Overview
- Shoppers who set a budget plan to spend about €312 on average this week, roughly 11% more than 2024, with 69% intending to buy exclusively online, according to Bitkom.
- Verbraucherzentrale Bayern warns many offers are a “Mogelpackung,” as discounts often reference the manufacturer’s suggested price, urging consumers to track prices, check seller location and return costs, and curb impulse buys.
- Experts on ARD’s Hart aber fair note average reductions have dwindled to around 3% in recent years and highlight dark‑pattern tactics that pressure quick purchases.
- Consumer authorities report persistent fake‑shop fraud and advise using tools such as the Fake‑Shop‑Finder, verifying the impressum and avoiding prepayment.
- Security researchers describe large Black‑Friday phishing and spam waves spoofing major brands and using legitimate cloud infrastructure, and customs reiterate that non‑EU bargains can trigger import VAT and, above €150, additional duties.