Burnsville, Minnesota– November 19, 2014
–The Thanksgiving holiday is right around the corner, and some retailers have
already announced at least some of their Black Friday deals. Though more and
more stores are opening their doors to shoppers on Thanksgiving Day, the day
after Thanksgiving – Black Friday – will remain one of the biggest shopping
days of the year. Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is
offering advice for people making plans to capitalize on Black Friday savings
offers.
“Though the impact of Black Friday shopping might be at
least somewhat diluted with some stores opening their doors on Thanksgiving
Day, we still believe it will be a day where many folks will focus their
holiday shopping – and bargain-hunting – efforts,” said Dana Badgerow,
president and CEO of BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota.
The National Retail Federation forecasts that holiday
sales will increase by more than 4% this year. As always, retailers will
compete feverishly to get shoppers to visit their stores – and their websites!
Whether you’ll be doing your holiday shopping on Black Friday or beyond, be
sure to keep these BBB tips in mind to help ensure a satisfactory experience:
·
Research the company. Visit bbb.org
or call 800-646-6222 to obtain free Business Reviews. Remember, BBB Business
Reviews have been optimized for smartphones.
·
Getting the real deal. Do you know if a sale is really a
sale? Many times companies boast “70 percent off,” but 70 percent off
what? It always pays to comparison shop. If a company is advertising a “Going
out of Business” sale, don’t automatically assume they are offering the best
prices in town. Take the time to check prices on the same items at other
stores.
·
Search for Black Friday Ads Ahead of Time. Some retailers have ‘gone for
it,’ announcing their Black Friday specials well in advance of Friday, November
28. Newspapers often have coupons that outline store discounts for Black
Friday, and some specials are posted on the Internet. By keeping your eyes open
and nose to the ground, you can sniff out deals others might miss.
· Return
policies, restocking fees and refunds. Ask for the store’s return policy
before you make your purchase. Companies are not required to give you your
money back, but they need to post their return policy prominently near the
cashier. Also, always ask about restocking fees, and save your receipts in one
place so you don’t lose them. Many companies will require you to produce
a receipt for a return. Ask for a gift receipt.
·
Watch out for deals too good to be true. While many retailers offer
‘doorbusters’ – specials that are eye-opening – some websites offer
suspiciously low prices on sought-after goods in an effort to entice shoppers
into turning over their credit card information. Stick to trustworthy websites
and look for the BBB seal and other recognized “trust marks.” Be sure to click
on the seals to confirm they are valid.
·
Gift cards. Gift cards regularly top consumers’ wish lists. Federal
rules govern gift card sales, and those rules state:
o
An inactivity fee cannot be charged until the card has not been used for
12 months.
o
Gift cards cannot expire for at least 5 years.
o
No more than one fee (of any kind) can be charged to the cardholder in a
single month.
o
Information printed on the card must disclose fees and expiration date
and provide a toll-free phone number or website where you can get more
information.
o
A one-time fee can be charged when you buy the card, though this
generally only applies to gift cards purchased through your credit card company
– not those purchased directly from stores and restaurants.
o
If you receive a gift card, you should redeem it promptly if, possible.
Finally, consumers should keep in mind there will be many
more opportunities for savings as we go through the long holiday season.
