Black Friday is just around the corner, set to take place next week, offering consumers the chance to get a head start on holiday shopping or take advantage of enticing promotions. However, caution is advised to avoid falling victim to fraud.
“Black Friday is approaching, bringing with it thousands of tempting deals. But not everything is as it seems. Before filling your cart, learn how to prepare your purchases, avoid fraud, and ensure that discounts are truly worthwhile,” advises DECO PROteste.
The consumer protection organization provides five tips to make the most of Black Friday shopping. Here they are:
1. Prepare your purchase, research prices, and gather information
“Knowing in advance which products will be on sale makes it easier to confirm if they are good deals. Seek out this information by subscribing to newsletters from your preferred stores or following them more closely on social media. For online shopping, DECO PROteste’s Price Comparison tool will be a valuable ally.”
Monitoring prices in advance, avoiding impulse purchases, and being wary of remarkably low prices are some tips to avoid getting deceived on Black Friday. Discover more here.
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2. Check product quality before purchasing
“Promotional products may promise much but deliver little. Inform yourself and read about items you are interested in, as they may not meet your expectations. Research them as well on DECO PROteste’s comparison platforms, where you will find results from comparative tests on hundreds of products, such as mobile phones, tablets, televisions, and various appliances.”
3. Start shopping early
“The best deals are usually the ones that sell out the fastest. If you plan to shop in a physical store, check the opening hours and your availability to visit during the early hours of the day. If shopping online, just wait for midnight to start.”
4. Know the purchase and return policies
“Some stores allow online purchases with product pickup at a physical store, within a specified timeframe. This can be a viable option if you are short on time or want to avoid shipping fees and the chaos caused by large crowds during Black Friday.
Furthermore, if purchasing online, you have the right to return the product within 14 days. The same does not apply if buying in a physical store, where traders are not obliged to accept returns (except in the case of defects, for example).”
5. Exercise caution on Black Friday
“It is very easy to create fake social media accounts to advertise counterfeit or pirated goods. Be wary of offers that seem ‘too good to be true’ and carefully verify the information shared through these channels to avoid scams. DECO PROteste offers an online tool to check the safety of the site you are visiting.”
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