Thanksgiving weekend is the traditional kick-off to the holiday shopping season and Better Business Bureau’s 2018 Holiday Guide is here to help consumers shop smart and give wisely.
The following tips will help you make the most of the upcoming holiday shopping season.
Do your research. Find businesses you can trust on BBB.org.
The Better Business Bureau has Business Profiles on more than 5.2 million businesses, from the most popular chains to local shops.
Read past customers’ experiences and see how the business responds to complaints. Look for the seal to find accredited businesses.
Read the ads carefully. Black Friday is known for “door busting” sales, but sometimes quantities are limited or there are other restrictions.
Last year, 99 million people shopped on Black Friday. Before you wait in line for hours or brave the boisterous crowds, be sure you know what’s really being offered. For more tips: go.bbb.org/blackfriday
Shop around. Not all of the best sales or the best prices are in the big box stores. Thousands of small and independent businesses are participating in Small Business Saturday on November 24. Look for the “Shop Small” signs at local businesses for Small Business Saturday specials or visit shopsmall.com for a list of participating retailers. For more tips: go.bbb.org/shopsmall
Be safe online. Cyber Monday unlocks big savings online, but look for a small lock icon in the URL and an extra s for safety (https… the extra “s” is for secure). Watch out for look-alike websites that mimic famous brands but that may be a scam. Use a credit card for online shopping, as it has more fraud protections than a debit card. Make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date and avoid clicking on links in unsolicited email and social media messages. For more tips: go.bbb.org/cybermonday
Give wisely. Charitable giving is heightened during the holidays when donors are feeling generous. Giving Tuesday on November 27 is all about being generous after the shopping frenzy. Make sure the charity you select will be a good steward of your money.
Check out BBB’s Give.org for charity reviews. For more tips: go.bbb.org/givingtuesday