Black Friday: Advice to consumers – What to look out for

The institution of Black Friday began in the 60s in the USA and is essentially the start of the Christmas shopping season. Black Friday takes place this year on November 25th (usually the whole week or more), and considering the barrage of announcements/advertisements from businesses, the Consumer Protection Agency has some simple tips for consumers:

• Buy what you really need. Take into account the difficult economic conditions prevailing and do not make unnecessary purchases.
• Conduct market research. Locate the products you may be interested in and note their price, so you can more easily get a real picture of the amount of discounts that will be announced.
• Don't buy a product just because it's on sale. Study the features of the product you are interested in to make sure it meets your needs and requirements. Look for product quality reviews. Evaluate the final price, not the discount.
• Take advantage of the internet. Use the internet, not only to make purchases, but also to find alternative products, reviews of the product you are interested in, as well as the selling price of the product from other suppliers.
• Price should not be the only criterion. Especially if you intend to buy a product of value (eg mobile phone, computer), it is important to evaluate the reliability and quality of service of the particular seller. Ask other consumers about their experiences, such as the seller's response to warranty issues.
• Set your budget in advance. It's obvious that during Black Friday there will be plenty of deals and it will be easy to get carried away. Determine in advance what you need and the maximum amount you want to allocate, taking into account your financial capabilities.
• Check the store's return policy before making a purchase. Please remember that according to European law, there is no legal obligation for in-store purchases and it is up to each store's policy whether to accept returns or exchanges. This obviously does not apply to online purchases, where consumers have a right of withdrawal after receiving the product.

The Consumer Protection Service wishes Cypriot consumers good and profitable shopping.