Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2021 will probably feel a little different than previous years. Quite a few major retailers have already gone from our high streets and the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic are still being felt, causing reluctance in some people to go to busy places to do their Christmas shopping. More and more people are turning to online retailers. With this in mind, our Money Advice Officer has put together some tips to help you stay safe and in control.
Make sure you’re actually getting a good deal!
UK consumer champion Which? reported in 2020 that 98% of Black Friday deals were available at the same price or cheaper in the 6 months after the sales ended, and 85% had been cheaper in the 6 months before the deals too!
To make sure you’re actually getting a good deal, make sure you do your homework by checking the price at different retailers, reading the small print, being cautions of ‘Was, Now’ deals, and using websites such as Pricerunner and PriceSpy to check price histories.
Be wary of scams
The popularity and timing of Black Friday and Cyber Monday make it a big target for Cybercrime. There are many different variations such as delivering malware, creating fake mobile apps and phishing scams.
Phishing scams involve web pages which have been set up to mimic large online shops and trick shoppers into sharing personal and financial data. Always thoroughly check the website address before entering any personal information, for example Amazon pages will always contain “amazon.co.uk” and you should be suspicious if this is not present or looks different. Also look out for grammatical errors, low quality images and inconsistencies on the website.
Always use common sense and if something doesn’t feel right, don’t proceed. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!
Remember COVID-19 is still here
If you do decide to hit the shops in person, remember that COVID-19 is still a threat, and going to crowded places increases the risk of contracting and spreading the virus. Try to keep a safe distance and follow Government & local guidance as well as following any rules in the establishment you are visiting.
If you’re feeling the pinch this Christmas, find out more about our free money advice service to see how we have helped fellow residents improve their finances.
