Better Business Bureau
The image of the pre-pandemic global shipping industry has shifted, with COVID-19, policy changes, and supply shortages now expected to add holiday delays and impact consumers across the United States. The impact has already begun, with product scarcities and limited inventory expected to magnify during the holiday season. Better Business Bureau tells consumers to plan for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to be affected as well.
“With Black Friday deals already out, and shortages on the ‘must-have’ toys, scammers will do their best to tempt you out of your money,” said Jane Rupp, President and CEO of BBB Mountain West. This year’s hot picks, according to Amazon (a BBB Accredited Business), include Galactic Snackin’ Grogu Animatronic (aka Baby Yoda); game consoles, such as Nintendo Switch and PlayStation; and L.O.L. Surprise dolls.
To avoid scams, BBB urges consumers to follow the following guidelines when holiday shopping:
— Shop local. Consider a stroll or scroll through your area’s small businesses to give the gift of supporting local businesses. And, don’t discount their abilities to have the hot toys and must-have items; if you can’t find an item from the big retailers, some smaller businesses may still have some in stock. While small businesses have suffered from supply chain problems, smaller foot traffic might mean the item is still available.
— Start early. Set your budget and plan to stick to it. Begin making lists of who you will be buying for and a few items to choose from in case your main gift idea isn’t available or is too expensive.
— Be flexible. Realize that the sales that happened last year may not materialize this year because of supply chain issues. If you have your heart set on a certain store or certain gift, consider giving a gift certificate for after the holidays when the item may be more available.
— Buy from reputable stores and websites. The best way to avoid getting scammed when purchasing gifts online is to buy them directly from a seller you know and trust. Data from BBB Scam Tracker shows that 57 percent of scam victims did not research the website or business via an independent source before making a purchase. Of those, 81 percent lost their money.
— Review the policies before you buy, including privacy and return policies to make sure you understand what your data will be used for, and what to expect if there’s an issue with your purchase. Always be certain the business has a working customer service number. Pay with a credit card for extra protection.
— Comparison shop, if not by brand, then by features. Don’t miss out on saving extra money by picking the first deal that sounds good.
— Don’t be fooled by extra-low prices. If it seems too-good-to-be-true, it probably is. Unreasonably low prices are a red flag for a scam. Don’t be pressured to act quickly for fear of losing out on a sale—it’s better to lose the item than lose your money!
For More Information
See BBB.org/onlineshopping for more online shopping tips. For more about avoiding scams this holiday season, check out BBB.org/Holiday.
If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim.
If you see a questionable ad, report it to BBB AdTruth so we can investigate.
