BBB's back-to-school tips: Avoid scams, save money smartly

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Parents and students across the country are headed to the stores and online to get the best back-to-school deals; however, the Better Business Bureau advises you to shop smart, avoid scams, and have a budget for the upcoming school year.

Back-to-school shopping is full steam ahead as summer comes to a close, and school books are being piled up, and schedules are finalized.

In a news release from the BBB, the National Retail Federation states that families are expected to spend hundreds of dollars per student this year on school supplies, clothing, electronics, and more.

The following are tips the BBB advises consumers to follow when shopping for back-to-school:

• Create a budget and checklist before shopping online or to the store.
  • Creating a set budget and a checklist can help consumers stay on a firm budget and avoid impulse buying.
• Be aware of "too good to be true" deals
  • According to the BBB, scammers often take advantage of busy shopping seasons, including the back-to-school season, with fake websites or ads offering deep discounts. Keep an eye out for poor grammar, unfamiliar web addresses and requests for payment via gift cards or wire transfers.
• Research your items before you buy
  • The BBB advises to compare online prices and in-store prices, read reviews, look up unfamiliar retailers at the BBB.or to check ratings, read customer reviews and any history of complaints.
• Know the return and exchange policy
  • Before making any purchase, make sure you ask about the return and exchange policy for items such as clothes and especially electronics. The BBB advises saving all the receipts and understanding the timeframe for returns.
• Shop securely online
  • The BBB advises consumers to shop on secure websites with "https" in the URL and a lock icon in the address bar and to avoid using public WiFi when entering your payment information.
• Consider buying second-hand or refurbished items
  • If you have a strict budget, for expensive items such as laptops or calculators, consider buying gently used or certified refurbished products from reputable sellers.
• Use student, teacher discounts
  • If you are a college student or teacher, many stores and software providers offer discounts for students and staff.
• Teach smart spending habits
  • The BBB advises parents to involve children in budgeting and shopping decisions, as it is a great opportunity to teach financial literacy and responsibility.

If you or someone you may know has encountered a suspicious website, scam or misleading advertisement, report it to the BBB Scam Tracker at BBB.org/ScamTracker.

For more information and resources, visit BBB.org.