Jim Winsett of the BBB. Q. It's here, the holiday shopping season. We are being inundated by the four major events starting with Black Friday. What advice may BBB offer consumers and business to make educated purchasing and wise donations?
A. Black Friday is the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season. In the past, shoppers would make their way to brick-and-mortar locations on the Friday following Thanksgiving. While this practice still remains, it's evident there is a shift going on in the way shoppers are researching and buying, as well as the way stores are advertising.
Creating and preparing a budget is the first job for a successful shopping day on Black Friday. How consumers shop today has changed, and these are a few tips:
Public Wi-Fi: It's all right to look-up reviews or compare prices using public Wi-Fi, but it's best to avoid logging on to any of your banking sites or other sites with sensitive personal information. Public Wi-Fi is often vulnerable to thieves and fraudsters who are looking to steal your info.
Email subscription: Many stores communicate their best Black Friday deals to people who have signed up to receive their emails. Just remember, you should never send cash or credit card information directly in response to an email you receive, even if it seems legit. It could be a phishing scam.
Email phishing: With all the promotional emails you'll be receiving during the holidays, scammers will be out in full force. It's best not to click on any links in emails from senders you don't recognize. You can also hover your mouse over links without clicking to see if the address is really taking you where it says. Also, check the reply email address. The address should be on a company domain.
Gift receipts and warranty information: Ask for a gift receipt that can be tucked into a gift item or card. This way the recipient can return or exchange a gift if it's not just right. Be sure to pass along any information about returns, exchanges, repairs and warranties to the person who will use the item.
Research: Read product reviews, check out BBB.org for Business Reviews, look at the sales fliers and ads, compare prices, look for early promotions and "flash sales." For tips on searching online, check out BBB Digital IQ. www.bbb.org/council/digitaliq/.
Small Business Saturday Trends and Tips
Small Business Saturday first began on Nov. 27, 2010. The goal was to encourage shoppers to support small, local businesses. Each year, the message and movement has increased and in 2015, 95 million people shopped at small businesses on Small Business Saturday. Better Business Bureau is pleased to support Small Business Saturday for the fifth year and urges consumers to support small businesses in their community.
Local business shoppers surveyed said the two biggest reasons for shopping small are to support the local economy (59 percent) and for the opportunity to buy one-of-a-kind gifts (54 percent). According to the 350 Project, for every $100 spent at a small business, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures.
Reviews: Had a great experience at a local business? Share a review of it. Surveys indicate that 45 percent of shoppers use social media to read reviews or recommendations for products and stores. Also, when posting on social media in support of Small Business Saturday, the official hashtag is #ShopSmall.
Receipts and warranty information: When purchasing a gift for someone, it's always smart to ask for a gift receipt. This way the recipient can return or exchange a gift if need be. It's also pertinent to pass along any warranty information that is tied to the item purchased.
Cyber Monday Trends and Tips
In 2015 online shoppers spent nearly $3 billion during Cyber Monday and visited more than 4,500 retail websites.
It was the largest online shopping day ever recorded. Shoppers often participate in Cyber Monday because of the 24-hour convenience that online offers, they are able to avoid the crowds Black Friday brings and they appreciate the sales and delivery specials online retailers offer.
While shopping online, it's important to remember to do your research and shop securely. Below are some trends and tips to help make your online shopping a safe and successful one.
Mobile security: With so many shoppers using their mobile devices to research and make purchases, it's important to have a secure device. Be sure you're using the most recent updated version of apps and operating system on the phone. Also, actively manage your location services, Bluetooth, microphone and camera - making sure apps use them appropriately.
HTTP and HTTPS: If you're shopping online, before sending any personal, sensitive information, such as your credit card, make sure to look to see if a website has "https://" at the beginning of its web address. The "S" at the end of HTTPS indicates the website is secure because it is encrypted, which makes it safe to enter credit card or other personal information.
Looking out for scams: Worried you've encountered a scam during your holiday shopping season? Interested in reporting a possible scam? Check out the BBB's Scam Tracker page, www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us/ to keep an eye out for scams, report a possible scam and learn what you can do to protect yourself from scams.
Interest-based advertising: As you browse the web or use your favorite store's app while you're shopping, you might notice ads personalized to you, sometimes based on your previous web searches.
Giving Tuesday Trends and Tips
This marks the fifth year of #GivingTuesday. It's a global day of giving that's powered by social media and collaboration.
Following the shopping rushes of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday is often regarded as the start of the charitable season. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide are engaged in the day.
What's in a name: Be on the lookout for name similarities. When charities seek out support for the same cause, their names are often similar. Before you give, be sure you have the exact name of the charity you want to support.
Charity disclosure: Avoid charities that don't disclose. Although participation is voluntary, charities that don't disclose any of the requested information to BBB WGA raise a critical red flag for donors. Visit Give.org to find out if your selected charity is nondisclosure.
Take your time: Avoid on-the-spot donation decisions from unfamiliar organizations. The holidays bring a higher frequency of donation requests outside public locations. Don't succumb to pressure to make an immediate giving decision. Responsible organizations will welcome your gift tomorrow as much as they do today.
Give a guide: Request a free holiday issue of the BBB Wise Giving Guide to be sent to a friend or family member this giving season! The guide features evaluation results for thousands of charities. Simply email Guide@give.org with "Free Guide" in the subject line, and a name and address of where you'd like the guide sent.
Jim Winsett is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga.