Black Friday 2024 will take place this year on Friday, November 29.
Black Friday is the Friday following the American holiday of Thanksgiving and usually takes place between November 23 and 29. For millions of people, Black Friday is the perfect opportunity to get their Christmas presents.
Although it is not considered a public holiday, many workers in the US have this day off, except of course those who work in the retail sector, who wait for this day to boost their sales.
The Ten Commandments for Safe Shopping
OR General Secretariat of Trade and Consumer Protection of the Ministry of Development and Investments every year announces the Black Friday ten list for safe shopping.
OR Black Friday is also an opportunity for scammers who take advantage of consumers’ desire for many good offers. So even if you come across terms like “cheap”, “offer” etc., don’t assume that this is really a good deal. Experience has shown that where prices are particularly low or even significantly lower than usual, the goods may be counterfeit or defective. Do your research some time before you make your purchases so that you are able to spot the fake offers.
Read the terms of use in online stores and ask about guarantees in physical stores
While large chain stores often update their return policy for the benefit of the consumer, smaller businesses may show less flexibility.
Carefully read the terms of use of the online store before making a purchase or ask about the store’s policy, when it is a physical store, in case of returning the goods.
Do you really need the product you saw in the window or in the e-shop? Does the final amount of your purchases divert your budget? Black Friday causes such excitement among consumers that many times they make purchases that are not really necessary for fear that they may not be able to take advantage of the offers! Remember that despite the attractive offers that stores may be promising in the run-up to Black Friday, as we head into the Christmas holiday season, the market will once again restock with new discounts and new goods!
Beware of unknown or new online businesses
The best deals are not always provided by the big online businesses. Even small online businesses can offer significant shopping opportunities, but in the case of a new or unknown business, you should be especially careful not to lose money. If you find that critical information to identify the identity of the online business is missing such as the company name, postal address, contact numbers, email address and VAT number, it is better to avoid making a purchase until you cross the credibility of the business by first investigating its online reputation.
Beware of misleading offers
Even if you buy from a website you trust, it is important to check all the details regarding your transaction: the price, warranty, transport costs, availability or delivery time, may be some of the important information that you will determine your final choice. Many times, however, pop-up banners may appear with offers unrelated to those provided by the supplier company, from websites that ask you to enter your bank account details or your codes to complete the transaction. In these cases, contact both the company and your bank and confirm the authenticity of the content of these messages. We should avoid offers that appear in pop-up windows if they come from unknown websites.
Be very careful when providing sensitive personal information
In cases where you intend to use a credit or debit card, carefully review the terms and conditions and emails related to your transaction. You should also not proceed with a transaction if you are asked to install software to obtain an offer.
Don’t be swayed by unusually low prices or offers
Check brochures, social media promotions and store newsletters for the prices of the products you are interested in. Gather several days before Black Friday so that you have a yardstick for the final price offered and to be able to ascertain that you got a really good buying opportunity.
Coupons and giftcards
When you have discount coupons or giftcards, confirm if the products you want are available on Black Friday or if the companies you are interested in accept these coupons and are not excluded from the offers.
Check the security policy in online transactions
If you plan to go shopping online, prefer to use your personal devices that have an antivirus and firewall installed. When entering your transaction details, make sure encryption is in place. You can recognize this if you notice the closed lock icon in the top left of the website address and if the address starts with “
Agree on the delivery date of the product
In the event that the business does not deliver the product on time, remember that debit or credit card transactions offer substantial safeguards for consumers in case of cancellation of the transaction. Conversely, payment by deposit into the supplier’s bank account should be avoided.
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday is an American consumer custom that over time has spread internationally and since 2016 has also appeared in Greece, at the initiative of large retail chains.
This day is the last Friday of November, when consumers have the opportunity to shop with huge discounts and offers.
However, Black Friday in Greece has been extended to a whole week of offers, known as “Black Week”.
The same is expected to happen this year as well, with stores starting their offers from Monday 25 November and not just Friday 29 November.
It is worth noting that this year, as in previous years, the mid-November sales will not take place, which allows small and large businesses to offer bigger discounts earlier.
Why is Black Friday called ‘Black’?
In the early 1960s, when receipts and ledgers were handwritten, shopkeepers used two colors of ink: red for days with a loss and black for days with a profit. Thus, the last Friday of November was established as the first day of Christmas shopping, with high turnover, which explains the name “Black Friday”.
Black Friday 2024: At the same time, the term “Black Friday” was used in the 1960s by police officers in Philadelphia, who complained about traffic congestion from increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
During the 19th century, the term was also used to describe a major financial crash in 1869, when investors in New York suffered huge losses in the stock market.
In the late 1980s, retailers gave the term a more positive connotation, and since then, “Black Friday” marks the Friday after “Thanksgiving,” a day that American stores look forward to as they achieve big profits.
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