Gum-shield; check
Lucozade; check.
Credit and debit cards; check.
In a country renowned for its adoration of queues and for apologising to someone else when they bump into you, “Black Friday” is our antithesis. Hailing from America, Black Friday is a jungle of sales and discounts, infamous for its Purge-style commercial experience.
Rather than tell you not to do it (you and I know that you will), here are some of our tops tips to do it without risking an Armageddon on Argyll Street or an Apocalypse on Amazon.
1. Check websites are secure and use a credit card
- Not everyone is focussed on being on the Nice List, and some sales/sites will be after your secure details. Check the website and company before entering your personal information. For additional security, purchase items worth £100-£30,000 on a credit card as if there is a problem with the product or if the company goes out of business it is your credit card company that is responsible for protecting you.
2. Return within 14 days for a refund
- As explained in a previous article, if a product is faulty and was purchased from a UK-based retailer then the Consumer Rights Act gives you 30 days from the product purchase date to get a refund. This refund should be received within 14 days. After 30 days, it is less likely that you’ll get a refund but, you have the right to a repair or a replacement for up to six months. This also covers digital rights, so will apply to apps, music, films, etc.
3. Return within 30 days for a full refund
- Generally the time limit is 28 days however some retailers have slightly different returns policies for sale items, so check before you buy. If you buy online then you have 14 days from the point at which you received the item to return the product for a full refund if you change your mind. Sometimes, in the heat of it all, you think meggings are a good idea – we’ve all been there, and we all learn from our mistakes.
4. Make sure items are in good condition before reselling
- If you can’t beat them, begrudgingly join them. Before putting your items online, ensure you have photographs and descriptions that accurately line up with the product you are selling. You need to ensure the goods you intend to resell work and are of a satisfactory quality.
5. Have items left in a secure place
- If you’re buying online and having items delivered, know where and when they are going to be delivered to. Parcels arriving late or not turning up at all are often the retailer’s responsibility, so be sure you know what has been agreed to so you can hold your retailer to it. If your items aren’t delivered, the consumer contract regulations cover you for a refund.
- However, if you have given delivery instructions to leave the product on your doorstep and it is then stolen from your doorstep, it’s not the vendor’s fault. Common sense and law states that you never ask for things to be left somewhere unsafe – always request a note to be left by the courier instructing you to collect it from your local post office or collection point.
6. Look carefully at what extra protection a warranty gives
- Additional warranties are tempting, especially for expensive items, however they only tend to cover faults with the product. As stated, the Consumer Rights Act provides you the right to a repair or replacement within six months of your purchase anyway, so think carefully about this before digging into your pockets.
7. Donate money to charity
- Because Christmas is coming and it’s not all about you.
- In fact, you can donate here to our current charity and fundraising efforts so you already have a surplus of good karma before you hit the streets.
Good luck, be smart, and place a bag of peas on any bruises at the end of the evening.
