Tips for making the best online purchases this coming Black Friday

As one of the most important events in e-commerce, Black Friday had record revenue in 2019. Considering the current situation in the world due to the pandemic, shopping online is the solution and, adding to that the release of emergency FGTS withdrawals, it is expected that the next Black Friday will be even better.

Today, we can say that approximately 75% of Brazilians, from the age of 10, use technology by browsing the internet. The activities are very varied, for example: children and teenagers taking online classes, workers who can work from home, people holding video conferences, using social networks, and making all kinds of online purchases.

Regarding this last activity, there are people who are "habitual shoppers," that is, people who regularly buy online from well-known and reliable websites. These are shoppers who do this regularly and know how to take advantage of every promotion, every discount, and every great deal.

Just like The next Black Friday is coming soon.It's worth knowing what to do to make the most of this event, undoubtedly one of the most important in e-commerce.

Some interesting tips to take advantage of Black Friday.

To ensure your next purchases are truly beneficial and efficient, it's worth paying attention to the following recommendations:

1. Compare the product you want before buying: only by comparing can you find the cheapest option. Ideally, use price comparison websites, as they usually show the total price, including shipping costs. This is very important because many websites only add the shipping cost after you've already confirmed the purchase, which can be a headache as you'll end up paying more just because of that.

2. Check the company's online security: unfortunately, many fake websites exist. There have been cases of people who bought, for example, a cell phone and received a box with chocolate in the mail... Who can you complain to if the website disappears from the internet? It's advisable to do a quick Google search for user reviews. This way, you'll know if people have bought from there, what their experience was like, if they are satisfied, if they would buy from there again, etc.

3. Sign up for social media to receive newsletters and promotions from your favorite stores: this is very important to be able to find out about all the special offers and promotions right away. At the same time, stores often use this channel to retain their customers.

4. Always pay with a credit card or PayPal: Although some stores enable payments via debit card or bank transfer, for example, it is recommended to pay by credit card because this way you will have the advantage of being able to dispute an incorrect charge, a product that did not arrive, or even better, you can dispute charges for things you did not buy because your card was stolen and purchased in your name! If you don't have a credit card, you can use PayPal, but never make a bank transfer, as it will be almost impossible to claim afterwards if necessary. 

5. Pay close attention to shipping costs: depending on the product you are buying, shipping costs can be high or zero. But this also varies from store to store. Sometimes, when shipping isn't free, it's good to consider the likelihood of buying more products from that store, so that the shipping cost ends up being offset. 

6. Check the origin of the product you are buying: depending on the store where you are buying, the product may not be in Brazil. Therefore, depending on the origin, it may take a few days or a very long time! If it is an electronic product, for example, there are stores that work with shipments from China, managing to get cheaper prices, but with a huge delay.

7. Make use of loyalty programs: this is a really interesting factor. Some stores have loyalty programs. They work, for example, by giving points to the customer, which can then be exchanged for discounts on future purchases. At first, it may seem like there are few points or that they are not enough for an interesting exchange. However, over time, and with purchases, you will certainly notice the advantage.