BBB Advises: Be a Smart Shopper this Holiday Season
The holiday shopping season is upon us once again! The BBB wants you to be a smart shopper and offers these tips for successful holiday shopping:
- Start with setting a budget and keep it! Know who you need to buy for and what gifts you have in mind, which will keep you from impulse shopping.
- Compare prices. Shoppers should be wary of exaggerated claims of discounts whether shopping online or in a retail store at the mall. Be sure to shop around to compare prices, matching descriptions or model numbers of items you want to buy.
- Return or exchange policy. Check before you buy. Every store has its own policy.
- Keep Receipts. Keep all receipts and tags in case the recipient needs to return or exchange an item. Many stores will provide gift receipts upon request.
- Be mindful of your personal belongings. Don’t carry so many items that you lose track of your purse or wallet. Theft can be very active this time of year, so be careful and ask a security guard to help carry items to your car if needed.
- If shopping online or through a catalog, allow for plenty of time for shipping. Keep all receipts or any record of purchase and payment. Check the company’s Reliability Report with BBB at www.bbb.org.
- Check the web site’s security settings and read the company’s policy on sharing information with other sites. If the site is secure, its address should start with https://. You also may see a picture of a small closed lock in the lower right- hand corner of the screen.
- Often, free online offers are followed by an open-ended enrollment in a program that automatically bills your credit card account. Before ordering anything online, make sure you click on and read all terms and conditions.
- Pay with a credit card whenever possible so you can challenge the charge in the event of a dispute.
- Obtain a tracking number for shipments. If you need the product before the holidays, find out when the seller intends to ship it and if possible, how it will be shipped.
- Toy safety also has become a concern for many parents. Inspect toys carefully for sharp edges that may cut, moving parts that can pinch, or small removable pieces that can be a choking hazard. Toy chests should have air holes, and fabric products should be flame-resistant. Check for a UL (Underwriters Laboratories) seal on electric toys.
Always check Reliability Reports of retail stores and online companies with BBB at www.louisville.bbb.org