Black Friday is a day when both brick-and-mortar and online stores offer huge discounts, attracting crowds of consumers. Although it was originally a sale day associated with the American Thanksgiving holiday, now it is a global phenomenon, including in Poland. Although Black Friday formally lasts only one day (Friday), many stores start their sales earlier – on Thursday evening, and they continue even until Monday, which is called Cyber Monday.
Black Friday is a time when not only stores aim to boost their sales, but also consumers look for savings. Unfortunately, the discounts might be misleading. Some of the pitfalls that appear in the market include:
1. Artificial price increases before the sale. Many stores may raise the price just before Black Friday and then offer a “discount” on products that in reality were not cheaper before the sale. For example: a product that cost 200 PLN before the promotion increases to 300 PLN, and then a 20% discount is announced.
2. Short time of promotion. Often, promotions are advertised as “limited”, which can entice consumers to make impulsive purchases. Hence, caution must be exercised and prices should be checked in other stores before making a purchase.
3. The so-called “new price” product, an older model. Sometimes promotions include products that are older, less efficient or withdrawn from the market, and consumers may not be aware of this.
What to pay attention to when shopping in physical stores and online?
Both in physical stores and online, it’s important to be particularly cautious. In physical stores, it’s crucial to check the product’s condition before purchasing, focusing on any damages or defects. It’s also a good idea to compare prices as some stores may raise prices before the sale, and then apply discounts that are not as attractive as they seem. It’s also crucial to understand the conditions of promotion to be sure that it includes all products and does not contain hidden restrictions. On returns, it’s worth asking if the store accepts returns on purchases, especially if the sale is on things like clothing or electronics that may turn out to be unsuitable.
In the case of online shopping, it is important to make sure that the store is credible. Before making a purchase, it’s worth checking the opinions of other customers on reputable portals and to pay attention to whether the store’s website is secure, recognizable by a URL starting with “https://”. It is also necessary to carefully check the product’s price and delivery costs as some stores offer free delivery, but only after exceeding a certain amount. It’s also good to get acquainted with the return policy to know how to proceed in case of dissatisfaction with the purchase. It’s worth remembering that a consumer has the right to withdraw from a contract within 14 days of receipt of the goods.
While making an online purchase, it’s also good to pay attention to the detailed product description to make sure it meets our expectations, especially in terms of dimensions, material, or additional features. Comparing prices in other stores will help to ensure that the offer is really beneficial. Also, closely monitoring promotions can help not to fall for false discounts. Safe payment methods, or online transfers, are always a better choice than traditional bank transfers.
How not to get tricked on Black Friday?
To avoid fraud during Black Friday and make use of real opportunities, several tried-and-test rules can be employed that will assist in avoiding marketing tricks and make wise purchases:
a) Compare prices before the sale – before starting shopping, it’s worth checking the regular price of the products that interest us. This can be done by visiting the websites of online stores, using applications and websites that archive prices. It’s also worth noting the prices of the products we are interested in to compare them with sale prices during Black Friday.
b) Be aware of so-called “promotion hits” – sometimes stores advertise products as mega-promotions, but their prices before the sale were inflated to make the discount look more attractive. It’s worth checking the comparison price, which must be provided by the store by law.
c) Read the promotion rules – often sellers offer different conditions, such as a minimum order amount, limited quantity of items in the promotion, or additional shipping fees. Make sure you understand all the rules that may apply to the promotion before you decide to purchase. This way, surprises and hidden costs can be avoided.
d) Pay attention to return and complaint policies – check if the store offers easy product returns and what the complaint procedure looks like. In the case of online purchases, we have the right to withdraw from a contract within 14 business days without giving a reason, provided the product is not damaged or used.
e) Shop only in trusted stores – during Black Friday, it’s easy to run into dishonest sellers who offer products at attractive prices, but then it turns out to be a scam. It’s best to shop in reputable stores that have positive reviews and are well known on the market. Before buying, check the store reviews and make sure they offer secure payment methods.
f) Pay attention to the speed of the “sale” – be wary of stores that create the impression that products are selling out quickly. We often encounter messages like “only 5 left”, which can put pressure on making a purchase. Be careful and avoid making purchases under time pressure. Remember that a real promotion should not put the consumer in a sense of rush.
g) Protect your personal data – in the case of online purchases, ensure that the store’s website is secure (check if the web address starts with “https://”). Never provide your payment details on suspicious looking websites or those with outdated security certificates.
h) Beware of “low price” offers – be careful with offers that seem too good to be true. A very low price may indicate a counterfeit or a product that does not meet declared standards. In such cases, it’s worth seeking the opinions of other users who may have already taken advantage of the promotion.
