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Black Friday Don'ts
Shoppers should be careful on biggest shopping day of the year
By Lacie Grosvold
ANCHORAGE - Thanksgiving may be a holiday, but many shoppers are celebrating Black Friday, the kickoff to the holiday buying season. Consumers wait in long lines at odd hours to snag the deals, but will shopping on Friday really save you money?
It can, but there are several things shoppers should look out for.
Better Business Bureau spokesperson Adam Harkness said that in the holiday hustle, you can end up missing deals.
For example, many times, customers line up to snag a particular item, but there are such a limited number at that price, only a few people will get them. "They might only offer two or three per location and rarely offer rain checks," he said.
Shoppers should also be savvy about signage. Retailers will use words like "up to" 50 percent off, when many of the items have a much smaller discount. Harkness said this could influence people to buy something at a price they wouldn't usually pay.
When it comes to things like electronics, it's best to do your homework. You may save money if you can wait until after the holidays.
Clothing might be an item that is actually cheaper on Black Friday.
And if you want to skip the crowds, you can alway shop online. Cyber Monday is the biggest online shopping day of the year.
