Black Friday: A Survivor's Guide

November 22, 2005

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With Black Friday just a few days away, Consumer Reports has a few tips and advice that shoppers should observe to cope with the most hectic shopping day of the year.

The downside to playing the waiting game is that you might not find a full complement of sizes, colors, and styles, and the latest and greatest gadgets could be sold out.

2. Shop early. "Black Friday" is THE most maddening shopping day of the holiday season. Shoppers should be prepared to deal with heavy traffic and packed stores -- which mean more time on the road and less time to shop -- more so during the afternoon and into the evening.

To that end, Consumer Reports advises shoppers to avoid the frenzy and to arrive before the stores open, when there may be early-bird specials and other enticing discounts and a greater availability of products in stock.

3. Check out the retailer's Web site. Visiting a retailer's Web site offers many options for shoppers. First, shoppers can check the Web site and see if the product is stocked and available. Around the holidays, many stores suspend shipping charges, so you could order online and save a trip to the store.

Second, most retailers offer shoppers the opportunity to purchase the item online and allow for a pick-up at the store, which can also save time. Third, retailers may offer coupons that shoppers can print out and bring with them for bonus savings. to the store.

Fourth, shopping online means you don't have to deal with traffic. To get the latest e-Ratings -- unbiased evaluations of online shopping sites -- check out www.ConsumerReports.org.

4. Be mindful of return policies and restocking fees. Retailers are becoming stricter when it comes to enforcing return policies. Consumer Reports advises shoppers to ask for gift receipts.

If there are no receipts, shoppers should be prepared to be issued store credit for the lowest price the item actually sold for, not what you might have paid.

Also, should shoppers return big-ticket items, like camcorders, digital cameras, and television sets, shoppers are advised that they might be hit with a restocking fee for opened boxes. Restocking fees range from 5 to 15 percent of the purchase price.

5. Get extra savings through instant charge cards. If you plan a big-ticket purchase consider opening up an instant charge card to receive the extra 10 percent off at the point of purchase. Disciplined shoppers are then urged to pay the balance and cut up the card.

Most importantly, Consumer Reports advises shoppers to "buy only what you can afford."

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