Online Info Blog: Beware Black Friday scams

Black Friday is still a relatively new retail trend in South Africa, which sees popular stores and brands slashing prices and giving huge discounts. The trend was imported from the US, where the event follows Thanksgiving, every year.

And given its popularity, Black Friday also brings with it a criminal element. BusinessTech has listed a few points to look out for while doing your Black Friday shopping, to ensure you don’t become a victim.

1. Know the products and relative prices

An old retail trick is to hike prices just before launching a promotion, so that the discount rate appears a lot bigger than what it is. Be a clued-up shopper, and make sure that you know what the recommended or normal retail prices is for whatever item you’re about to buy – that way you will know if you’re getting the promised discount, or just a bum deal.

2. Read the fine print of deals

When buying items (especially online), make sure you read the fine print and understand the terms of the deal, and other factors such as stock limits and delivery times. Some deals are extremely limited, or require some or other process (signing up for a store account, or buying other items) – make sure you read the fine print so that you don’t get tricked into buying more than you set out to get.

3. Watch out for ‘gifts’ and ‘coupons’

When known promotions such as Black Friday hit, there are a lot of fake deals and discounts hitting your inbox. Be wary of any ‘coupons’ sent to you that require you to give personal details to claim. Also be wary of any ‘gifts’ that have been sent to you that require the same. Don’t give your personal details out to companies, and always check to see who sent you a ‘gift’ and double check with them before claiming it.

4. Stick to trusted sites and brands

Because of the huge discounts offered during Black Friday, consumers become more ‘experimental’ with brands; you may be tempted to get an HDTV that’s thousands of rands off – even though it’s not a brand you’ve ever heard of, or from a store or website you’ve never seen. Proceed with caution – it’s best to stick to known retailers and brands if you’re looking for deals that won’t lead to disappointment later.