Survey finds more than half of Australians experience Black Friday buyer’s remorse

Research by Choice suggests 53% of people either regretted a purchase or had a negative experience during the sales, as other experts warn against overspending and scamsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMore than half (53%) of Australians have regretted a purchase or had a negative experience during Black Friday sales, a Choice survey has found.The consumer advocate warned shoppers to be wary of “unmissable” deals and other strategies that create a false sense of urgency, with businesses already rolling out early discounts before Black Friday sales officially start on 28 November.Misleading “store-wide” or “site-wide” claims, when sales actually involve exclusions.Fine print or disclaimers that seek to limit headline claims about the sale, including member-only deals or excluding a range of products.Deceptive “up to X% off” offers, with the “up to” text almost illegible and few products at maximum discount.Misleading “was/now” or “strikethrough” pricing.False urgency through inaccurate countdown timers and phrases like “three days only” that don’t align with the true duration of the sale. Continue reading...