On your mark, get set, shop! Black Friday is almost here and shoppers are craving big deals! “Stores are eager to get you in the door, but those deals may not be as easy to find as you think. Ads showing 15 to 20 percent off are tempting, but you should look very closely and read the fine print,” warned BBB President Jim Hegarty. “In small print you may find things like ‘Minimum three per store…quantity limited… and available in select stores while they last’.” BBB suggests that you compare door buster deals, and if you really want it, be the first in line. You should also check out Black Friday 2009 at www.BlackFriday2009.com where you can research, plan and execute the best Black Friday shopping. You can even view pre-release Black Friday Ads for major stores.
If you do not wish to get up before dawn, you can also look online for a similar price or even a better deal to get ready for Cyber Monday—the Monday following Thanksgiving—that marks the unofficial opening for online holiday shopping. This year as more shoppers than ever before hunt for great deals, many people are using the Internet to decide where, when and how to get the best deals for their money. BBB advises savvy shoppers looking for good deals both in stores and online, to do their research on www.bbb.org, and consider the following advice.
Refunds and Exchange Policies
Whether shopping online or in stores, consumers should pay extra attention to refund and exchanges policies. Some businesses give refunds; some issue store credits only; some consider all sales to be final. A store is not legally required to accept items for refund, exchange or credit unless the merchandise is defective or was misrepresented. Your Better Business Bureau reminds shoppers to know their return rights before making the purchase. It's always better to ask, than to assume.
“Many consumers are extremely comfortable shopping online and simply don’t consider the threat of identity theft or unscrupulous retailers during the holiday season,” said Hegarty. “While the online environment has become a thriving, trusted marketplace, e-commerce has also opened a door and created a ripe environment for scammers to set up shop online and start ripping people off.”
Top 10 Online Shopping Tips
BBB offers the following “Top 10 Online Shopping Tips” for holiday shoppers to help prevent being taken in by unscrupulous online retailers, scammers and hackers:
1. Protect your computer – A computer used for online shopping should always have the most recent updates installed for spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a secure firewall.
2. Use trustworthy websites – Shoppers should start with BBB to check on the seller’s reputation and record for customer satisfaction. Always look for a “trustmark” from BBBOnLine and click on that seal to confirm that it’s valid.
3. Protect your personal information – BBB recommends taking the time to read the site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used. If there isn’t one posted, it should be taken as a red flag that personal information may be sold to others without permission.
4. Trust your gut – Offers on websites and in unsolicited e-mails can often sound too good to be true. Consumers should always go with their instincts and not be afraid to pass up a “deal” that might cost them dearly in the end.
5. Beware of phishing – Legitimate businesses do not send emails claiming problems with an order or an account to lure the “buyer” into revealing financial information. If a consumer receives such an email, BBB recommends picking up the phone and calling the contact number on the website where the purchase was made to confirm that there really is a problem with the transaction.
6. Confirm your online purchase is secure – Shoppers should always look in the address box for the “s” in https:// and in the lower-right corner for the “lock” symbol before paying. If there are any doubts about a site, BBB recommends right-clicking anywhere on the page and select “Properties.” This will let you see the real URL (website address) and the dialog box will reveal if the site is not encrypted.
7. Pay with a credit card – It’s best to use a credit card, because under federal law the shopper can dispute the charges if he or she doesn’t receive the item. Shoppers also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized charges on their credit card, and many card issuers have “zero liability” policies under which the card holder pays nothing if someone steals the credit card number and uses it.
8. Keep documentation of your order. After completing the online order process, there may be a final confirmation page or the shopper might receive confirmation by e-mail – BBB recommends saving a copy of the Web page and any e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
9. Check your credit card statements often – Don’t wait for paper statements; BBB recommends consumers check their credit card statements for suspicious activity by either calling credit card companies or by checking statements online regularly.
10. Know your rights – Federal law requires that orders made by mail, phone or online be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was stated, within 30 days. If the goods aren’t shipped on time, the shopper can cancel and demand a refund. There is no general three-day cancellation right, but consumers do have the right to reject merchandise if it’s defective or was misrepresented. Otherwise, it’s the company’s policies that determine if the shopper can cancel the purchase and receive a refund or credit. For more advice on staying safe online this holiday season, and to see reports on thousands of online retailers, go to bbb.org.