BBB offers some holiday shopping tips
The busy shopping season is upon us, and many people are hitting shopping centers and malls or looking online for the very best deals. Whether shopping for family, friends, colleagues or holiday décor, the Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas is offering advice to ensure people are taking steps to protect their financial information and making informed purchasing decisions.
As always, retailers will compete feverishly to get shoppers to visit their stores and their websites. Whether you’re planning to do most of your shopping at brick and mortar stores or online, be sure to keep these BBB tips in mind:
Do your research. Visit BBBHouston.org to obtain free BBB Business Reviews, where you check a business’ complaint history and read any reviews submitted by customers.
Make sure you’re getting a real deal. Do you knowif a sale is really a sale? Many times companies boast “70 percent off,” but 70 percent off what? It always pays to comparison shop. Also, if a company is advertising a “Going Out of Business” sale, don’t automatically assume they are offering the lowest prices in town. Take the time to check prices on the same items at other stores. By starting some of your shopping at home, you can quickly see how prices vary within a given category.
Watch for specials. Newspapers often have store advertisements or inserts that outline discounts throughout the holiday season. Other specials are posted online. By keeping your eyes open and ear to the ground, you can find deals others might miss.
Check return policies, restocking fees and refunds. Ask for the store’s return policy before youmake your purchase. Companies are not required to give you your money back, but they should post their return policy prominently near the cashier. Also, always ask about restocking fees and save your receipts in one place, so you don’t lose them. Many companies will require you to produce a receipt for a return. Ask for gift receipts.
Watch out for online deals too good to be true. While many retailers offer “doorbusters”— specials designed to bring customers into stores – some websites offer suspiciously low prices on sought-after goods in an effort to entice shoppers into turning over their credit card information. Internet shopping can bet ricky. Stick to trust worthy websites and look for BBB’s seal and other recognized “trust marks.” Be sure to click on the seals to confirm they are valid.
Be safe online. To protect your personal and financial information, look for a small lock icon and an extra “s” in the website URL (https… the extra “s” is for secure). Watch out for look-alikewebsites that mimic famous brands but that may be a scam. Use a credit card for online shopping, as it has more fraud protections than a debit card. Make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date and avoid clicking on links in unsolicited email and social media messages.
Finally, consumers should keep in mind there will be many opportunities for savings aswe go through the long holiday shopping season. Youmay find a better deal later, so take your time to shop around and be certain before you buy.
The Better Business Bureau is an unbiased nonprofit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 87 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews and BBBWise Giving Reports to help them find trustworthy businesses and charities across North America. For information or to check the reliability of a company and find trustworthy businesses, v is itwww.bbb houston. org, which includes our BBB Accredited Business Directory, or call 713-868-9500. LeahNapoliello is senior director of Investigative Services with the Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas. Send questions regarding homeowner issues to LeahNapoliello, Better Business Bureau, 1333West Loop South, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77027, ore-mail her a tl na po lie llo@bbbhou. org. Include mailing address and phone number on letters and emails.