AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The Friday after Thanksgiving is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year. In fact, people have started camping out at stores across the country, late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
Last year, however, more people actually chose to shop the Monday following the holiday which has become known as Cyber Monday. If you choose to shop this holiday weekend, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts. The Amarillo Chapter of the Better Business Bureau released a list of tips to help make your shopping experience as pleasant as possible.
The first tip is as simple as planning ahead.
"Plan your time and budget wisely," said Janna Kiehl, CEO of the BBB.
Set a realistic budget and stick to it. Making a list of the gifts you'd like to give helps avoid buying gifts that may be inappropriate or too expensive. The BBB also suggests evaluating every purchase and shopping around to make sure you get the best price.
Also, keep in mind that return and exchange policies vary widely from store to store. In some cases, you don't even have to have a receipt, in others you might need the receipt and then some. The BBB said that stores are not obligated to refund, exchange or give you credit for any item unless it doesn't work or was misrepresented. The best advices is to ask about the store's policy and keep the receipt.
"Ask for a gift receipt in order to avoid return problems," said Kiehl. "Also be aware of any sales that do not allow returns, such as 'all sales final' or special order merchandise."
As we already mentioned, more and more people are turning to the internet for their holiday shopping. The BBB said that people should exercise the same care and judgment as they would when shopping in stores. Know your rights when placing orders online, through catalogs, mail order and TV shopping networks. The BBB also suggested that you ask about delivery times, costs and how returns are handled. Also, if shopping online, it's important to read the company's privacy policy before you place an order, to make sure your information does not end up in the wrong hands.
Also, remember those offers that are "to good to be true" often are just that. The bureau said you should exercise caution when taking advantage of free or very-low-price offers. They claim those offers are usually followed by an open-ended enrollment in a program that automatically bills your credit card monthly. Make sure that you read all the terms and conditions of any of the deals you are considering.
While out and about shopping, make sure you don't leave your wallet, credit card or purse on the store's counter. Don't get overloaded with packages or lose track of your children if they are shopping with you. Also, don't be afraid to shop with someone else or ask for a security escort to your car.
And finally, when it comes to year end giving, there are a lot of charities in need of your support. The BBB advises people to give wisely. If you are approached in person, don't give into pressure and make sure you feel comfortable with your donation. It's good to ask for written information and give later, the BBB said that if the appeal is legitimate, your donation will be just as appreciated later. Also, keep in mind there are a wide range of charity organizations based here in Amarillo that could all use a little extra help.
