BBB Tip: A shopper's guide to advent calendars

Advent calendars are a fun way to celebrate the holidays. BBB has tips you should know before purchasing one.

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Holiday shopping tips

Advent calendars have been a longtime fixture of the holiday season.

What you'll learn:

How shopping early for advent calendars helps you snag the best ones
How to compare calendars and evaluate whether they're worth the cost
Tips from BBB to avoid scams, misleading ads, and unreliable sellers

Advent calendars, once a religious tradition for children, are now big business. They are targeted at all ages and contain anything from luxury cosmetics and Lego sets to chocolates and wines. Some are even interactive and include do-it-yourself crafts and puzzles. With so many fun options, some costing hundreds of dollars, what should you know before purchasing one? BBB recommends the following.

What to know before buying an advent calendar

Women sitting on the blue sofa by the christmas tree and using tablet

Shop early. Due to their growing popularity, the best advent calendars tend to sell out early. If an advent calendar is on your list, especially if you want one with a coveted brand or product, make your purchase early. This will also help ensure you receive it on time before the advent calendar countdown begins. Many brands and companies start selling their advent calendars in the early fall.
Shop around and compare calendars. Advent calendars can be hard to compare across retailers. Do some comparison shopping both online and in-store first to make sure you are getting a good deal on the type of calendar you want (for example, beauty products, toys, or food and beverages). Consider what’s inside each calendar to determine which company offers the products you want for the best deal.

Count the cost. Watch out for overpriced advent calendars. In recent years, some consumers have called out luxury brands on social media for not delivering adequate gifts in expensive calendars. Before you purchase one, find out what it contains. Consider whether the gifts are miniature or full-size and what each product might be worth if purchased individually. Then, decide if the calendar is worth its overall asking price.
Buy from a reputable company, especially if you want to purchase an advent calendar online. Ensure the online store has a reputation for good customer service, quality goods, and reliable shipping and handling. Search the business on BBB.org to read reviews and check if it is BBB Accredited. If customer reviews reveal that a company is struggling in any of these areas, make your purchase elsewhere.
Watch out for scams. BBB gets reports each year about advent calendar scams in BBB Scam Tracker. Deals that seem too good to be true are often a telltale sign of a scam. Be very wary of discounted products that typically sell for significantly more money elsewhere or are sold out on well-known sites. Read more about advent calendar scams.

Be wary of misleading ads. Scam e-commerce websites often promote advent calendars through enticing social media ads. Just because something looks good in the photo doesn’t mean it’s real. The same goes for glowing customer reviews. Always research a company before you do business with them to avoid falling victim to a scam.