Black Friday is right around the corner. That means you and other shoppers will be scrambling to get the best deals. However, you must make sure to respect your fellow shoppers. Pushing and shoving so that you can be the first one at the sales rack not only puts you at risk, but it’s also just bad manners.
Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman offers these tips for Black Friday:
Remember your manners. Don’t push, shove or yell at fellow shoppers—even if they push, shove or yell at you first! Just because the “deal of the century†is within your grasp, does not give you permission to forget your manners.
Have a plan. Make a list of stores to visit, what you are planning to purchase for each person on your list, and how much you wish to spend. Review various store offers to ensure you are getting the best deal.
Stick to a budget. Have a dollar amount in mind you would like to spend on each person and don’t feel pressured by the amazing deals and steals the stores are offering.
Familiarize yourself with the store’s return policy. Nothing is worse than receiving a gift that cannot be returned, or, must be used as store credit. Double-check the return policy before handing over your cash or credit card. It might be best to find another store that sells the same product with a more liberal return policy.
Do your shopping online. Some people thrive on Black Friday chaos, but others would benefit from staying home and decorating for the holidays. Consider waiting until Cyber Monday, where exclusive holiday deals will lure you in once again.
Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette expert, speaker, author and owner of The Protocol School of Texas.
For more on this topic, see The Do’s and Don’ts of Regifting Holiday Presents.