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The shopping day “Black Friday” arrived in Austria years ago. This year, it will take place on November 28, but the signs are already clearly visible. Some retail segments are focusing on “Black Weeks” or even “Black November,” and the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon, is already advertising various discounts under the title “early Black Friday.”
However, according to a study by the Austrian E-Commerce Quality Mark (www.guetezeichen.at), the risk of becoming a victim of internet fraud also increases every year around the time of the bargain hunt. One conclusion: “One in four people has already encountered fraudulent offers when shopping online around such promotional days.”
“As different as the shopping preferences of Austrians may be, they have one thing in common: they love good deals! More than 80 percent specifically use discount campaigns such as ‘Black Friday’ to grab bargains online,” it is emphasized. But criminals also profit from the “shopping frenzy,” according to the e-commerce study. “Not only reputable online retailers prepare for the Black Friday rush, criminals also specifically exploit the increased willingness to buy.”
How to protect yourself
But what should you keep in mind to avoid falling into the trap of fraudsters? Thorsten Behrens, managing director of the Austrian E-Commerce Quality Seal, advises in a press release: “Whether it’s counterfeit products, inferior goods, or even fake online shops that don’t deliver anything at all: around Black Friday, we are seeing a rapid increase in fraudulent offers on the internet. As a general rule, the cheaper an online offer appears, the more cautious you should be.“ The Austrian E-Commerce Quality Mark also helps to identify trustworthy online shops and enables safe and customer-friendly shopping, even on Black Friday,” says Behrens. According to the study, 76 percent of Austrians trust an online retailer with a quality mark more than one without certification. For 14 percent, shopping without a quality mark is out of the question; they only shop at certified stores.
What are people buying?
According to the study, 30 percent of respondents specifically use the upcoming promotional days in November and the associated discount campaigns to buy Christmas gifts. But it’s not just gifts for others that are the focus. Many also take advantage of the offers to treat themselves. Fashion items such as clothing, shoes, and accessories (44 percent) and electronic entertainment devices (39 percent) are particularly popular. Household items are also popular: both practical (35 percent) and decorative items (17 percent) are frequently purchased on promotional days. Black Friday is crucial for electrical and electronic devices: According to the study, almost 90 percent of Austrians are willing to wait for sale days such as Black Friday to purchase high-quality electronic products. Jewelry (88 percent), children’s items (83 percent), and power tools and DIY supplies (83 percent) are also preferred purchases when attractive offers are available.
Those who fear missing out on a supposed bargain often make less considered decisions. This increases the risk of making bad purchases. That’s why it makes sense to think in advance about what purchases you want to make and to keep an eye on prices. If you decide early on which trustworthy online shops to use, you can remain calm even on promotional days,” recommends Thorsten Behrens.
- source: kleinezeitung.at/picture: pixabay.com
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