How to check if a seller has not increased the price during the sale period?
Firstly, before the sales period begins, it’s worthwhile to check the regular price of the product we are interested in various stores. It’s also worth looking at the comparative price, which the seller is obliged to supply in accordance with the law, e.g. as part of the Omnibus Directive. The comparative price should be the lowest price valid for at least 30 days before the promotion starts. If a seller does not provide a comparative price or if it seems significantly higher than the pre-sale price, this could suggest that the price has been artificially increased to create an illusion of an attractive promotion.
Reviews from other consumers could also prove useful. If the product is popular, it makes sense to check if other users have shared their experiences related to the price of the same product in previous months. Sometimes clients inform about their purchases, which might be helpful in determining whether the price was stable or increased during the sales period.
Another way is to contact the store’s customer service. It might be useful to ask about the history of the product’s price. If the store is transparent, it should provide such an information. This allows you to ensure that the price is indeed reduced during the sale or if it is just a marketing gimmick.
Finally, before making a purchase, prices from competitive sellers should be compared. Comparing offers helps spot if prices in a given store are at a comparable level to others, indicating a fair promotion, or strictly higher than those offered by other stores.
Is it worth shopping for Black Friday?
Shopping during Black Friday can be beneficial, but it’s necessary to approach it with caution and plan well what and where to buy. Black Friday is one of the biggest sales of the year, attracting the attention of both consumers and sellers. Thanks to promotions, real savings can be made on many products, especially electronics, clothing, footwear, or household appliances. However, not every promotion is as attractive as it seems, so it’s important to remember the rules that can help you make a wise purchasing decision.
Firstly, it’s worth doing thorough research before the sale. Before rushing to shop, it’s a good idea to check the regular price of the products of interest to us in different stores. This makes it easier to assess whether the offer is indeed beneficial, or if the price was raised artificially prior to the sale to create the illusion of an attractive discount.
Secondly, it’s essential not to be carried away by emotions and not to buy impulsively. Black Friday is a time of intense marketing that may pressure us to buy something just because it’s “cheaper”. It’s necessary to consider whether we really need a given product or if it’s a purchase that satisfies a momentary whim. Buying under the influence of emotions can lead to unsuccessful choices.
It’s also advisable to pay attention to promotion conditions, especially in online stores. Often, to take advantage of the promotion, certain conditions must be met, such as a minimum order-value or additional shipping fees. Moreover, for online purchases, it’s important to check whether the store offers convenient and safe return options should there be a dispute.
Are vendors obliged to the same legal regulations as pertaining to regular trade?
Yes, Vendors are subject to the same legal regulations during Black Friday as during regular trade. The consumer has the right to withdraw from a distance contract (eg. purchase via internet) within 14 working days without a reason, which also applies to purchases made during sales. Of course, to use this right, the product must not show signs of usage. Sellers must clearly and unambiguously mark the prices of the goods. During Black Friday, when prices are reduced, the seller is obliged to clearly indicate what the price was before the promotion and what discount is offered. According to the law, the comparative price should be the lowest price valid for at least 30 days before the promotion starts. If there is no such price, the provider can be recognized as misleading to consumers. Sellers must provide full information about the conditions of the promotion, such as the duration of the sale, possible item-quantity restrictions, and terms of returns and complaints. In the case of online stores, there is also an obligation to inform about delivery costs, order processing time and complaint procedure. Sellers cannot mislead customers, which means that prices for goods during Black Friday must really be reduced, not artificially inflated before the sale to create the illusion of a promotion.
Karolina Pilawska, Pilawska Zorski Lawyers
Source: https://managerplus.pl/black-friday-jak-unikac-pulapek-i-korzystac-z-prawdziwych-okazji-53629
