Retail Consumer Alliance Encourages Consumers to Shop Smart, Safe and Local This Holiday Season

(Raleigh – November 22, 2024) North Carolina retailers are geared up for the holiday season, but they also want to remind their customers to be smart and safe as they shop.

The Retail Consumer Alliance Foundation (RCA), the charitable arm of the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA), shares some simple, but important steps to help consumers make sure they are actually getting what they are buying.

For instance, gift cards are one of the most requested and gifted items during the holidays, but they are also a favorite of thieves and scammers.

The primary way to ensure you are getting a gift card that is the correct value and will work when you gift it, is to buy from a legitimate source. Also, discount gift cards (sold below value) are tempting but be aware that they may have been compromised. For instance, they may have been stolen or exchanged for stolen goods. Gift cards are a great gift to give and receive but buy smart and keep them safe and secure.

Another recommendation from RCA is to be diligent when you are making online purchases. Time and convenience are precious commodities during the holiday season, but don’t put yourself at risk of having your identity stolen or your credit card compromised.

There are usually red flags that things are amiss, so here are some things that should give you pause when you are shopping online:

• It’s cliché, but: If a price seems too good to be true, chances are, it is,
• spelling mistakes and grammatical errors on the online store’s site,
• online stores using a web-based email like Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo under their contact details as opposed to a company email account,
• online merchants asking you to email them your credit card information,
• words like “genuine,” “real,” or “authentic” being overused in product descriptions,
• using the phrase “inspired by” to get away with selling a fake,
• also, check the product manufacturer’s website — many companies will post details on their websites to alert customers about possible counterfeit products and how to detect fakes.

RCA says one of the easiest ways for consumers to shop smart and safe, is to shop at local businesses. Those trustworthy members of the community who employ your neighbors and friends and have a strong commitment to the towns where they live and operate. The holiday shopping season is an important time for small businesses, and, for many, holiday sales help them end the year successfully.

“I hope North Carolina consumers will support the local businesses that support what they care about in their community, such as their schools, their youth organizations, and their food banks,” said Andy Ellen, president and general counsel of NCRMA.

“These are the brick and mortar stores, both independent and chain, who are engrained in every community across the state who, along with employing one out of every four North Carolinians and collecting the sales taxes that fund our roads and schools, also sponsor the little league team, high school band and school spirit night. This holiday season we encourage you to return their goodwill and support your local retailer.”