Back-to-school shopping tips: BBB warns of online scams, shares ways to save

Back-to-school season is here, and experts say it’s the perfect time to plan ahead, look for savings, and protect yourself from scams.

Amie Mitchell with the Better Business Bureau stopped by to share smart ways to shop this season without breaking the bank, or falling victim to fraud.

Where Should Families Start?

Mitchell says it all begins with preparation.

“Yeah, so I would tell consumers start with making a list. A lot of those schools will have a pre supply list that you can work with, but for your family, make a list so that way when you get to the store, you're not just like, oh, this is cute and we might need this too,” she said.

“Making that list, searching for the deals, is the first place to start.”

Watch Out for Online Scams

Mitchell warns that certain items, especially electronics, come with more risks when shopping online.

“Doing the research on the front end is really important, especially when it comes to your technology and electronic equipment,” she said. “You may see more scams online with those for clickable ads.”

Before clicking any offer, Mitchell says to double-check with your school first.

“So you really want to make sure with the school that you know exactly what technology you need, so you're buying within those specifications,” she said.

“Be careful on clicking spammy ads, and make sure you know the return policy, especially on any kind of equipment like that, just in case they get into school and they're like, this isn't what I need.”

Tips for Amazon and Online Shoppers

Many families turn to online retailers like Amazon for convenience, but Mitchell urges caution.

“Definitely do your research. Compare back and forth. Online may save you money in shipping, but the product may be more expensive on the front end,” she said.

“Utilize BBB.org. Make sure that you're checking out the companies before you decide to purchase with them.”

For those who prefer to shop in person, she added:

“If you can purchase local and go in the store, you may have an avenue of using your student's card for school to maybe get some discounts or different things like that.”

Buying in Bulk Could Save More

Some families are turning to warehouse stores for more than groceries.

“Absolutely. Once you get into the school and you figure out, OK, the teacher needs X, Y, Z, get with the parents and do a group order,” Mitchell said.

“Or if there's children in the class that are missing supplies, maybe the parents can pick up the slack and do a group order as well.”

How Helpful Is Tax-Free Weekend?

With rising costs, Mitchell says Oklahoma’s tax-free weekend can be a great way to cut costs—if you know the rules.

“Well, that's great, right? Tax-free weekend on clothes and shoes for kids, they're going to need these going back to school,” she said.

“Just be careful, it's not tax-free if the item is over $100. So just stay within that range and save yourself a little bit of money on the new clothes and shoes.”

Avoiding Back-to-School Scams

“If it looks too good to be true, it probably is, especially online,” she said. “Be careful on clicking anything that, I suggest going directly to the source of the website that you want to use and using that.”

She also shared her top payment safety tip:

“Look for that lock symbol at the top of the website address before you do any payment and use a credit card if you can.”