Common Black Friday Mistakes to Avoid for a Stress-Free Shopping

Black Friday is almost here. It's time to dust off those shopping bags and wish lists because Black Fridays and similar special days are associated with the finest discounts and offers on the products you have always wished to buy. Though the shops and websites offer unique bargains, the yearly shopping frenzy also comes with certain pitfalls. Whether you're an experienced shopper or a newbie, feeling too excited about discounts and purchasing without a plan can break your bank.

In this article, we've listed down some common Black Friday shopping mistakes that we all tend to make and possible solutions for them.

Table of Contents

• Mistake 1: Not having a shopping plan
• Mistake 2: Falling for fake deals
• Mistake 3: Overspending
• Mistake 4:Prioritizing discounts over qualit
• Mistake 5:Solely relying on credit cards
• Mistake 6:Not checking the return policies
• Mistake 7: Shopping at the last minute

7 Black Friday Mistakes to Avoid and Their Solutions

Before preparing those wishlists for black friday shopping, take a look through the following mistakes that you might make and ways to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Not having a shopping plan

The exceptional prices and discounts on products you've wanted for a long time might overwhelm you during the black friday cyber monday deals. However, hopping the stores or websites without a proper shopping plan can burn a hole in your pocket. If you don’t create a list of items you 'actually' plan to buy, it's easy to get carried away with the 'limited-time offers.' This happens because of fear of missing out, which might result in you buying unwanted items. Also, a deal cannot be considered real if you don't require the item you impulsively purchase.

Solution: Take time to create a list of items that you wish to buy or need even before the black friday sale begins. Also, if something's not on your list, avoid purchasing it. Once you list down the items, compare the prices and do your research to find out where you can find the best deal.

Pro tip: Prioritize items that will remain valuable to you months from now and create the list accordingly. This ensures you have needed items before the stock runs out.

Mistake 2: Falling for fake deals

The growing popularity of online shopping has created 'hype' about most of the products, resulting in many misleading sales and fake discounts. The more the discount, the more careful you should be. You might've noticed that certain products on some websites seem to always be 'on sale,' no matter whether it's Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Well, some retailers tend to mark up prices to hold promotions that appear great but aren't real. Shoppers may also fall prey to fraudulent websites that imitate well-known retailers by offering extraordinary discounts, especially on electric appliances.

Solution: Stay cautious and opt for reputable retailers and brands to enjoy safe shopping. You may also copy the product's reference link and search to find out if other competitors are selling it to ensure credibility. This can be done with the help of comparison websites as well. Likewise, make sure the payment getaway and the product redirection links are valid.

Mistake 3: Overspending

Black Friday shopping turns into ordinary shopping if you haven't set a budget beforehand. It might not be the most exciting task, but setting a budget not only helps you manage the finances, but also lets you save money for the best christmas tree deals awaiting for you in December. Shopping on Black Friday without a budget could result in you spending all of your money on those one-day deals and finding yourself in financial burden.

Solution: Sort your budget based on the category even before you plan to go for the much-awaited Black Friday shopping day. Set a specific price range for spending on items, like $150 for decor and $150 for clothes, etc. You may also use reward points and coins you have while purchasing online.

Mistake 4: Prioritizing discounts over quality

Those large percentages of discounts on your favorite products are a sight to behold. However, there's a catch. Though the attractive deals seem alluring, you may have to compromise on the quality of the products sometimes. The performance, durability, etc. of the products may not be as good as you expected when you rely just on discounts. They could even break or tear off within months.

Solution: Make sure you compare the quality of products too, along with the discount percentages. Investing in a good quality product is always better than dealing with frequent wear and tear. Many trustworthy sites like Garvee.com best black friday deals 2024 offer excellent discounts on high-quality kitchen and dining as well as storage products.

Mistake 5: Solely relying on credit cards

Credit cards could be your go-to companions for financial needs. Yes, they are really convenient. But with convenience comes the risk factors. The tempting black friday sale offers may encourage you to swipe your credit cards more often, thinking you can pay it off later. However, "Later" frequently entails more tension and interest, especially when you have a large amount to pay off.

Solution: Try to make payments with your debit cards or cash. Even if you must sometimes use a credit card, establish a strict spending limit for yourself. Consider paying with cards with reward points or cashback to enjoy some benefits.

Mistake 6: Not checking the return policies

With those 'deals' coming from all angles, you may often overlook the return policies and warranties of the product you've added to the cart. This could be a huge mistake when you purchase a costly item that doesn't meet your expectations. If the purchased product has a no-return policy, you may have to keep that product and lose the money you've spent on that item.

Solution: Before adding any item to your cart, carefully read the return policy and warranty information. The return policies for sale items might be less than usual. Hence, it is essential to check that.

Mistake 7: Shopping at the last minute

Did you know most websites and shops offer deals well before the 'D-day'? A lot of stores begin the black friday sale weeks before the event. Waiting till the last day of sale may not be a good idea as the products you wish listed might've been sold out by then. Besides, if you wish to shop in person, you may have to bear the long queues and rush if you wait until the sale draws to a close.

Solution: To ensure you have access to those early bird discounts, subscribe to the newsletters of your preferred stores or follow them on social media. Shopping early helps you get the best products.

Pro tip: Bookmark the items you wish to buy so that you can check the change in prices and choose the best deal.