With COVID-19 restrictions closing much of the high street, this
year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday, on Friday 27 and Monday 30
December respectively, are likely to see another surge in online
sales.
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) warns that an
uncertain outcome to the Brexit negotiations means that some
EU-based sellers might not honour their commitments in the case
of no-deal and that purchasing from UK-based online retailers is
a safer option.
According to Statista, Black Friday sales in the UK reached
£8.57
billion in 2019 and this year sales are expected to soar once
again.
Robert Chantry-Price, Lead Officer for Product Safety at CTSI
said: "With the uncertainty of the EU Exit negotiations, I advise
consumers to be careful if purchasing products from companies
outside the UK as some may choose to not refund or replace goods
in the event of no deal.
"Consumers should check that, for UK-based retailers, their
website provides a UK address and landline telephone number. This
will help considerably should the product not arrive or if it
proves to be faulty, or needs to be returned to the supplier.
"Consumers should always thoroughly check the terms and
conditions of the sale, but especially during these uncertain
times. While Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals can appear to be
great, please do not forget to check the terms of sale, location
and reputability of the retailer.
"Consumers should also be aware of the increased costs of
returning products. A 1kg parcel returned within the UK costs
over £3 while returning the same package can cost over £6 or £16
to the EU or the Far-East respectively.
"I hope this advice minimises the potential pitfalls of online
purchases and stops further disappointment in a year that has
been deeply challenging for everyone."
