Black Friday’s dark side on web of deceit
Serotonin-boosting deals galore - but look out for hidden costs
The desire to shop on international online sites and the Black Friday retail phenomenon are driving e-commerce at a phenomenal rate in South Africa - but it can be a costly exercise for the unwary. Many click on a Facebook advert and pay for goods they never receive, or unwittingly have their credit cards repeatedly debited. Others think they're getting a bargain on a foreign site, but fail to factor in customs, VAT and clearance fees. Last year, 43% of South African online shoppers bought from foreign sites, according to the PayPal and Ipsos cross-border commerce report. The US is the most popular international online destination for South Africans, followed by China and the UK. Johannesburg financial planner Peter Hewett was browsing Facebook last month when an advert for a drone caught his eye. He watched the video, thought it would make an ideal gift for his son, clicked on "shop now" and added a cellphone case to his order, which came to just over R1600 ($116). But the drone ne...
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