Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Dept of Commerce Encourages Consumers To Shop Smart

SAINT PAUL – As shoppers start making their holiday lists, the Minnesota Department of Commerce reminds families to stay vigilant about toys and product safety. Be safe and shop smart to keep dangerous toys and products away from your family this holiday season, and all year round. Shoppers should check recall lists for toys and products, and use common sense when buying toys to make sure they are age appropriate and safe for kids.
“Minnesota families should always be sure that kids are safe from dangerous products and toys during the holiday season,” said Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman.  “Parents can take steps to ensure the products you buy for your children have not been recalled. I am also urging parents to think about potential issues like quality, size, and age appropriateness to make sure your kids have a safe and happy holiday season.” 
Toy Safety Tips
To help ensure your family has a safe and happy holiday season, the Department has put together toy safety tips for parents and toy shoppers. The Department of Commerce recommends selecting age appropriate toys, observing manufacturer’s warnings regarding safety hazards, and monitoring use when necessary.
Check for Recalls
A list of recalled toys and products is available on the Department’s website. You can sign up to receive email alerts from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC). Consumers can also keep information (manufacturer, serial or model number, and purchase dates) to help identify the toy in the event that it is recalled.
2014 toy and child product recalls include:
Report Incidents
If children have been injured or may have had contact with a potentially hazardous product, file a report with the CPSC.  Instructions for reporting a product via phone, email, or postal mail are included on their website.
Commerce is here to help
If you have questions about toy recalls, contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce Consumer Services Center at (651) 539-1600 or (800) 657-3602 (Minnesota, outside of the Metro).
Questions or consumer complaints can also be directed by email to consumer.protection@state.mn.us or by mail to Minnesota Department of Commerce, 85 7th Place East, Suite 500, Saint Paul, MN 55101.
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Wednesday, November 19, 2014

BBB Offers Tips to Black Friday Shoppers



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.
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Thursday, November 15, 2012

BBB Offers Tips to Black Friday Shoppers

Burnsville, Minnesota – November 15, 2012 – Thanksgiving is almost here, and this year Black Friday shopping will begin earlier than ever – kicking off Thanksgiving evening at some retail outlets. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is offering tips to people planning on taking advantage of Black Friday – traditionally the day after Thanksgiving – sales offers.

“Black Friday only seems to get bigger – and start earlier – each year,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of the BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota. “We try to remind people to plan ahead, be mindful of their budgets, and always be clear on store return policies. On big ticket items especially, there may be restocking fees if a consumer wishes to make a return.”

Black Friday shoppers should also be sure to keep these tips in mind:

· 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. Newspapers often have coupons that give discounts for Black Friday. Black Friday ads are also posted on the Internet. Some sites post ads for Black Friday before they are published.

· 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.

· 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.

Note: These rules do not cover reloadable cards, such as prepaid phone card or debit cards from the big credit card companies. Rebate and loyalty reward programs are also exempt. If you receive a gift card, you should redeem it promptly if possible.

· Check out the company. Visit bbb.org or call 800-646-6222 to obtain free Business Reviews. Remember, BBB Business Reviews have been optimized for smartphones.

Lastly, consumers are encouraged to have fun and be safe. Remember, there will be many more sales as we go through the holiday season.
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