BLACK FRIDAY: How to save 100% and avoid fake deals

This Black Friday, South African consumers are being warned to prepare for an annual increase in fraud, fake deals, and overspending - risks that rise alongside the country's growing appetite for bargains.

Consumer journalist Wendy Knowler reports that last year, FNB processed 20 million card transactions, marking a 59% year-on-year increase, while courier companies experienced unprecedented parcel volumes.

But retailers’ 'massive markdowns' often come with a trap, she adds, where many consumers start January unable to meet everyday expenses.

Knowler stresses that the biggest mistake is treating Black Friday as a shopping event rather than a budgeting decision.

"With all this hype going on, and there's a lot of FOMO as well, it's become an event, it's become a sort of retail celebration for people. Think about what's coming in long, cold, hard January, school fees, all those extras, think about the expected emergency spend."

Knowler argues that many 'bargains' aren’t bargains at all, with some retailers inflating prices ahead of November or using replica websites and marketplace sellers to dupe shoppers.

She says fake courier notifications and cloned brand pages are among the most common scams, catching people who are already expecting deliveries.

Shoppers are being urged to verify retailer websites, track historical prices, and remember that the law still guarantees a seven-day cooling-off period for online purchases, even on sale items.

Above all, Knowler emphasises that the safest saving remains not buying what you don’t need.

"You'll save 100% if you don't buy it."

To listen to Wendy Knowler in conversation with CapeTalk's Pippa Hudson, click below: