Surviving Black Friday shopping weekend with expert tips to know if you’re actually getting a deal

SHOPPERS are gearing up for one of the biggest shopping events of the year, brimming with excitement for the potential deals they might nab after saving up for months.

But are consumers really going to save money or is it all just a trick by some of America’s largest retail giants to buy goods they don’t really need?

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The U.S. Sun has spoken to retail experts and consumer advocates who have shared their best tips for shoppers to make sure they don’t get sucked in.

Consumer advocacy attorney Danny Karon said the most important thing was to do your research.

Karon, who has lectured on class-action law at several universities including Columbia University and Ohio State, said the easiest way to make sure you know you’re getting the best deal was to simply Google the product. 

Karon said he recently bought a glass bowl for his centerpiece and firstly Googled the name of the brand to find “several discount codes that some sellers accepted, and others didn’t.”

He took the extra step of calling the merchant to make sure they were a legitimate business, which helped him give him peace of mind.

Karon said this also helps to protect against scams because you can ensure that you’re buying from a credible website.

Another top tip is to purchase the item with a credit card rather than a debit card to ensure that you can get protection from fraud.

Most credit cards come with fraud protection, meaning you might not end up needing to pay for a product that never arrived or arrived broken and the merchant won’t take it back

Danny KaronConsumer advocate

Lastly, understanding the merchant’s returns policy is very important over the busy shopping period according to the expert.

Karon advised all consumers to make sure they accept returns and if they don’t then find another seller.

“Finally, if you’ve had good success with a merchant and like their return policy, – Amazon comes to mind – go with them,” Karon said.

Other experts echoed Karon’s advice, saying consumers must be aware of the return policy before making the purchase.

KNOW THE RETURN POLICY

Shoppers should be warned that some items may have stricter rules or restocking fees during Black Friday periods as it is often a time when retailers want to shed excess stock.

CouponFollow savings expert Clay Cary also said shoppers should stick to retailers they trust and advised against clicking on unsolicited links.

For shoppers who may want to stretch the budget, Cary said they should consider store apps or special loyalty programs.

DON’T FORGET LOYALTY PROGRAMS

Some of these programs may offer early access to deals or even special discounts which may provide different perks or extra markdowns.

However, consumers should also be aware of “doorbuster deception” where retailers offer deals for lesser-quality versions of products made specifically for sales events.

“Always double-check model numbers against reviews to make sure you’re getting a true bargain,” Clay warned.

TRACK THE PRICES

Cary said Black Friday was “all about strategy” urging shoppers to research prices in advance.

“Some retailers even jack up prices right before Black Friday to make the discounts look steeper than they are. Tracking prices over time can save you from paying more,” he said.

“Black Friday is all about strategy, so zero in on these tips to get the best value without being taken in by gimmicks.”