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Boxing Day in Canada is a day full of big discounts, and for some, an extra day off of work. Like all big shopping days, there are several things to keep in mind to keep you safe.
If you decide to get some Boxing Day shopping done this year, here are some tips from the Better Business Bureau that will help make your shopping experience successful:
- Set a budget. Determine how much you’re willing to spend to avoid overspending during sales. Make a list of must-buy items to stay focused.
- Watch out for too-good-to-be-true deals. As the holidays approach, some of the season's top toys get replicated as poor knock-offs and sold for much cheaper than the originals. BBB's top 12 scams of the holidays lists top holiday wishlist items as one of the riskiest holiday scams, along with others. With Boxing Day being a day of heavy discounts, keep an eye out for these same knock-off products advertised at even steeper discounts.
- Do your research. Sellers may advertise heavy discounts, but some may inflate the original price. Look up the item online to see if the store's competitors are selling it for a better price. Also, check out reviews on trusted websites such as BBB.org to ensure you're shopping with a credible business.
- Create a plan. Many stores will start advertising their Boxing Day deals on the days leading up to the 26th. Take a look ahead to plan out what stores you want to shop at and what items you want to buy to avoid making hasty decisions.
- Be careful when shopping for electronics. Gaming consoles like the Xbox and the PlayStation 5, among other high-ticket electronic devices, have traditionally been items people shop for on Boxing Day. Keep an eye out for steep discounts from third-party sellers, especially when shopping online - the console could be a fake.
- Don't forget the return policy. Make sure you are familiar with the return and exchange policies a business has in place. You don't want to be stuck with an item you don't want because you missed the return date. Also, keep in mind that some stores may not offer returns and exchanges on Boxing Day due to how busy the day can get. Consider going another day when the stores won't be as crowded.
- Pay by credit card. If shopping online, consider making all purchases through a credit card. If the site turns out to be a scam, you can dispute the charges much easier than with a debit card. Don't forget to go to BBB Scam Tracker before purchasing from a website you're feeling unsure of - the site may already have reports filed against it.
- Be careful with online advertisements, especially on social media. Misleading advertisements on social media were BBB's number one scam to watch out for this holiday season. Advertisements can be faked easily, which can trick people into either paying for products they never receive or signing up for monthly paid subscriptions for a product they didn't want in the first place. Online purchase scams continue to be one of the riskiest scams, and they are becoming riskier each year. Look at reviews and BBB scam reports to ensure you won't get scammed.
- Report negative shopping experiences to BBB. If you are unhappy with your shopping experience on Boxing Day, consider submitting a complaint at BBB.org/complaints. If you think you may have been scammed or someone has attempted to scam you, consider submitting a scam report to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
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Count on BBB to help you "Shop Safe, Shop Smart." Check out other ways to shop safely at BBB's holiday HQ.