Be wary of Black Friday discounts, says consumer defence authority
Portugal Resident
Black Friday offers shoppers special discounts… but also poses risks
Portugal’s consumer defence authority (DGC) is warning shoppers to be wary of the upcoming shopping craze known as Black Friday, in which “false discounts, misleading advertising or unfair commercial practices may be used”.
The authority has launched a campaign called ‘Compare prices and consider your purchase – the decision is yours!’, urging consumers to be avoid being fooled by fake discounts or misleading deals.
As DGC explains, all Black Friday deals “must correspond to a discount on the lowest price at which the product was sold, in the same shop, in the last 30 days”.
Consumers are also advised to use price comparison websites and “make informed decisions” and to avoid falling victims to some of the most popular tactics of the Black Friday season, such as the pressure of taking advantage of limited offers.
Online shoppers should also pay heed in the coming weeks, as fraudulent versions of official shops may be promoted via emails, telephone calls or on social media.
In order to encourage ‘informed and responsible’ consumption, DGC has launched seven tips for consumers: check the exchange and returns policies before buying, compare products and prices, check whether the value of the postage compensates for the discount or promotion or whether the discount on the item compensates for the use of a credit card.
Likewise, the consumer defence authority asks people to check that the payment system used on the website is secure, to check the identity and contact details of those selling and to report sudden price changes to the Food and Economic Safety Authority (ASAE) and to DGC.
‘Black Friday’, which takes place on the fourth Friday in November, has become associated with big discounts, extending into various types of promotions throughout the month.
In an inspection in 2023, the DGC checked advertising messages for 100 products from 20 economic operators, detecting “three cases with signs of offences”.
Source: LUSA
The post Be wary of Black Friday discounts, says consumer defence authority appeared first on Portugal Resident written by Michael Bruxo
