The countdown has begun!  Christmas is closer than you think and now the buying frenzy begins.  Like millions of people who wish to avoid the longs lines at stores, and who just like shopping from the comfort of their home, you do most of your shopping online.  View merchandise, add to cart, buy and you’re done!  Great.  Now you just wait for your merchandise to be sent to you.

But have you considered what could happen if your merchandise is delivered to your home and you’re not there?  Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona has some tips to help protect your purchases from those who might want to take advantage of your shopping for themselves:

See if the store has the ability to allow you to track your purchases.  If so, do so and often until you receive the merchandise.  Contact the store immediately if not received when indicated.

None of the package delivery companies deliver on weekends.  If you know you will not be at home, consider having your items shipped to your place of employment or to a trusted neighbor or friend.

Try and request a delivery time when you know you will be home if possible.

Ask the package delivery company to put your purchases somewhere they cannot be seen from the street, e.g. back porch, behind the back door, etc.

See if you can arrange to pick up your items at the package delivery company’s place of operations.

Request a signature upon delivery.  This makes it harder on you but also harder on those who would want to steal your merchandise.

When you do receive your merchandise examine it immediately.  If you believe it’s been tampered with, contact the store immediately.

Holiday times need to be stress free but you also need to know that scammers will be in full force.  In this time of good will and giving, just be sure the good will and giving is done for those you care about and not for some stranger who sees the brown boxes in front of your home and thinks Christmas has come early for him!

It’s time to start planning your Black Friday, that special day after Thanksgiving when retailers gear up to offer their best. Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona’s past experience tells us that all deals are not created equal and the fine print is often the most important thing. Before you head out the door for a block buster and get caught up in the frenzy, the BBB offers the following tip sheet to help you save time and money.

1. Know before you go.
In the coming weeks many retailers will release their Black Friday deals online, in social media and other publications. Research where the sales are and make a list of your gift priorities to compare prices and plan your day of deals. Since many advertisements will begin before the actual sale, build up a coupon collection as soon as possible. Remember to bring ads with you on Black Friday just in case the price is not what you expected.

3. Don’t fall for false advertising.
Despite BBBs effort to advance trust in the marketplace, some companies will resort to advertisements that are untrue, misleading, deceptive, or plain fraudulent. Black Friday advertising will be abundant and BBB urges consumers to watch for red flags.

Many consumers have experienced frustration and lost money they can’t afford to lose after being lured by prices too good to be true, bait and switch ads designed to bring you in but push you toward more expensive items, fine print return policies, final sales, and deals that end before the day is done. To protect you on Black Friday, BBB advises consumers not to believe all they see or hear without doing their own research to confirm the claims being made. For details and help to decipher truth in adverting, consumers can review BBB’s code of advertising.

If you find advertising you’d like the BBB to investigate tell us more by emailing info@tucson.bbb.org.

3. Maximize advance alerts.
Do you have favorite retailers? Now is a good time to sign up for their email alerts and “like” their Facebook page. BBB Accredited Businesses and other stores are working to reward your loyalty and you may get a jump on special offers.

4. Set up your reward cards.
Have you ever stood in line with out your store rewards card? You either missed out or the clerk may have handed one over. Black Friday deals may have strict restrictions with no sharing allowed. Make sure you have reward cards with your favorite stores and keep them with you. Check your credit card rewards program as well for special points that could add up on Black Friday.

5. Shop with trust.
If you find a deal – don’t just jump at the first chance to get it. The BBB recommends doing your research on the business – know how long they’ve been in business, look into their customer service track record, check them out at www.tucson.bbb.org. If you have concerns about the type of gift or the right fit – make sure you ask about their return policy too.

6. Comparative shop online.
There are dozens of Black Friday websites that claim to capture the best deals around and they can really help you do your comparative shopping online. Before you pick your favorite site, the BBB recommends that consumers find a reputable site that’s not a fly-by-night operation by checking them out at www.tucson.bbb.org and see what others say about the site through an online search.

If you decide to buy online there are a host of security measures to abide by, among them to Start with Trust and know you are dealing with an experienced, reputable retailer; confirm that the site is secure and be certain you have a phone number and physical address should problems arise with your order.

7. Look for QR codes.
They’re square, black-and-white and funny looking – but they can take you straight to a deal. QR stands for Quick Response codes and they’re popping up in many ads and print materials. Several BBB Accredited Businesses use them to help you Start with Trust and they can bring you directly to a special offer or a BBB Business Review. Before you can scan one and view the offer – you’ll have to install a QR app reader. Most newer smart phones are equipped to scan QR codes and if you’re a mobile shopper you could really have some fun.

8. Shop small
Save your gas money and your time when you stay close to home. The Better Business Bureau is encouraging consumers to support small businesses in their community on Small Business Saturday, the day after Black Friday. Check your neighborhood retailers for their weekend deals and gain some goodwill by knowing you’ve done your part to help them thrive during the holidays. Although a price match may not be applicable for some items – your neighborhood store may be able to guarantee a price for you – even if you decide to buy later.

9. Check return and exchange policies.
All bets can change for Black Friday deals which means the store policies can change too. Make sure you know what the return and exchange policy is for your Black Friday special and that a return is even possible – especially if you’re buying online. Final sales, a very short return window (like before December 25th) or in-store or online only credit could leave you with deal gone wrong.

10. Shop safely.
While getting a deal is important, there are ways to shop safely without putting yourself or your wallet in jeopardy. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to take their time and plan ahead for the best rewards.

• Make a list and prioritize where you should go and when.
• Bring friends into the mix to help sort through your options, two cars can go in two directions making it easier to get limited quantities and some pals will even wait in line as you trade off shopping in the stores.
• Remember to get gift receipts and keep them organized for those moments when the thought wasn’t quite enough.

Layaway has become increasingly popular with the challenging economic times. Many find it very helpful during the holidays to be able to spread payments over a period of time, but putting an item on layaway may result in a loss of money or the item itself if you don’t read the contract carefully, warns BBB

BBBs around the country have received complaints in the last year from consumers whose layaway purchase did not turn out the way they anticipated.

Consumers mainly place furniture, toys and jewelry on layaway and do so at a variety of stores, including national chains, local retailers and pawn shops.

“It’s important to know the policies up front. For instance, a lot of items might not be eligible for layaway on big sale days so call the store before you head down and stand in line on Black Friday, ,” said Kim States, BBB President. “Also, the worst thing that can happen with layaway is the company going out of business. So be sure to only sign up with a reliable retailer.”

BBB suggests that consumers consider the following when using layaway this holiday season:

How long can the item be on layaway?

It’s important to know that some items have a time limit and once that time is up, the item is returned back to the store for someone else to purchase.

Will the item be placed in a hold area until all payments are made?

If the item is not held for you, it may be inadvertently sold to another customer.

Is there a specific date when each payment must be made?

The contract may specify when payments must be made and that, if a payment is not made by that date, the layaway item can be sold to another consumer.

What is the company’s refund policy?  Is there a restocking fee?  Will only a store credit be issued?  Are no refunds available? 

Consumers report not being able to obtain a refund or a store credit if they change their mind about buying the item put on layaway.  In addition, complaints state that restocking fees of 10% or more are often charged.

When putting a product on layaway that is not in stock, is the product ordered when the layaway is opened or when the last payment is made?

Consumers report that even after the last payment is made the product is not available, and sometimes is delayed for weeks or months. Consumers also report that after the last payment, delivery has been delayed due to other consumers having their delivery dates scheduled before layaway customers.

For more tips on how to avoid scams and make wise purchasing decisions this holiday season visit www.tucson.bbb.org/bbb-news.