November 15, 2011 - St. Paul, MN - With the approach of Thanksgiving, the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is offering tips to people planning on doing their shopping on Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving.
"For people trying to find Holiday deals, Black Friday holds a lot of allure," said Dana Badgerow, President and CEO of the BBB. "What we’re aiming to do is remind people to think ahead, make a budget and be aware of store policies - particularly return policies."
Black Friday shoppers should be sure to keep these tips in mind:
- Check out the company. Call the BBB at 1-800-646-6222 or visit bbb.org to obtain free Business Reviews. Don't forget, BBB reports 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. 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. More than half of 2010 holiday shoppers said they'd like to receive gift cards, marking four years in a row gift cards have topped consumers' wish lists. New federal rules governing gift card sales went into effect in 2010.
Those rules state:
- o An inactivity fee cannot be charged until the card has not been used for 12 months
- Gift cards cannot expire for at least 5 years
- No more than one fee (of any kind) can be charged to the cardholder in a single month
- 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.
- 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 new rules do not cover reloadable cards, such as prepaid phone cards 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.
For more advice on staying safe online this holiday season, go to www.bbb.org/us/consumer-tips-holiday/.
