BC consumers warned about Black Friday scams
Posted November 22, 2011 10:50 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Those crazy enough to cross the border and fight the Black Friday crowds should start making a plan now. News1130 is learning from the Better Business Bureau that not all deals are created equal.
“You want to make sure that you get the deal that you are promised so that it all works out for you in the end,” says Mark Fernandes with the BBB.
He adds there are deals to watch for that may be too good to be true.
“People have spent a lot of time lining up for deals, and have put in a lot of money to purchase things and in some cases it can be a bait and switch that happens. They are substituted a lower or inferior product for what they thought they were getting.”
He warns against things that may be final sale. “Consumers really need to be careful of what they’re getting into.”
Ideally, Fernandes says people should try comparing prices when they shop. “You want to contact that company, make sure they have adequate supplies, because if you’re going across the border you want to make sure you’ll be able to get that product.”
He says it is also important to check return and exchange policies because you may have to go out of your way if you didn’t get it right the first time.
Black Friday app
A Vancouver-based start-up company has created an app to help you find the best deals. It’s called Smart Aisles and has been named the number two shopping app for Black Friday.
It collects the best in-store deals from retailers like Best Buy and Target, and then passes them along to you. The app was created by a couple of BCIT grads, along with a grad from the University of Northern BC.
In August, when it launched in the States, it averaged about 200 downloads a day. According to the Vancouver Sun, since it’s been marketed for Black Friday, downloads have shot up to 5,000 per day.
