Black Friday: Tips for navigating the busiest shopping day of the year

Local News

November 25, 2009

Anonymous The San Marcos Record Wed Nov 25, 2009, 07:18 PM CST

The day after Thanksgiving, commonly known as Black Friday, is the busiest retail day of the year in terms of sales volume.

Last year consumers spent $10.6 billion according to a report by ShopperTrak.

The Better Business Bureau serving Central, Coastal and Southwest Texas reminds holiday shoppers to look out for scams and deceptive advertising to make sure they get the right deal.

“It’s easy to become distracted with finding the perfect gift for friends and family during Black Friday,” Carrie A. Hurt of the BBB said this week.

BBB offers the following advice for smart shopping on Black Friday:

• Budget your shopping money and stick to it. Avoid impulse buys.

• Look for the details on every sale and understand the specifics.

• Advertising can be tricky so don’t get stuck paying more for an item than you thought.

• Credit card offers from stores will offer a discount on your purchase, but they may also carry high interest rates.

• Keep all receipts and warranty information for every item purchased.

• Fraudulent charges are easier to fix if you pay with a credit card rather than a debit card

• Return policies differ with every store. Make sure you know the conditions for returns and exchanges.

• If you purchase a gift card, look for hidden terms that can decrease its value.

• Don’t leave your wallet, credit card or purse on a counter or in an unattended shopping cart.

• Ask for a store manager if any advertised offer does not match the price listed on an item.

• Yelling at store employees and other consumers won’t make the lines shorter. Anticipate crowds and take a friend along to enjoy the day.

For more shopping advice and to check the reliability of a company, visit www.bbb.org.

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