More than 1,500 state police officers will be on duty to “keep watch” over shopping malls and other heavily trafficked retail zones during El Buen Fin, in which thousands of discounts will be offered during a long four-day weekend, Friday, November 15 through Monday, November 18 (a national holiday marking Revolution Day).
Although most of the officers will be concentrated in the Guadalajara metropolitan area – especially the downtown zone and outlying malls – some will be stationed in other shopping hubs, notably the garment center of Zapotlanejo and Puerto Vallarta.
Similar to Black Friday in the United States, El Buen Fin allows Mexican retailers and service providers a chance to bump up their sales in the usually sluggish pre-Christmas period. However, the larger number of people congregating in busy shopping zones opens a window of opportunity for criminals.
As well as the usual department stores and other retail outlets, many online vendors are participating in El Buen Fin, including Amazon, which says hundreds of products will carry substantial discounts – especially electronic items. According to some surveys, at least 50 percent of buyers during the four-day shopping spree will be purchasing electronics. Samsung has already announced that some of its televisions will have a 60-percent discount, and its Galaxy Note 10 smartphone a 30-percent reduction in price. Best Buy has promised a slew of deals and will be a popular hub.
Also, auto dealerships will have deals: Volkswagen will offer its popular Vento model for under 200,000 pesos.