H Black Friday or Black Friday, is usually set on the fourth Friday of November, but always follows Thanksgiving in the US (11/28). Thus, this year Black Friday will “fall” on Friday, November 29, 2024.
And this year… “Black Week”
From the third year of application in Greece, and specifically from 2018, Black Friday takes the form of “Black Week”.
Something like this is expected to be done in… 2024 by the stores, with the result that the big offers will not start on the established… “Black Friday” which falls on November 29, but on Monday, November 25.
It should also be noted that this year (for the third time in recent years) the mid-term sales of November are not held. Reportedly, this will enable small and large businesses to move forward with more “bold” offers earlier.
How did “Black Friday»
It started as a habit in the USA and because of its success, it became an institution adopted by other countries.
In the early 60’s ledgers and receipts were of course handwritten and stores had two colors of ink to record the figures.
Days with a negative sales balance were written in red and days with a positive balance were written in black.
The last Friday of November was therefore established as the first day of sales of the Christmas period, with significantly increased turnovers, hence the name Black Friday.
“Black Friday” will “fall” as always on the last Friday of November, specifically on November 29, 2024.
In recent years, the institution has spread to many European countries, including England, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Austria, Finland, Poland, and every year more and more retailers participate.
After Black Friday, Cyber Monday
Of course, we must not forget that three days after Black Friday, comes Cyber Monday, another opportunity for cheap purchases, which concerns purchases made exclusively via the Internet.
This year Cyber Monday falls on Monday, December 2, 2024.
Ten tips for safe shopping at Black Friday
Be wary of would-be scammers and fraudulent practices
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.
Watch out for impulse buying behavior before you make a transaction
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 promise in the run-up to Black Friday, as we move 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 the details of your bank accounts 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, ensure that 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.
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