Everyone loves a bargain. Saving money on the things we need to buy makes us feel good, and we usually also like to boast about it with our friends and relatives.
Shopping around within the same trade fair and comparing similar products may help us decide whether or not a special offer is really worth it.- Odette Vella
Discounts and reduced prices are normally found either during sales periods or at trade fairs. Most sellers who participate in trade fairs promote various special offers that are only valid during the days of the trade fair. The fact that once a year various competitors are physically only a few steps away from each other enhances competition, which naturally results in one-time discounts and reduced prices.
Hence, if we need to purchase specific goods and services, the Malta Trade Fair is always a good place where to start off our bargain hunting. Shopping around is also much easier at trade fairs. Since trade fairs bring together competing companies under one roof, we consumers have the unique opportunity of comparing different brands and prices by simply walking from one stand to another.
To make sure that we really get the best value for our hard-earned money, it is important that we do not get carried away and blindly grab all the special offers that we are literally bombarded with during our shopping tour. If we are not extra careful we may end up purchasing products or services that in actual fact we do not need.
We should keep in mind that purchases from trade fairs do not carry with them any cooling-off periods. This means that after concluding a sale, we cannot change our mind and return the product or service purchased. If there is nothing wrong with the goods or services, the transaction is final and there is no way back for us consumers.
We should also keep this in mind before paying a deposit. Deposits are binding, no matter how small the amount of a deposit is, unless there is a specific pre-sale agreement that allows us to change our mind, cancel the sale and claim back the deposit paid. We cannot cancel a sale after paying a deposit because we are legally bound to fulfil the contract. Opting out from the contract can have various consequences. One of these is the loss of the deposit paid. Certain sales contracts may also oblige us to continue with the full purchase of the product or service.
This takes us to the responsibility we consumers have to read all the terms and conditions of any sales contract we sign. We should pay particular attention to the small print. If we are about to sign a contract for the provision of a service, it is important that we know for how long the contract is binding and what are the costs if we decide to terminate the service prematurely. We should be extra careful before making any long-term commitments. Before signing anything, it would be wiser if we first collect all the information, take it home with us and read it carefully, and only then make any buying decisions.
To avoid any unnecessary post-sale hassles, we consumers should take a number of precautions when we decide to buy from a trader during trade fairs. First of all we should remember to obtain the contact details of the seller, especially where and how they could be contacted should a problem crop up. We must keep in mind that once the trade fair ends, if we have a problem with the product or service purchased, we will then need to go to the trader’s business premises for a solution.
Upon placing an order, we should also make sure that we have a clear and detailed description of what we ordered. The agreed price and delivery date should also be clearly specified in the sales contract. Any transport charges should also be clarified before concluding the sale, as these can make a substantial difference to the final price.
It is also our responsibility to keep the evidence of our purchases. This could be in the form of a fiscal receipt or any other document that proves what product was purchased, from where and when it was purchased. Should a problem arise, we will need proof of purchase to get the legal remedies we are entitled to.
If we are taking home with us the products we are buying, these should be examined carefully before leaving the trader’s stand. Defects that are apparent at the time of purchase are not covered by law. We should especially look out for damages that may have been caused by mishandling.
Too-good-to-be-true offers should always be taken with a pinch of salt. We must always look at and evaluate the price we are asked to pay and not only look at how much the original price has been discounted. Shopping around within the same trade fair and comparing similar products may help us decide whether or not a special offer is really worth it.
Rushed buying decisions must be avoided. Usually, most trade fair offers remain valid for a period of time after the actual trade fair ends. We can make use of this time to shop around and in the meantime cool down and re-think whether we really need the specific product or service on offer.
Last but not least we should keep in mind that as consumers we have legal rights, and that we can exercise these rights whenever we face problems with the products or services purchased. These legal rights remain valid no matter how extravagant offers are or original prices reduced.
Odette Vella is a senior information officer at the Office for Consumer Affairs, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.
This article is intended for information purposes only. Any legal claim or action taken in the event of a dispute should be based solely on the legal texts concerned. For more information contact the Office for Consumer Affairs on Freephone 8007 4400 or 2395 2000.