The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is offering tips for an enjoyable Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping experience.
The Retail Council of Canada is reporting that 40 per cent of Canadians intend to shop and spend more on Black Friday this year while another 30 per cent plan to take advantage of deals on Cyber Monday. BBB said many stores are extending opening hours and offering great deals and it wants shoppers to have a hassle-free shopping experience.
Tips for Black Friday and Cyber Monday include always asking for a gift receipt so the recipient can return or exchange a gift if it's not right. Other tips include asking about the store's return policy and warranty information before buying, research before you buy, check product reviews and compare prices.
For tips on searching online, limit your kids' and teens' computers and mobile devices to limit the websites they can access, beware of hackers because they can get credit cards, loans and more in your child's name, and make sure the website has "https://" at the beginning of its web address to make sure it is secure.
The bureau added that Canadians spent around 45 per cent more on Black Friday than they did on Boxing Day. In 2017, online transactions on Cyber Monday reached a record $6.59 billion, an 16.8 per cent increase over 2016.
PricewaterhouseCoopers said that Canadian consumers plan to spend slightly more than they did in 2017, hitting an average of $1,563 each, which is up 3.7 per cent. The Black Friday and Cyber Monday holiday shopping weekend accounts for 20 per cent of all online shopping.