5 Tips for Safe Shopping on Black Friday
With the rising prices special deals may seem even more appealing this year. But beware, because not all these ‘amazing deals’ are real. The European Consumer Centres Network urges consumers to be on the lookout for fake deals and fake shops on Black Friday and Cyber Monday with these five tips:
1. Check if the online shop is real and safe
Before you start shopping online, take a good look at the website. Be sure to check the general terms and conditions.
- Does the online shop mention the general terms and conditions? Do these terms and conditions look complete?
- Does the online shop mention an address? You can also check whether this address looks like a credible location for an online shop by using Google Maps or other web mapping platforms.
- Does the online shop mention a phone number? You can also phone this number to check whether someone picks up.
- Does the online shop get good reviews from other consumers? Check out independent review websites to see whether other consumers have had any problems with this shop.
2. Check if this is a real deal
Online shops must specify both the discounted price and the regular price during a promotional period. The European ‘Omnibus’ Directive of 28 May 2022 prescribes that a promotional price must be the lowest price charged in at least the last 30 days. This means that, for example, shops cannot advertise with fake promotions for products that have not truly been reduced in price.
Our advice: observe the prices for a product over longer period of time before buying it. Does the online shop offer a ‘special deal’ that is not lowest priced charged in the last 30 days? This may be indicative of unfair business practices. You can report these practices to your national fraud authorities. Traders risk two years of prison and a €300,000 fine.
3. Resist the pressure
‘20 other people are looking at this item’ or ‘only three items left’: many websites, mobile applications, social networks and even search engines use so-called dark patterns to influence our behaviour. Some shops even use shaming tactics: ‘No, I’m an idiot and do not want a 20% discount’. Although we may think we are not, it is no shame to admit we are all susceptible to such patterns. You may not be able to completely avoid the psychological games, but recognising them is a first step. Try to consider how you would feel about a certain deal without the added pressure.
4. Choose a safe payment method
- Use secured internet connections for paying online
- Check whether the URL starts with ‘https’ and has a padlock symbol
- Do not save bank or credit card details on your mobile phone, computer or other shopping platforms
- Set a maximum amount for credit card payments
- Avoid bank transfer payments when shopping online
5. Use your legal guarantee
For all new and second-hand goods (furniture, cars, computers, household appliances etc.) bought in the EU. This legal guarantee was extended to include digital products (e.g smart appliances) and digital services and content (e.g. streaming services, online video games) in 2022. If your product is faulty, you can ask a seller to repair or replace it, or to reimburse you if repairing or replacing the product is not possible.
Don’t forget: if you have bought your product online, you also get a 14-day cooling-off period to change your mind about a purchase, meaning you may return it.