Advice to consumers during this year’s (29.11.2024) and Cyber Monday (2.12.2024), gives the Independent Consumer Counsel Authority and the European Consumer Center Greece. In particular, they state: Many stores in Black Friday show great discounts, without always being real. Careful control and comparison of product prices before and during discounts is recommended. Price developments over several months can be easily done by consumers using relevant online tools. It is good to choose shops not only based on low prices, but also based on good reputation and long presence in the market. The positive experiences and reviews of other consumers are also a parameter that can help with the final choice. It is recommended to avoid transactions with electronic stores operating exclusively through social networks, without at the same time having a physical seat and without disclosing full contact details (mail and e-mail address, fixed telephone number), as well as registration number on the General Commercial Register (GEMI). Black Friday and Cyber Monday are an opportunity for skillful people to deceive unsuspecting consumers with a preference in electronic markets. It is recommended that consumers visit secure store websites, starting with “https” (with SSL certificate). It is good to avoid storing sensitive personal data, such as credit card numbers, on shop sites with which consumers do not often trade, but also to make electronic purchases when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. In some cases, the initial cost of a product may be significantly increased by adding additional charges to the shopping cart, such as shipping, cash out and insurance costs. To avoid unpleasant surprises we always check before the transaction is completed the total value of each market. Electronic fraud via email is rapidly increasing during the period of discounts. It is recommended that consumers pay particular attention to commercial offers sent by email from strangers or with very attractive prices, as they may be pitfalls for sensitive personal data through the opening of malicious external links or attached files. Any discount event that promises low prices encourages excessive consumption. We always try to focus on real needs and markets that have absolute priority, making proper budget-based programming.
Black Friday 2024: Tips from Consumer Counsel
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