Merchants are busily gearing up for “Black Friday” — the day following Thanksgiving.
It’s traditionally the kickoff for the Christmas-shopping season and one of the year’s busiest weekends of shopping and the day when merchants are “in the black,” realizing a profit.
Even with the precarious state of our economy, this year’s Black Friday is sure to be a big boost to merchants who are predicted to be offering some exceptionally impressive deals in their efforts to entice consumers.
Many stores offer doorbusters, items priced at or below cost in order to lure shoppers. In most cases, these are available during specific time frames and in very limited quantities.
For example, moonlight madness sales include door buster deals and other special discounts that begin at midnight on Thanksgiving Day. Stores offering Black Friday early bird specials may open their doors at 5 a.m. or even earlier.
One ploy to beware of when shopping for doorbusters is the “bait and switch.” While the practice is illegal, proving and prosecuting this act is difficult and rare.
Let’s say the XYZ Store is offering a specific brand-name laptop computer as its door buster special at only $499.
When you arrive at the store, a salesman tells you that the “limited quantity” has already sold out (Bear in mind that the quantity may have been one or none.). However, he says he can let you have a different laptop in an even better model for only $100 more. The fact of the matter is the intent all along has been to unload a slower-selling product.
But don’t let this discourage you — there’ll be plenty of legitimate and excellent bargains up for grabs.
To help ensure your Black Friday experience is a good one, take a look at these important tips:
• Visit www.BlackFriday.info and other sites that post almost all stores’ Black Friday sale information, and register to receive e-mails when the latest ads are posted. If you aren’t Internet savvy, then watch Thanksgiving week’s newspapers for sales notices.
• Don’t attack Black Friday with a “shotgun” approach — make a list. Having specific shopping goals helps keep you from being caught up in the buying frenzy and making unnecessary purchases.
• Pay with cash, not credit. Unless you’re one of the rare few who habitually pay his or her credit-card balance in full each month, stick with using your debit card, checkbook or green stuff to pay for purchases. If you truly believe God is your Provider, then trust Him for the funds to pay for the things you really need to buy and refuse to get into or add to credit debt.
• Research the products you intend to buy, and know their typical prices, which ones are reported as most reliable, what types of warranties are included and individual stores’ return/refund policies.
• Prepare to divide and conquer if you plan to hit any sales stating “limited quantities.” Drop responsible teen and adult family members at different stores, and assign each one a specific item to purchase. Insist that anyone offered a substitute item phone you before buying.
• Carry along a minimal amount of encumbrances. Men, in a busy store, a hip pocket isn’t the best place for a wallet.
Ladies, a dangling purse isn’t a smart idea either. Wear a travel jacket or shirt with a specially made hidden pocket or use a fanny pack or around-the-neck travel wallet to keep both hands free and your cash, ID, debit cards, credit cards and cell phone safe.
• Get a sitter for small children. The crowds make keeping up with wee ones difficult at best, plus tending to their needs amid all the chaos can influence you to make hurried, and later regretted, buying decisions.
• Don’t get weighed down with packages, or you may end up losing some of your shopping bags. Return to your vehicle as often as possible, and lock your packages securely in a cargo area where they aren’t visible to passers-by.
• Don’t be embarrassed to ask any available security officer to escort you to your vehicle if you’re feeling at all uncomfortable about taking packages there.
For some of us, the more appealing way to shop is sitting in pajamas with a cup of hot cocoa and a laptop. That’s why there’s “Cyber Monday” — the first Monday after Thanksgiving and the day when online sales generally begin a busy upswing.
Cyber Monday’s online deals will be comparable to “real” store bargains, and many Web sites will even offer moonlight madness and early bird specials for those who want to check out cyberspace during the late or wee hours.
The first three Black Friday tips can also be applied to Cyber Monday. Register at www.CyberMonday.com to be notified of bargains.
Remember that you can use your debit card online just as you can your credit card. Many online stores now use PayPal (www.PayPal.com), a free, secure service that allows registered users to make payments via their listed checking account or credit card.
While PayPal has been around the longest, Google Checkout (checkout.google.com) is one of several newer and equally reliable online-payment services.
As a believer in Jesus Christ, whether you hit the physical stores or go cybershopping, honor the Lord. He’s entrusted you with His blessings — use them wisely.
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