Singles Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday: retailers outdo each other with online discount promotions in the six weeks before Christmas. Various countdowns and supposedly limited offers put pressure on potential buyers. But the fine print shows that these are often annoying tricks.
November 29 is Black Friday again. The shopping days are heralded with slogans such as “Safe offers and deals”, The best deals”, “Great offers” or “Exclusive offers and discounts of up to 60 percent”.
But: “Many of these offers are not real bargains at all,” says AK consumer lawyer Gabriele Zgubic. “In addition, fraudulent fake stores also use retail hype to mislead consumers.”
The following tips will guide you safely through the ‘shopping days’ and can really save you money:
- Give time: Countdowns and supposedly limited offers are intended to encourage hasty purchases – these are not always real bargains! Please note: retailers must always list the lowest price from the last 30 days and may only advertise their price reductions in relation to this.
- Pay attention to prices: Check out price developments on platforms such as geizhals.at or idealo.at. There you can set a price alert – all year round – so that the platforms inform you as soon as a product is available at a price you set.
- Look at the fine print: “Up to minus 60 percent” sounds tempting, but often only applies to slow sellers. Look carefully at the fine print so you don’t fall for scam offers.
- Please note additional costs: A real bargain quickly turns into a disappointment due to high shipping costs – customs fees may apply, especially for orders from other EU countries. If you don’t like the product, there are often additional shipping costs for returning that you have to pay yourself. Read the fine print!
- Know the right of withdrawal: When purchasing online, you usually have a right of withdrawal of 14 days from receipt of the goods. Before you press the ‘Buy’ button, please check carefully where the returned goods are going. If clear information is missing as to whether you need to return the goods to Asia or other EU third countries, this can be very expensive. By the way: there is no right of withdrawal in the store, unless the store voluntarily grants this to you.
- Beware of fake shops: Black Friday is also peak season for criminals who use fraudulent fake shopping offers to steal money and data from you. When it comes to unbeatably cheap offers, always be vigilant and check the store reviews. And: don’t make any advances!
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
