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Bronson Offers Shopping Tips

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By CATHERINE DOLINKSKI

cdolinski@tampatrib.com

Published: November 27, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Florida's consumer services chief is counseling shoppers to keep cool heads in the maelstrom of holiday discounting.

"Being smart about shopping and exercising a little care can be the difference between having a happy holiday season and a disastrous one," said Charles Bronson, state commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Among his tips for getting the biggest bang out of Black Friday:

•Check delivery dates. Always find out how long it takes for the item to be delivered.

•Protect your privacy and know whom you're dealing with. Provide personal information, such as a credit card number, home address or telephone number, only when necessary.

•Can you get your money back? Check out a merchant's refund and return policies.

•Track your purchases. When shopping online, keep printouts of the pages with details about the transaction.

•Keep receipts in case you need to return something. When purchasing a gift, ask for a separate gift receipt.

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