BBB Tip: Get ready to go back to school
Milwaukee, Wis. – Back-to-school season means shopping, whether your children learn at home or head to school in person. Before determining what students may need for the year, set a budget. Planning ahead as much as possible will help keep expenses to a minimum and help everyone involved stay on task.
BBB recommends the following tips when looking for school-related items, either in person or online:In-person shopping
While it’s improving, supply chain issues and labor shortages can impact shopping this upcoming school year. When getting ready to shop, contact the store directly if you have questions about hours, policies, or if supplies are in stock.
Research big-ticket items
Whether your children learn in-person at school or online from home, technology has come to the forefront over the past three years. When buying new equipment, check with your child’s school to learn about any technical requirements and determine if any changes are necessary to the home’s high-speed internet.
Before purchasing an expensive laptop, tablet, or computer accessory, research the brands, warranty, customer reviews, and prices at various stores to ensure the best deal. Also, look up the retailer’s reputation on BBB.org.
Shop smart with sales and tax-free weekends
Compare prices between retail stores, save coupons, sign up for email alerts, and redeem any cash-back or rebate offers. This will help you get the best deals and stay within budget. Also, your state may have a tax-free weekend, enabling you to buy clothes, school supplies, and other items without paying sales tax. Check out this resource from the Federation of Tax Administrators to see what your state offers.
Ask for discounts
Many stores and software companies offer discounts. Some are available to students with either a “.edu” email address or a student ID. Others may have a discount for signing up for marketing materials or surf the internet for online coupons and discounts (make sure they are affiliated with the retailer). It doesn’t hurt to ask, even if you don’t see a deal advertised at the store.
Consider buying in bulk
If meeting in person, some teachers may ask parents to buy bulk items (paper towels, tissues, wipes, hand sanitizer) for the entire classroom to use throughout the year. Compare lists with other parents and see if costs can be shared.
Shop wisely and safely online
When shopping online, be wary of “clickbait” ads that feature items that imply that you may want or need them based on your search history. Scammers could be trying to drive you to a different website to steal personal information potentially. Take note of the ad and go to the store’s website by directly typing into the search bar. Note the website’s privacy policy and contact information, and always use a credit card when purchasing.
For more information
For an online version click here For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2021, people turned to BBB more than 200 million times for BBB Business Profiles on 6.3 million businesses and Charity Reports on 25,000 charities, all available for free at BBB.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Wisconsin which was founded in 1939 and serves the state of Wisconsin.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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