Be a ‘savvy shopper’ this Christmas

Monday, November 17 2008

Scottish Borders Council’s (SBC) Trading Standards Department is urging local people to have their wits about them while Christmas shopping this year.

The team has issued a set of guidelines in support of National Consumer Week (17 – 24 November) – organised by the Trading Standards Institute to raise awareness of consumer rights.

‘Be a savvy shopper this Christmas’ is this year’s message for National Consumer Week.

To help prevent any nasty surprises, local shoppers are being advised to follow these guidelines:

Think carefully about what you wish to buy and always compare prices.
Always keep receipts – these are handy for proof of purchase if you need to return an item.
Extra care should be taken when buying toys and always check for the CE safety mark and ensure the product is appropriate for the child’s age.
Returning unwanted gifts is not a legal right and shops do not have to swap them or offer refunds unless the product is faulty or incorrectly described.
Shopping on the internet – order in plenty time and use a credit card to give yourself extra protection. It is also a good idea to keep the order confirmation.
Think twice when buying from street traders or one-day sales. These stalls are often set up only for Christmas and it is often difficult to find them again if something goes wrong.
Be aware of cheap imitations. You risk buying low quality and potentially unsafe products.
For more expensive gifts, costing more than £100, think about using a credit card, giving you extra protection if anything goes wrong.
Finally, don’t make spur of the moment decision to buy goods on credit. Be wary of signing up for too much credit. Consider the total cost and how long the repayment period is – you may still be paying for this year’s gifts next Christmas.

More information is available from Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

Reference: News-24373, Contact the Author