When local businesses or online sites prominently promote a “going out of business sale,” “total liquidation” or state “everything must go,” you might think you are about to get the deal of a lifetime. But you should shop cautiously for several reasons — even when merchandise is deeply discounted.
Many frustrated shoppers have reported to BBB Scam Tracker that when buying products as part of a going out of business sale, they’ve received something of much lower quality than what was pictured online. For example, one victim reported they ordered $250 worth of what was promoted as “designer” clothes from a New York-based store but received low quality items shipped from overseas.
Some ads can also be placed online by someone who never intended to sell you anything at all. Instead, their promotions are designed merely to steal your credit card information when you are prompted to pay. Using phony sites, they can also download malware onto your computer and try to gain access to your personal information, passwords and more.
Your BBB offers the following tips to help avoid a bad experience when shopping sales locally and through websites or social media:
Always check a company’s reputation on BBB.org. Read through customer reviews and/or details of any complaints that may exist to get an idea of what past customers have experienced. You may decide the great prices they advertise may not be worth the potential problems that could arise, or they could support that the company has a great record.