The Black Friday shopping season is a major annual event for shoppers. Offering a host of products from several categories, Black Friday allows buyers to check off all items from their shopping lists at exciting discounts. With Black Friday 2023 around the corner, customers are gearing up for a shopping spree once again. However, it is important to avoid certain shopping mistakes to make the most of this Black Friday sale.

Adding more items to the cart just to avail of a discount

Many online retail websites promise heavy discounts to buyers upon purchasing a specific number of items. However, adding more items to the cart only to avail of such discounts can cost buyers much more than their budget limit. Therefore, it is best to earmark products that one has already planned to buy and check out the available discounts on the market rates of these products instead of buying too many items in bulk to avail of a discount on the actual price.

Being loyal to only one brand

Another common mistake many buyers make is to base their buying decisions only on the brand offering a product. While certain brands have emerged as household names in their industries and have consistently been manufacturing superior-quality products, every product launched by a specific brand may not meet one’s requirements. Therefore, customers must thoroughly research any product, its features, benefits, online reviews, and word of mouth before deciding to buy it. It also helps to explore products by the brand’s competitors and compare their features before deciding.

Buying a product only due to the discount

Shopping seasons like Black Friday offer a wide range of products at highly discounted prices, tempting buyers to bag multiple items. However, many of these products may not be relevant to certain buyers and will likely be tucked away into one’s closet, ending up as white elephants. Thus, it is best if buyers list the items according to their needs and stick to the list while shopping during sales seasons.

Ignoring the terms and conditions of e-commerce websites

Often, buyers overlook the importance of checking out the terms and conditions drafted by e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Best Buy. Each of these websites has distinct conditions regarding aspects such as exchange and return policies, cookies, and protection of personal information. Reading these privacy policy terms lets readers determine whether the website is secure. Furthermore, it can help them decide whether to buy products from a particular e-commerce site based on their policies regarding key aspects, such as exchange and return policies.

Not planning one’s finances beforehand

While the sale season offers products at discounted rates, buying all the items one needs at the same time can cause a strain on one’s finances. Hence, planning the finances and setting a budget range and limit is crucial even while shopping at Black Friday sales. It is also important for buyers to decide their mode of payment, i.e., whether they can afford to make a down payment or if they need to pay through a credit card and settle the expense later.

Overspending on gifts

Buying gifts during the shopping season is a good idea to present loved ones with expensive gifts that are probably beyond one’s budget range at other times. However, buying too many such gifts without setting a budget for such purchases can burn a hole in one’s pocket. Keeping a budget helps prioritize one’s requirements over gifts, moving on to gift items only after buying all the products on one’s shopping list.

Not subscribing to retailers’ emails and messages

It helps to subscribe to e-commerce websites’ emails and newsletters, which provide details on the items offered on sale during shopping seasons. Such communications by these platforms also help one plan ahead and make comprehensive lists of items to bag from every category, including gadgets, home appliances, electronics, and accessories.

Not checking out products that were on sale during the previous season

Generally, products offered at discounted prices during one sale season may be on sale even during the succeeding shopping season. Therefore, it is a good idea to review the products that were on sale the previous year, prepare lists of items one requires among these products, and check out whether they are on sale during the upcoming shopping season.

Overlooking the price-color bias

The price-color bias is real in the online shopping world and works at an advantage for individuals who are not particular about the color of their products. Specifically, a product may be offered at a lower price if one opts for a less popular color and vice versa. Hence, buyers may consider purchasing products in their less popular shades to avail of these products at lower prices.