As the summer sales enter full swing and shoppers hunt for bargains, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC ) is advising consumers to be aware of their rights so that they don’t lose out.
Director of communications and policy at the CCPC, Ms. Aine Carroll, said that during sale times consumers can think they have less protections and with that in mind, the CCPC has the following advice for anyone who is shopping in the sales this summer.
Know your rights - anything that you buy must be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality, sale or no sale.
You should not be out of pocket - if you buy something on sale that turns out to be faulty you have the same rights as any other time of the year. This means you are entitled to a repair, replacement, a reduced price or refund. You must negotiate your preferred option with the retailer. If the retailer offers you a refund, you are entitled to a refund of the original price you paid, not the price the item is now on sale for.
Keep your proof of purchase - If you return something you will need proof of purchase, that is, a till receipt or a bank statement (for debit card transactions ) or a credit card statement. Remember that shops don’t have to give you a till receipt so make sure you always ask for one.
Check the store policy - while some stores might allow you to return something if it doesn’t fit or you simply change your mind, they are not required to do so under consumer law. So always check the store’s policy when you’re making a purchase. It might be different during a sale.
Know your rights when buying online - unlike when you buy in a store, if you buy online from a company based in the EU, you are entitled to a 14-day cooling-off period. This means, even if the price was reduced, you can cancel an order up to 14 days after you receive it for any reason and still get a full refund. You may have to pay the cost of returning the item.
If it’s broke, get the retailer to fix it - if you buy something in the sale and you find out it’s faulty, it is the retailer’s responsibility to fix it – not the manufacturer.
The CCPC has a series of information videos on the key issues consumers face regarding sales purchases which are available to view online here: https://www.ccpc.ie/
