Black Friday Sales Whats Legal

Black Friday Sales - What's Legal and How to Stay SafeWe've all seen the footage from previous years' sales – customers punching, biting and kicking each other to get the last 80% off TV on the shelf, or to bag all the best clothing before it's gone.

Black Friday events have been so chaotic in the past that many store retailers choose not to host them in-store. The frenzy of getting things cheap seems to drive consumer behaviour to extreme lengths.

While things have calmed down in the last couple of years, it's still a good idea to know what you can and definitely cannot do to get your best bargain and not a black eye.

In-Store Shopping: What's Yours to Keep?Understanding your rights as a consumer during sales events is crucial:

• First come, first served: Items aren't yours until you've paid for them
• No physical confrontation: Assault is illegal, even over discounted goods
• Store policies apply: Retailers can set limits on quantities
• Returns policies: Sale items may have different return conditions

Online Black Friday Shopping: Stay SafeBlack Friday sales also affect the online market, and more often than not we'll visit sites that have amazing offers at jaw-dropping prices. Don't be fooled – it's easy to get caught up in a scam.

How to Protect Yourself OnlineCheck Website Credibility: When you land on any website you can almost immediately tell whether their site is professional. Look out for:

• Spelling mistakes and poor grammar
• Website glitches and loading issues
• Poor quality design and layout
• Missing contact information

Verify the Business: Ask yourself if they are well known, if they keep your details safe and if they have a way you can contact them.

Use Secure Payment Methods: When in doubt, use a third party payment option like PayPal. If anything goes wrong you can be refunded more easily.

Additional Safety Tips

• Check delivery times – some "deals" won't arrive until after Christmas
• Read the small print on returns policies
• Compare prices across multiple sites
• Screenshot your orders for records
• Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true

Consumer Rights Legal SupportIf you encounter issues with Black Friday purchases, faulty goods, or online scams, our consumer rights team can help. Contact us on: 0116 2999 199 or email us at: info@d-w-s.co.uk