Business News: This year, Sharadiya Navratri is starting on 3 October. With this, the series of festivals will also begin across the country. Like other countries of the world, people of India also shop a lot during festivals. During festivals, many small and big companies and shopkeepers come up with various offers so that customers of all classes can be attracted and they can be motivated to shop. But while shopping during festivals, many things should be kept in mind, otherwise some of your mistakes can fade the happiness of your festival.

Risk of cyber fraud

During festivals, many companies from India and abroad bring great offers for customers, which are promoted through TV, newspapers, social media, emails, and SMS. In such a situation, cyber fraudsters also become very active, and they try to trap people through links with fake offers in SMS and emails. To avoid such situations, always be cautious and do not click on any link with offers coming from an unknown number or email address.

Please cross-check the prices.

During festivals, people are very excited about shopping. This excitement is so much that people forget to compare prices, and then later, they come to know that the goods they bought for Rs 1000 were available at another place for only Rs 500-600. In such circumstances, they have no other option but to regret it. Therefore, before shopping during the festive season, get information about its price at different places. Many times, it also happens that the goods, which are available online for Rs 1000, are easily available at local shops for Rs 500-600.

How do companies offer bumper discounts?

During festivals, big e-commerce companies and big vendors offer discounts of up to 80-90 per cent to attract customers. But have you ever wondered how a company gives such a discount on a product? This is a kind of trap in which these companies trap customers. E-commerce companies and vendors plan these discounts together. Companies manufacturing goods can also be included in this. Suppose a company named ABC launches a new product, which is priced at Rs 100. But another company is selling the same product for Rs 20. Now this company will make a deal with an e-commerce company. Under the agreement, the e-commerce company will demand a comparatively lower commission for selling ABC's goods. Now, in the name of the festival sale, the e-commerce company will say that it is giving a discount of 70 per cent on this ABC product. People will feel that they will never get a better deal than this. In such a situation, they will rush to buy that product, and ABC, as well as the e-commerce company, will make a lot of money.

Avoid unnecessary purchases

During festivals, it is very common to see that people spend a lot of money on shopping, which is not really needed. Shopping for unnecessary things not only spoils your budget but it also has a horrible effect on your savings. In this, you have to keep in mind a very important thing that you have to buy only the things you need, do not buy something that you do not need by looking at someone else. It is seen that when the neighbor's TV got damaged, he bought a new TV, seeing which you spent a considerable amount in buying a new TV despite already having a TV.

Use credit cards wisely.

During festivals, credit cards are also used a lot amid heavy shopping. Many e-commerce platforms, in collaboration with banks, offer various offers on shopping, due to which people also make unnecessary purchases. First of all, you have to keep in mind that you do not have to buy unnecessary things. After that, you also have to remember that you use the credit card only as much as you can easily pay the bill because banks charge heavy interest to recover the credit card bill if there is a delay in paying the bill. If you delay paying the bill, it can also spoil your credit score, which may cause you to face many problems in the future.

Take special care of quality.

During festivals, old, inferior and bad goods are sold in large numbers in the crowd of buyers. Shopkeepers misuse this crowd and sell inferior and bad goods to customers without any hesitation. In such a situation, you should be careful that whatever goods you are buying should not be bad and its quality should be good. Do not hurry at all while shopping and take full time to check the goods.

Be careful when shopping online.

All e-commerce platforms have made major changes in their return, exchange and refund policies. In such a situation, whenever you take delivery of any of your goods, check it thoroughly. If any kind of defect is found in the goods, do not take it at all and return it immediately. Try to choose the cash-on-delivery option for online shopping. Many times, if there is any problem related to the order after making the first payment, then e-commerce companies are very reluctant to give a refund. Shop from local shops for small things.

Always remember 1915 and 1930

Keeping all these things in mind, if you still feel that an e-commerce company or shopkeeper has cheated you, call National Consumer Helpline (NCH) number 1915 and register your complaint. If any kind of cyber fraud happens to you, then without delay, call the cyber crime helpline number 1930 and register your complaint. Remember that the sooner you register a complaint in case of cyber fraud, the greater the chances of recovering the money.