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Black Friday is right around the corner, and you know what that means…mass chaos, news reports of people brawling in the aisles of Walmart, and all kinds of other incidents that will make you shake your head and question the direction of the human race.
Buuuuuut, you know and I know that we’re all probably still going to hit some different stores and check out the deals. Who are we kidding?
One thing, though: do your best not to get duped by retailers who are trying to get as much money as possible from you and everyone else on the planet. Keep in mind these ways that businesses get you to spend money on Black Friday when you head out shopping next week.
And good luck out there!
1. Bonuses
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Retailers will try to add “bonuses” to your purchases so you think you’re getting a great deal. For example, they might say you’ll “save more if you buy more” and up the ante for percentages off the more money you spend (10% off $50, 15% off $100, or 20% off $200). Sometimes, it can be hard to say “no” to perceived savings and deals…
2. Slippery coupons
Read the fine print if you’re given any coupons for Black Friday. Consumer analyst Julie Ramhold says, “Often these come with a ton of exclusions. If you’re having to hunt for something to apply it to, it’s probably not worth whatever savings you think you’re getting.”
3. Rebates galore!
Beware of rebates. There, I said it. A lot of businesses are betting on the fact that people will not actually take the time to fill out forms and mail in rebates, so a lot of people end up paying full price for something that they didn’t have to.
4. Doorbusters
Doorbusters are big discounts on products that are limited and first-come, first-serve for customers. That’s why people camp out overnight in front of stores and beat each other up once they actually get into the store.
The thinking goes that a lot of people will not get their hands on these limited products, BUT they’ll spend money on other products to justify their hours spent outside the store, which might have included an overnighter. Kind of brilliant…
5. Inflating the original prices
Black Friday is all about deals, right? HUGE deals! Well, maybe not…it turns out that a lot of businesses inflate their prices in the weeks leading up to Black Friday so people will think they are getting an enormous discount and it will seem all the more dramatic. So do a little research and see what the products you want cost throughout the year.
Are you going to go all-in on Black Friday, or will you sit back and wait until all the hoopla dies down?
