Black Friday is a great time for shoppers that love bargains. It promises the lowest prices on things like electronics, clothing, appliances, groceries, and much more, and is often one of the most chaotic times of the year.
However, research has found that many of the deals that are offered on Black Friday are just too good to be true. In this article, we’re going to give you some advice on how you can avoid getting ripped off this Black Friday.
If you want to make sure that you’re getting the best deals possible, read on for more.
Shop Around
When we think that we have found a good deal, we tend to just quickly purchase the item rather than checking around with competing stores. Before you take your credit card out of your wallet, try to do some quick browsing to see if that item is cheaper somewhere else.
Stores will often reduce the prices of their products relative to their original price of the product in that specific store. For instance, if a television in one typically goes for $399 in one store, that store might reduce the price to $299 for Black Friday.
But, another store might have the same TV that they would normally sell for $349. Then, on Black Friday, they might reduce the price of that TV to $249, making it much more affordable than the other store.
Check the Names of Websites
If you’re doing some online shopping, and you spot a great deal, be sure to do a check to determine whether the retailer or website is legitimate.
If an item is going for an extremely low price - much lower than anywhere else - then you might fork out money and never receive your product.
You should always buy from verified websites or websites that you are familiar with. If you have friends or family that do a lot of online shopping, then you should be sure to consult with them to find some trustworthy websites to shop from.
If you see a small padlock at the start of a website’s URL in your browser, that means it is a secure site. Still, some cybercriminals have found ways to obtain forged security certificates, so you should always be somewhat wary of sites that you have never used before.
Watch Out for Social Media and Email Scams
Social media has been used as a method of advertising for years, and every year, different brands and stores promote their Black Friday deals on their social media. There are also some fraudulent social media accounts that post fake advertisements to scam people.
The same story applies to emails. If you receive a marketing email from a sender that you do not recognize, and they are offering huge savings on a product, you should be wary of that sender.
Scammers can send emails that seem totally legitimate, pretending to be from a store that you trust. When you share, click, or open what they are offering, you might infect your device with a virus, a tracker, or any other kind of malware. Numbers and spelling mistakes in an email are usually a dead giveaway of a scam.
Be Skeptical of Price Comparisons
Offers that show you the prices before the reduction will often exaggerate the discount that they are presenting, which makes the deal look better than it actually is. Sometimes, stores can get away using “before” prices that have not been used for a while, which do not reflect that item’s current market value.
If you don’t mind paying $150 for a coffee machine that you’ve been looking at for a while, then don’t hesitate to buy it. Just keep in mind that you might not be saving as much money as the store would have you believe.
Summary
While Black Friday is a great time to get your hands on some amazing deals and bargains, it is also important to remember that it is also prime time for scammers and criminals to steal as much money as possible.
Be sure to follow the tips mentioned above to avoid getting ripped off this Black Friday!
