BBB Offers Tips for Mother’s & Father’s Day Shopping

Tuesday, May 07, 2019

GoLocalWorcester Business Team

PHOTO: Lou Bueno/Flickr Commons

With Mother’s Day just a few days away and Father’s Day a month after that, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is offering tips on last-minute gifts.

"When buying gifts for Mother's or Father’s Day, be sure to check out the business before making a purchase. Check with BBB for information on local Accredited Businesses near you before you end up with poor quality merchandise or no gift at all,” said Paula Fleming, spokesperson for the local BBB.

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), consumers will spend an estimated $25 billion on Mother’s Day gifts in 2019 - the highest consumer spending to date since NRF began their annual Mother’s Day survey in 2003.

Additionally, the NRF predicts spending on Father’s Day will also break records, with an estimated $15.3 billion spent by consumers on gifts this year.

The BBB offers the following tips:

Flowers. If you’re using a local florist, be sure to check for reviews and complaints on bbb.org. Ask your friends and family which businesses they have used and liked. If you can, visit the shop; you can see the flowers and choose exactly what you want. For more tips on choosing a florist, see what BBB has to offer.

Ask around for recommendations. Not sure of what to get? Ask friends for recommendations of places to shop for mom or dad, verify references, and be sure to check out the BBB Business Profile at bbb.org before handing over any money.

Gift certificates. Be sure to check the terms and conditions of any gift card or certificate before buying. If you're giving a gift card to someone who will make online purchases, check to see that the gift card is redeemable online, and not just for in-store use.

Electronics. Whether you plan to buy mom or dad a new phone, tablet or other device, make sure you leave it in the original packaging. Many retailers require the original packaging in order to process returns or exchanges.

Check the shipping ETA. Some businesses take longer to ship than others depending on where they are shipping from in approximation to where you live, or if the item you are planning to purchase is currently in stock. Before you purchase a gift for mom or dad online, make sure the arrival date is before the special day. If the ETA says something like ‘5-7 business days’, plan on the package arriving the last day in order to avoid a late gift.