Black Friday Technology Deals: Beware of the Pitfalls
Black Friday is known for deeply discounted deals and one of the biggest lures to get customers in the store is high demand, technology equipment. We know that they look enticing, and you may even be waiting for Friday to make a big purchase, however, be aware of the pitfalls of Black Friday shopping.
Brian Fladebo, Element’s VP of Service Delivery, spent nine years working in large, big-box technology stores and witnessed the marketing and planning that goes behind the deals that you see on Black Friday. Fladebo shares with us the top four pitfalls of Black Friday shopping:
First, Black Friday is about getting rid of old stock that did not sell at back to school. They are sold at a heavy discount to lure you in the store. Once they have you in the store, they know you will be more likely to upgrade and purchase a better model or they will be able to convince you buy the extras and add-ons that have high margins. Thus, you will either walk out of the store with discounted, yet out-of-date technology or will have spent more than you were planning on better technology.
Second, often deals require rebates, not instant savings. These are put in place in hopes that you do not follow through with completing the rebate or you do not complete them correctly. Allowing the corporations to not have to give back the money that the customer has already spent.
Third, there will be a big enticement to register for subscription-based services at a discount. This will get you into monthly reoccurring services, locking you into a payment for a period, and securing additional revenue for the corporation. Make sure that you read the fine print of canceling subscription-based services before you purchase.
Lastly, most of these items come with bloatware to further advertise to you once you get it home. Bloatware is pre-installed applications and software that take up space, drain battery power, and open you up to security risks. Companies often install bloatware to sell you larger computers at a higher cost or encourage you to purchase their software.
Fladebo states, “After nine years of working Black Friday, trust me when I say this is not the best time to buy quality equipment.”