AK warns shoppers to check Black Shopping Week discounts

Upper Austria’s Chamber of Labour is warning shoppers that Black Shopping Week discounts may not offer genuine savings, ORF reports. Its consumer protection service advises comparing prices carefully.

Consumer protection expert Gernot Fieber said prices are often raised before a discount is applied, leaving the final price comparable to what shoppers would have paid at other times.

Martin Sonntag, head of trade at the Upper Austria Chamber of Commerce, said price comparison platforms show that some prices have stayed unchanged throughout the year before falling for Black Shopping Week.

Sonntag said a parcel tax can make online purchases more expensive. The Chamber of Labour also advises caution when ordering goods from outside the European Union, as it can be difficult to make a complaint if something is wrong with the goods.