Is a Sale Price Your Best Deal?

The holiday shopping season is near. Soon you will be inundated with advertisements for pre-holiday sales, preferred customer specials, early bird sales, midnight madness events, coupon savings days and let's not forget, post-holiday sales. Many consumers seek out good deals when shopping, but how can you tell if a deal is legitimate?

The following tips from the Better Business Bureau can help you get the most for your money:

• Comparison shop. A "sale" price is not always the "best" price. Some merchants may offer the sale price on the item you want for a limited time; other merchants may discount the item you want everyday. If the sale price is offered for more than 30 days, this becomes its regular price and the store should discontinue advertising the item as being "on sale."
• Read sale ads carefully. Some may say "quantities limited," "no rain checks," or "not available at all stores." Contact the store ahead of time to ask if the item you want is in stock. If you are shopping for a popular or hard-to-find item, ask the merchant if he would be willing to hold the item until you can get to the store.
• Take time and travel costs into consideration. If an item is on sale, but it is all the way across town, how much are you really saving once you factor in your time and costs of transportation and parking?
• Look for price-matching policies. Some merchants will match, or even beat, their competitors' prices. Read the merchant's pricing policy carefully. It may not apply to all items.
• Check out Internet sales. Seek out sites that compare prices for items offered online. Some sites also may compare prices offered at stores in your area. If you decide to buy online, factor in the shipping costs and estimated delivery time.
• Carefully consider bargain offers that are based on purchases of additional merchandise. For example, "buy one, get one free" or "free gift with purchase." If you do not really want or need the item, it is not a deal.
• Inquire about sale adjustments. If you buy an item at regular price and it goes on sale the next week, can you get a credit or refund for the discounted amount? What documentation will you need?
• Ask about refund and return policies for sale items. Merchants may have different refund and return policies for sale items, especially clearance merchandise.

This information is general in nature and is not intended as a reliability report on any company, product, or service.