Black Friday is approaching, and this year, the race for discounts and promotions takes place on November 29th. But for conscious or hurried consumers, planning and shopping can already begin now.
And the first of the controversies about the date involves the very term "Black Friday," questioned by many activists. In the end, can talking about Black Friday be interpreted as an expression that refers to racism? For some, the problem would be the use of the term "preto" (black) to refer to a discount date, as if "preto" were associated with something that could be worth less. It would be a condemnable expression like "blacklist," which was used for a long time to refer to people with some pending issue in the market or in their line of work.
Since the controversy is not of interest to the commerce, many companies have started to use other expressions to refer to the date, such as "Beauty Week," "Special Week," etc. So, instead of fueling a controversy, a solution is found and attention is turned back to the date, sales, and discounts themselves, which is what matters.
But why does Black Friday already start for conscious consumers? According to lawyer Francisco Gomes Júnior, a specialist in digital law and president of ADDP (Association for the Defense of Personal Data), "the main attraction of the date is the significant discounts. So, the first step is always to verify if the discount is real. Therefore, a consumer who is already interested in a specific product should print the current prices of the product they want from various stores, so that on Black Friday they can compare prices and check if the discount truly exists and is at the announced percentage."
Regarding the date itself, according to Gomes, the impulse and haste to make a purchase make everyone more vulnerable to scams. "Stay calm and cautious, because money does not tolerate disrespect," he concludes.
The lawyer lists useful tips for successful shopping:
- Be wary from now on of big promotions and promises of selling products at prices much lower than those practiced in the market. Research the reputation of stores with exaggerated promotions;
- If possible, make a plan to buy what you want in cash or in the fewest installments possible. Avoid interest rates that significantly increase the cost of the product. When faced with promotions offering many installments without interest, check if the interest is not embedded in the price;
Be very careful with scams during this period. With Black Friday approaching, numerous scams are attempted. When receiving emails or messages, do not click on links that you are not sure are safe. Clicking on a malicious link can pose a danger to your personal data.
- If you are making an online purchase taking advantage of a promotion through a store website or platform abroad, carefully check the exchange rate of the foreign currency against the real and see if the exchange rate is appropriate. Also check the amount to be paid with taxes and other charges, as well as the delivery forecast and the traceability of your order.
But what would be a golden tip, the final one for this day? "Follow the basic steps, check the store and its reputation, verify if the website is legitimate and has a security padlock, check if the price is truly advantageous, and when paying, prefer credit card payments, which, unlike PIX, allow for refunds and disputes for unrecognized purchases, and enable the exercise of the right of withdrawal, which is much more difficult to exercise with PIX," concludes the specialist.
