Inflated prices, false discounts: consumers urged to exercise caution during Black Friday

On the occasion of Black Friday, the Estrie Cooperative Family Economy Association (ACEF) invites consumers to exercise caution.

Since there are often fake discounts, inflated prices, discounts that aren’t really worth it, you have to shop around beforehand to see what the real prices are.underlines Sylvie Bonin, who works for the non-profit organization as coordinator.

Before hitting the mall aisles, she suggests establishing a budget and a list of items you’re looking for. They are effective in catching us, we must be effective in protecting ourselves.

Black Friday encourages impulse buying, she adds. If I’ve saved on one thing, but I buy two or three more, I’m putting myself in a situation that’s not ideal.

Sylvie Bonin advises shopping according to your means, without using credit, because the interest cancels out the positive impact of a promotion on the wallet.

Another tip: Really find out about return, exchange or price match policies which are sometimes not the same during this period. Return costs too, if they are at our expense.

We really have to do our homework, warns the coordinator. And if we haven’t done them, maybe it’s better to skip our turn this year and tell ourselves that we’ll do better next year, because a lot of people have high debt levels.

L’ACEF de l’Estrie, which defends and promotes consumer rights and helps low-income people, suggests offering quality time to loved ones during the holiday season, such as a walk or a meal, and avoid pulling the purse strings for a material gift.

On its website or on social networks, the organization broadcasts a gift waiver certificatewhich allows you to enter the type of activity that you want to share with a loved one so that they can offer it to us in return.

The biggest day of the year

For the Carrefour de l’Estrie, in Sherbrooke, Black Friday is the biggest day of the yearaccording to Alexandra Bélanger, marketing director of Mach group shopping centers. We have noticed, since the return of the pandemic, that it has only increased from year to year.

Despite online sales, consumers shop in stores. There is a great return of people physically to the shopping center, particularly for these promotions, because we can see the items in real life, touch them.

Even the Boxing Day sales attract a smaller flow of customers. ” THE Black Friday is really stronger. »

“Black Friday is before Christmas, for buying gifts,” notes Alexandra Bélanger. People will sometimes buy a slightly more expensive product which will come at a great discount, for them, at a lower price. While the Boxing daywe come to spend the cards received as gifts. We’re on leave, we have time to shop. It’s a very different vocation. »

According to the strategist, merchants are ready for extraordinary traffic. Some asked to open their doors earlier, at 8 a.m., and others asked for poles and ropes to direct customers in line to the front.

Acheter local

The Sherbrooke Chamber of Commerce invites you to encourage Estrie entrepreneurs. They are the ones who invest in Sherbrooke’s economy. The more money you spend with a local merchant, the more you contribute to job creation and the maintenance of services in the citysupports its president, Bruno Mecatti.

Last year, 40,000 people went to the Carrefour de l’Estrie, according to the manager.

Last week, the City of Sherbrooke launched a gift card that allows you to shop or grab a bite to eat at more than 70 locations in downtown Sherbrooke. The two-year pilot project aims to generate traffic in the commercial core.