The Cyprus Consumers’ Association issued a statement offering advice to consumers on their purchases during the sales season.
To better inform and prepare consumers, as well as to help them make the most of the opportunities the market offers during this period, the Cyprus Consumers’ Association urges consumers to be particularly cautious and to take its advice seriously.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Specifically, the Association urges consumers to start researching the market now and set their budget in advance, identify the products that might interest them, and note their prices, so they can more easily get a realistic picture of the size of the discounts that will be announced. The goal, he says, is to buy products that aren’t discounted the rest of the year.
He also urges them to review the features of the products they’re interested in to ensure they meet their needs and requirements, and they should place particular emphasis on other critical information related to product delivery speed, specifically availability, taking into account, in particular, obstacles and constraints affecting the production and distribution of goods, as well as the expected shipping time for products via postal service providers.
The goal, it states, is to ensure that consumers do not later experience dissatisfaction and disappointment due to potentially excessive and/or indefinite wait times, as well as delays in delivery.
The Association urges consumers to look for reviews of the product and to use the internet not only to make purchases but also to find alternative products, reviews of the product they are interested in, as well as its selling price from other suppliers.
The Association also notes that discounted products should display both the product’s previous price and the current selling price, as calculated after applying the discount offered.
It advises caution regarding fictitious discounts (e.g., discounts exceeding 90%), which may constitute a form of consumer deception.
It also recommends paying close attention to the price tag, noting that previous consumer complaints reported that on the price tags of products they purchased at a discount, a sticker had been placed over the original price, showing the same or a higher price.
“If the discount applies only to products with specific characteristics, e.g., only for clothing or shoes of a specific size or color, then this should be clearly stated, e.g., ‘this product is also available in other sizes or colors, but without a discount.’ In the event of an exchange of a product purchased during the sales, it is up to each business’s policy to determine the amount to be refunded to the consumer (current retail price or original retail price),” he adds.
The Association urges consumers to avoid purchasing products—even if they are sold at particularly attractive prices—from online stores with websites of dubious legitimacy, e.g., those that do not include complete business address and contact information, or that channel communication with consumers exclusively through social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, etc.
It also advises caution regarding online subscriptions to newsletters, through which businesses encourage consumers to indicate their preferences for specific products in a timely manner and to be notified earlier about upcoming discounts on those products.
“The personal information provided through these newsletters is used by suppliers both to create personalized customer profiles and to carry out targeted promotional campaigns that follow them everywhere as they browse the internet,” he adds.
He also urges consumers who intend to purchase a high-value product (e.g., a cell phone, computer), to assess the seller’s reliability and quality of service, and to ask other consumers about their experiences, such as how the seller handles warranty issues and provides after-sales service.
It urges them to always request a receipt for the products they have purchased, and in the case of a defective or non-conforming product, presenting the receipt may be necessary; meanwhile, as the Association notes, for online purchases or those made outside a retail store, consumers have the right to cancel the purchase up to 14 days after receiving the product.
In its announcement, the Association emphasizes that consumer rights (repair, replacement, price reduction, or withdrawal) in the event of a defective product or a failure to meet the agreed-upon specifications also apply during the sales period.
The Association also states that if any violation is found, consumers should contact the Cyprus Consumers’ Association at [email protected] or the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, and Industry at 1429.
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Source: CNA
