When the offer frenzy is at its hottest, the consumer will easily make bad choices. The expert explains how those who head for sale shopping can avoid falling victim to an attractive discount percentage.
In recent years, Black Friday, the most significant sales event at the end of the year, has grown from a one-day buzz of deals to a consumer celebration that lasts until the end of November.
It can be difficult for a consumer to keep a cool head when one comes across more attractive offers on social media, online stores and brick-and-mortar stores.
General Secretary of the Consumers’ Association Juha Beurling-Pomoell tells Iltalehte about the simple instructions that consumers can follow to survive Black Friday and other sales with dry feet.
– You can go really, really far with these, he advises.
1. Need
Beurling-Pomoell says that you can avoid one mother mistake with self-control.
– Whether it’s any kind of purchase, the starting point should be whether the need is genuine.
Beurling-Pomoell reminds us that the market economy and our society more broadly leads people to make impulse purchases instead of fulfilling their needs.
– That’s why it would be important to stop before each purchase and think about whether I really need this, whether I already own something that would do the same thing, or whether this is just an impulse purchase.
– Generally, the right need is one that you have clearly identified before.
He warns against falling into the “I bought when I got it cheap” mindset.
– Even getting it cheap is expensive if there is no real need for the item or it remains unused, says Beurling-Pomoell.
Before accepting the offer, it is good to think calmly whether there is a genuine need for the item or whether it is an impulse purchase. SEA UTT
2. Funding
According to Beurling-Pomoelli, Black Friday and other sales are good times to shop if a genuine need has been identified and really exists.
– After that, you have to think about whether there is really money for the purchase.
– Today, it is far too underrated to save in advance and prepare for a purchase, instead of buying it with credit and paying it off little by little.
According to Beurling-Pomoelli, saving in advance also has the advantage that the necessity of the purchase will then be considered in more detail.
– If you are ready to save part of your income every month just to get something later, then the need for that purchase is more likely genuine.
3. Comparison
At that stage, when both the genuine need has been identified and the impact of the purchase on one’s own finances has been clarified, it is still good to make a comparison in terms of price and quality.
– Considers that if you could get the product at this price, would it be a good price or would I get it cheaper somewhere else?
– Or if it’s not about a certain product, then you also think about whether it or another product is the best choice for your own use.