Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Knowledge is holiday power shopping
Expert tips relieve great deal of hassle in mad rush to buy
Bows, lights and garlands are on full display at shopping centers like The Forum Shops at Caesars, signaling the start of the holiday shopping season.
It’s also a time to feel overwhelmed between juggling travel plans, family obligations and the search for the perfect gift. Here are some holiday shopping season survival tips from the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau:
Beware of phishing scams
Watch out for unsolicited emails, texts, calls or letters claiming to offer a free gift or saying there’s a problem with an order or delivery. The BBB cautioned that many of those emails and letters are a scam to get shoppers to provide their personal information or payment details for identity theft or fraudulent purchases. If there’s any concern, it’s best to contact the retailer directly or visit the store’s website and log in to your account to verify order and shipping details.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Brick-and-mortar stores have been promoting their Black Friday deals in advance. Target started introducing Black Friday pricing on select merchandise last week, while Kohl’s is introducing select online-only deals starting Monday.
Deals from traditional retailers on Black Friday are often steeper than discounts promoted on Cyber Monday. Also, Cyber Monday deals tend to be better with independent, specialty or e-commerce brands that may not have a strong brick-andmortar presence.
Keep a trail
Save all receipts, and make sure the scanned price is correct. Online shoppers should also monitor their orders, according to the FTC.
For example, customers ordering from multiple retailers may find it helpful to create a list of order numbers and expected arrival dates so any delays or issues can be noticed and resolved quickly.
The same principle applies to returns and exchanges. Some stores don’t allow returns on deeply discounted merchandise or have restrictive exchange policies. Keeping receipts can also come in handy if your gift-giving skills fall short or the item is the wrong size.
Porch pirate
The rise of online shopping around the holidays means a greater risk of packages disappearing from the front porch. For those without a home security camera like Ring or Google Nest, consider taking advantage of special delivery options like requiring a signature or using services like Amazon Hub Locker — a secure, self-service kiosk — or UPS My Choice, which allows registered users to reroute or reschedule package delivers and receive real-time delivery alerts.
Do-it-yourself
There’s also in-store pickup, which is offered by nearly every major retailer, including Walmart, Target, Best Buy and fast-fashion brands like Zara and H&M.
Some area malls also offer access to Dropit, a mobile app allowing customers to leave their purchases at a store and then have the bags delivered to their home or hotel at a time they choose.
Las Vegas Premium Outlets North was the first shopping center to offer the service, and it has expanded to Las Vegas Premium Outlets South, the Shops at Crystals, the Forum Shops at Caesars and, as of this month, Fashion Show mall.