not be saved either - even if it then needs to be re-entered each time. Consumers should also not order in advance, as if there are problems, the money will be lost in the worst case. Direct debit, credit card and PayPal, where debits can be recovered, are safer. Reputable shops do not charge high fees for this either.
right of withdrawal
Anyone ordering online has 14 days to cancel their order. However, consumers should keep in mind that they sometimes have to pay for return shipping costs. You also have the option of repairing or replacing a product up to two years after purchase. In some cases you can even get the purchase price back.
Keep calm – the next offer will surely come
The retailers try to pressure customers with displays like “only a few available
Discount days are generally heavily criticized. The working conditions at online retailers are tough, there are health consequences for the suppliers, who have to carry more and more packages, and unneeded new purchases pollute the surroundings. “every unnecessary purchase that we consciously avoid is good for the climate and also for our wallet,” says the European Consumer Center for germany.
In addition, there is some pressure on retailers to participate in “black Friday”. Because the competition is tough and a lot is at stake: This time, customers are spending 5.9 billion euros on Black Friday, the trade association estimates. The traders cannot ignore this. they basically have to participate in the discount battle whether they want to or not, emphasizes Michael Schleusener, a price and marketing expert at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences: “this event has become so big and rolled out – yes everyone knows that.”
With information from Jörg Marksteiner, WDR.
How can consumers verify if they are getting the best deal on Black Friday?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Florian Kriegel
Time.news Editor: Good afternoon, Florian! Thank you for joining us today. With Black Friday fast approaching, many consumers are gearing up for what they hope will be the biggest shopping event of the year. But your research suggests we shoudl approach it with caution. Can you elaborate on that?
Florian Kriegel: Of course! Black Friday has long been marketed as the ultimate day for deals. However, our analysis of around 10,000 items over the years shows that the discounts are not always what they appear. Surprisingly, while 66% of items may be cheaper on Black friday compared to October, many products are actually cheaper on other days in November.
Time.news Editor: Interesting! So, if Black Friday isn’t the best day for discounts, what is your advice for consumers looking to snag a bargain?
florian Kriegel: One of the best strategies is to create a shopping list before diving into the sales. This can definitely help protect against impulse buys, which are very common during big sales events. Also, consumers should always compare prices and check the price history of items, as many comparison portals provide this data for free.
Time.news Editor: That’s a great tip. You also mentioned that a large percentage of advertised savings may not be as critically important as consumers expect. Can you explain that further?
Florian Kriegel: Absolutely. In fact, only about one in ten products has savings of 20% or more. On average, the total discount across all examined products hovers around just 6%. Especially in categories like new smartphones and tablets, savings tend to be minimal—frequently enough just 2-4%. However, categories like televisions and cosmetics may offer bigger discounts, sometimes up to 16%.
Time.news Editor: It sounds like shrewd shopping skills are needed this year. What changes have been implemented recently to protect consumers?
Florian Kriegel: In 2022, regulations were introduced that require retailers to disclose the cheapest price of an item in the previous 30 days when advertising discounts. This is intended to give consumers a clearer picture of the so-called ‘deal’ they are getting. Regrettably, not all retailers are adhering to these regulations.
Time.news Editor: That’s concerning. With the rise of online shopping, consumers also need to be wary of fake shops. What advice can you give to help them navigate this issue?
Florian Kriegel: It’s crucial for consumers to conduct thorough checks when shopping online. The presence of fake shops selling subpar products is a significant issue. I recommend using resources like the consumer advice center’s fake shop finder. A reliable sign of a trustworthy seller is their Trusted shops badge, which indicates they comply with certain standards and can be verified.
Time.news Editor: wise words! Lastly, as the sales approach, any quick do’s and don’ts for our readers?
Florian Kriegel: Definitely! Do create a list and stick to it, compare prices, and vet the legitimacy of online stores thoroughly. Don’t get swayed by flashy advertisements or fear of missing out. Lastly, keep an eye out for conditions attached to discounts, such as signing up for newsletters which could tie you into unwanted commitments.
Time.news Editor: Florian, thank you for sharing your insights today. Your expertise is invaluable as we navigate this shopping season.
Florian Kriegel: Thank you for having me! I hope consumers can use these tips for a smarter shopping experience this Black Friday.
