BBB offers advice for finding the perfect gift for dad
AUSTIN TexasWith Fathers Day on Sunday June 19 people are looking for the perfect gift to honor dad. Whether its a tie the latest tech gadget or a gift card your
Better Business Bureau serving Central Coastal Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin advises you to shop smart when you hit the stores. If you would rather avoid the weekend shopping crowd many of the same retailers sell merchandise online.
According to the
National Retail Federations (NRF) 2016 Fathers Day Spending Survey Fathers Day spending is expected to reach a record-high: $14.3 billion. Consumers are expected to spend an average of $125 on gifts up from last year.
When it comes to gifts for dad the NRF said a little more than 40 percent of consumers will purchase apparel items while others will opt for other a gift of experience" such as tickets to a sporting event concert or dinner outing. The NRF also said 38 percent of consumers will shop for gifts in department stores while 32 percent will shop online.
This Fathers Day BBB advises consumers to take caution when shopping and ordering merchandise online. What you see online may not be what arrives (or doesnt arrive at all) on your doorstep. In 2015 BBB received more than 7200 complaints against online retailers nationwide and more than 1000 complaints against brick and mortar retail stores. Most consumers reported issues with advertising and delivery.
When shopping for a gift for dad BBB offers the following advice:
- Read customer reviews about a product or business before purchasing. BBB offers customer reviews on its BBB Business Reviews available at bbb.org. Customer reviews often say a lot about the product and the retailer and help give other customers a good idea of what to expect when the item is received. BBB recommends consumers read the whole description of the item and compare prices against other reputable websites that may offer the same item.
- Carefully read any fine print. Find out the terms for exchanging or returning a gift. When buying gifts get refund exchange warranty and guarantee policies in writing. Make sure you know the expiration date of any offers and if a refund is available.
- Be careful when buying gift cards. Be careful when ordering a gift card from a website such as an auction site or online classifieds since its difficult to tell if its a used or stolen card. Try to purchase gift cards online directly from the retail website. If buying a gift card in-store inspect the gift card before buying. Verify that protective stickers have not been removed and that the PIN Number on the back of the card is not exposed. Report any damaged cards to the store selling the cards.
- Know the terms and conditions when purchasing gift cards or gift certificates. Check that the expiration date and any other conditions wont be problematic. If you are giving a gift card to someone who will make online purchases be sure the gift card is redeemable for Internet shopping and not just for in-store use.
- Ask for gift receipts. Gift receipts generally include a description of the item purchased but do not disclose the price paid. Without proof-of-purchase the recipient may be turned down for returning or exchanging the item or risk receiving an exchange at a lower price.
- Pay with a credit card. Try to always pay with a credit card when ordering online. A purchase with a credit card is protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act. This act protects consumers in the event that credit card information is stolen and used without permission.
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: For more than 100 years Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses brands and charities they can trust. In 2015 people turned to BBB more than 172 million times for BBB Business Reviews on more than 5.3 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11000 charities all available for free at bbb.org. There are local independent BBBs across the United States Canada and Mexico including BBB serving Central Coastal Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin which serves 97 counties in Texas.
