By now a considerable number of shops have started displaying ‘Sale’ signs on their shop windows to show that the summer stock has been reduced.

Most of the time, sales offer a good opportunity to buy the items we need or wish for at a more affordable price.

Buying during sales also gives us a feeling that we are getting more value for our money.

But is this really the case? Or is it more likely that during sales we tend to think less before buying? Are we more attracted to the cheaper price than to the product we are purchasing?

Since it is our money we are spending, it is our responsibility to ensure that we spend it well and not waste it. We should not let huge price reductions impress us blindly.

Before buying anything, we should always shop around and evaluate what various retailers are offering. Ideally, we should make a list of the items we need to avoid getting carried away by our enthusiasm and buy things we do not really need.

We should also be careful not to fall victim to fake bargains, where it is claimed that goods are sold at a reduced price when they actually are not. If a shop decides to compare prices, the previous price should be the last price at which the goods were sold for before the sales. Moreover, the product must have been displayed at the previous price quoted for 28 consecutive days in the previous six months in the same outlet.

It is also considered misleading and therefore illegal, for shops to advertise a 50 per cent sale on all items when inside some items are either not discounted or are not 50 per cent off.

When buying products at reduced prices, we should still make sure we are given the fiscal receipt and that we keep it.

We will need proof of purchase if a product we buy is defective and we want to claim one of the remedies provided to us by the Consumer Affairs Act.

As consumers, we should remember that even during sales our legal rights still apply. Items bought at reduced prices still have to be as described and fit for their purpose.

Therefore, if we buy something that turns out to be faulty, we can request either free repair or replacement, and if these are not possible, we can even request a money refund.

If, however, the item is not faulty but we simply change our mind about a purchase, we will have no other option but to rely on the retailer’s exchange or refund policy.

When buying during sales we should never assume that the return policies are the same as when we buy non-sale goods. Usually, such policies change drastically during sales.

Therefore, to avoid unpleasant surprises, we should always ask about the shop’s return policies before buying.

These may vary during sales. If, for instance, the provision of credit notes is the store’s normal practice, it may well suspend this during sales and, in actual fact, it is entitled to do so when there is nothing wrong with the goods purchased.

However, whenever there is a change in policy, this should be explained to the consumer before a purchase is made.

Retailers should be careful when placing signs with statements such as ‘No returns on sales goods’, as these can mislead consumers into believing that even if the goods turn out to be defective, they cannot take them back to the shop. Such notices have no legal effect.

In situations when we need to return a non-sale item because it is defective, if repair or replacement are not possible, the refund price should be the price we would have paid at the time of purchase and not the discounted price. In these situations, it would be useful to show the receipt as proof of what we actually paid.

Our legal rights do not apply when purchasing shop-soiled items whereby particular flaws or defects are pointed out to us before the sale. But if a different fault develops, then we have the same rights as when the product was purchased at its original price.

If we encounter any misleading practices or if we are denied any of our legal rights, we can register an official complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs at the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.

The authority has the competency to take legal action against traders who try to mislead consumers into a wrong buying decision.

customer@timesofmalta.com
odette.vella@gov.mt

Ms Vella is senior information officer, Office for Consumer Affairs, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.