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 (more…)

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning consumers to research cars before purchasing from a used car dealership.

BBB logged 6,915 consumer inquires into used car dealerships since the beginning of 2011, making used car dealerships one of BBB’s most inquired about industries in Southern Arizona.

“Used car dealers are nothing new in the BBB complaint realm,” said Kim States, BBB President. “But with the economy the way it is, we expect the number of complaints to continue to increase.”

When purchasing a used car, BBB suggests:

• Research the dealership with BBB.
• Get everything agreed to in writing. Verbal agreements guarantee nothing.
• If the dealer is responsible for repairs, be sure to get them on a due bill.
• Have a mechanic independently contracted examine the vehicle prior to purchase.
• Test drive the car in varied conditions. Avoid buying a car you cannot test drive.
• Obtain a CarFax report and be wary of any refurbished vehicle.
• Check for any recalls with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
• Realize there is no “cooling off” period for used cars unless the option is purchased along with the car.

What do you do when your windshield wipers stop working, your left taillight burns out, and your brakes give out? Some may opt to fix the problem themselves, but many turn to the services and handiwork of auto repairmen. While most auto repairmen are honest and forthcoming, consumers need to be on the lookout for those that are trying to make a quick buck. Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is advising consumers to do their research before turning their car over to an auto repair service.

When your vehicle needs repairs, you don’t need a crash course in auto mechanics, but you should know how to find a reliable shop and mechanic. It’s important for consumers to be on the lookout for scams like overcharging on repairs, charging for labor that was never performed, and performing shoddy work. In 2010, BBB received a whopping 12,682 complaints against auto repair mechanics. In this year alone, BBB has already received nearly 11,000 complaints.

“Many times consumers realize that they have been scammed, but they don’t have any way of proving it,” said Kim States, BBB President. “It’s extremely important to get all estimates for parts and labor in writing first before authorizing anything.”

BBB recommends the following tips to consider before turning over your car to an auto repair service:

Get a least three referrals. If you are looking for a qualified mechanic, ask friends, family and co-workers for recommendations. Be sure to check the business with www.tucson.bbb.org to see if there (more…)