Black Friday originated in the U.S. as the day after Thanksgiving, marking the start of the holiday shopping season. The name comes from retailers' financial records, where they shift from "in the red" (losses) to "in the black" (profits).
Over time, this tradition spread internationally, including to Poland, where stores offer significant discounts. Three days later, Cyber Monday emerged as a day for online shopping deals, particularly popular for tech and e-commerce promotions.
‘Buy now, pay later’ is just another form of credit
The head of Poland's Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), Tomasz Chróstny, is warning citizens this year not to get caught up in shopping frenzy or fall for deceptive "buy now, pay later" offers.
Many people are unaware of the potential risks of deferred payment options, with "Buy now, pay later" often leading to interest charges.
Experts advise consumers to exercise caution, particularly during busy shopping times like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as this payment method continues to grow in demand.
According to UOKiK, accumulating debt from promotional offers can lead to extra costs, lower credit scores, and even being added to debt registries.
Source: IAR/UOKiK
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