Category: Online Shopping

Personal finance and style experts that teamed up with American Express
AXP
have advice for consumers who are winding down their holiday shopping. Lilliana Vazquez and Humphrey Yang offer their best tips to help shoppers optimize their holiday spending.

Gifting made simple

“I recommend making a gift list (along with a budget) and sticking to it, so you don’t end up overspending,” said Emmy-winning host and style expert Lilliana Vazquez. She suggested that when buying presents online, look for gifts that can be bought for at least three people on your list so you can earn free shipping. “It also saves you the headache of coming up with many different presents during an already

Pres Release

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has some helpful tips for consumers to avoid potential scams while gearing up for the holiday shopping season.

“It certainly can be the most wonderful time of the year,” Yost said, “but a scam or a bad shopping experience has a way of quickly dampening the holiday spirit, bringing out the Grinch in us. Don’t let it happen to you.”

The Attorney General’s Office recommends that consumers:

• Research sellers carefully. Search for complaints filed with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau. Also look up online customer reviews about the seller.

• Beware of scams. Watch for phony coupons. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary if someone asks you to pay using gift cards or wire transfers; both are commonly requested by scam artists.

• Check return policies. In Ohio,

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is reminding Arizonans to watch out for possible scams while shopping this holiday season.

“Scammers also see the holidays as a wonderful time of the year and you never want to be on their list,” Brnovich said.

“Make responsible purchases and maintain the joy of the season.” He offers the following tips:

Do your research

•Use a business/retailer that you know or trust.

•Beware of unsolicited texts or emails that appear to be from a legitimate business but want you to click a link. Visit a website directly on your own and never from a link you have received.

•Always use trusted websites with reliable track records.

•Before making a purchase based on a social media ad or post, look into the company. Use a search engine to visit the company’s actual website or to search the company’s name with “scam,” “complaint,” or “review”

by: Better Business Bureau of Eastern NC

Posted: Dec 15, 2022 / 01:07 PM EST

Updated: Dec 15, 2022 / 01:07 PM EST

RALEIGH, NC – The 2022 holiday shopping season promises to be an unpredictable one.

High inflation rates and increased prices of consumer goods are already throwing a wrench into holiday shopping. Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina (BBB) offers tips for consumers on how they can shop for the must-have holiday gifts, while keeping their personal information and finances safe.

Electronics, toys, and other products will be (or already are) in short supply, and retailers are struggling to staff up as the shopping season nears. Product shortages and increased online shopping are likely to result in even more online purchase scams this year. These scams accounted for nearly 40% of all scams reported to BBB Scam Tracker in 2021, according to the 2021 BBB Scam

“The holiday season is right around the corner and shoppers are crowding stores and shopping online for the latest gadgets and to find the best deals,” said Sheriff Joey Lemons of Stokes County.

Shoppers also need to consider their safety when shopping in person and online. According to Lemons, “This time of year attracts more shopping-related criminal activity because of the larger crowds and the extended store hours. These factors, and the usual distraction of shopping, create a more favorable environment for petty thieves and other offenders.”

The sheriff reminds all Stokes County residents to follow several safety tips for both in-person and online shopping.

In-person shopping safety:

• A single shopper is the best target for theft. Always shop with a friend or relative.

• When going shopping, tell someone where you are going and what time to expect you to return. Also, make sure they know what you

Despite the continued increase in online shopping, stores will be filled with folks seeking stocking stuffers and those must-haves for under the Christmas tree. In the hurried and harried pace, however, shoppers need to keep wise not only to their spending but also to their surroundings.

Chatham County Police Capt. Nicholas Ojanovac suggests these safety tips:

• Park as close to the store as possible.
• Double check that you’ve locked your vehicle.
• Don’t leave packages in plain view.
• Carry your purse close to your body.
• Don’t leave your purse in the shopping cart.

“There’s instances of people walking up while you’re bent over into your trunk, distracting them by removing your purse from the cart without you even knowing,” said Ojanovac.

Over the past three years during the holiday shopping season from Nov. 1 through Jan. 1, CCPD respondents to 111 shoplifting cases — 29 of them from this year, thus

We’re officially in the holiday shopping season! Now more than ever, Americans will be seeking out retailers with the best possible gift deals and looking for ways to save extra money on everything from making a holiday feast to booking travel. Follow our ultimate guide to 2022 holiday shopping and saving.

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Plan Ahead and Budget

Take the stress out of holiday spending, whether you shop in-person or online, by planning ahead using some of these smart spending strategies from experts.

• Make a list. Lindsey Bell, chief markets and money strategist at Ally, recommends making a list before you head out to go shopping.
• Set a holiday budget. Setting a holiday budget allows you to create itemized expenses, said Matthew Paxton, founder of Hypernia. Earmark a budget amount for each person on

ZANESVILLE, Oh – Holiday shopping is in full swing, with many heading out to find those perfect gifts for everyone on their lists.

And the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office wants to ensure you tay safe as you head out to find all the jolly good deals,

Sheriff Matt Lutz says it all starts on the road, advising you to be patient, take your time, and expect delays on your trip to the store, especially with the added challenge of ongoing construction throughout the area.

Although he recommends shopping during the day, Sheriff Lutz knows that’s not always possible and recommends having a plan before you head out after dark and always parking in well lit areas, also adding you should manually lock your car instead of using the key fob.

“You know, just trying to be cognizant of what’s going on around you, familiar with your surroundings, and again just

Shop Suncrest

When you want to know where to shop for the best selection and prices, you ask someone you trust, right? This year, we asked some of our favorite sources for you—then we sprinkled our own advice in, too. With our 2022 holiday shopping guide, you can make everyone on your list happy right here in town.

Michele Krucoff doesn’t just love Suncrest Towne Center because she works there—as a nearby resident, she finds it a convenient hub for everyday needs and for gifts.

when Suncrest Towne Centre opened in 2009, it quickly became a destination for wellness, dining—and, of course, shopping. Morgantown native Michele Krucoff joined the team there early on. After decades working with high-end retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City and Gucci in the Washington, DC, area, she set her sights on a move back home and started at STC in 2011. She