Black Friday, real deals?
Before offering advice and warnings, it is good to ask ourselves: as consumers, are we going on the wrong track by waiting for Black Friday to do our shopping?
Yes and no, according to Julien Gandelin, founder of Achetez le Meilleur, a Quebec web magazine.
“Black Friday is the biggest period in terms of volume of discounts, it’s the biggest period in terms of diversity of categories also for discounts […]. There are no other times of the year, no other months of the year, that can compare to Black Friday in terms of the number of discounts and their diversity,” explains- he.
So why do we risk getting a bad deal?
Traders.
“Certain traders will take advantage of this and they will inflate prices a little in previous weeks to display illusory discounts, at least 60% or at least 70%, and that’s where you have to be a little wary,” estimates M .
Mr. Gandelin advises consumers to prepare their shopping list and do research well before Black Friday in order to establish a “regular” price and see if real deals can be found.
According to him, you should particularly keep your eyes peeled for discounts on small kitchen appliances, electronic devices and televisions, as the discounts on them are often attractive.
One last piece of advice: pay attention to delivery costs and return costs which can sometimes increase your bill.
Exchange, refund and warranty
Were you worried that one of your gifts might not really please you? Are you saying to yourself “no problem, I have the invoice”? Be careful, contrary to certain beliefs, merchants have no obligation to take back their merchandise in the event that a consumer changes their mind or even, if dear is not entirely happy with his gift.
“Of course, a merchant who adopts a returns policy is required to respect it. It is up to the consumer to find out about the conditions of exchange or refund before going to checkout,” specifies the Consumer Protection Office.
The toy you bought recently doesn’t work? The electronic gadget given to your better half is damaged? As a consumer, you have rights.
Please note that you are not required to agree to be directed to the company that manufactured the defective, broken, damaged or non-compliant product in order to honor your warranty.
“This way of dodging a problem does not take into account the legal guarantees that the consumer can invoke. These guarantees, which cover any good sold by a merchant to a consumer and which are free, must be honored by both the merchant and the manufacturer. It is up to the consumer to decide whether they choose to address their complaint to one, the other or both,” explains the Consumer Protection Office.
See also: “Buy now, pay later”: watch out for payments in installments during the Holidays
It is also good to know that under changes to the Consumer Protection Law (LPC)you have a reflection period of ten days after purchasing an additional warranty – or extended warranty – to decide whether to keep the warranty or waive it and get a refund.
“This new protection can prove very useful to the consumer to allow him to read with his head the fine print which stipulates the conditions of the guarantee,” affirms the OPC.
Beware of sales and “fake sales”
The Consumer Protection Office warns people about various promotions announcing sales. “Consumers have every interest in comparing prices to find sales that are worth it,” she explains.
“Some fraudsters take advantage of sales periods to advertise products at prices so low that it’s hard to believe. If an offer seems too good to be true, that’s probably because it is.”
– OPC
Remember that the LPC prohibits the merchant from falsely claiming a price reduction and from falsely presenting a reference price to suggest a better discount. The Act also specifies that a merchant who advertises an item must have a sufficient quantity of that item to meet demand, except in certain circumstances.
Be careful with online shopping
Online purchasing is now well anchored in the consumption habits of Quebecers. According to the OPC, the best way to protect your online purchases – on the Web or by telephone – remains payment by credit card.
“In certain situations, the consumer has the right to cancel his order. If the merchant does not reimburse a duly canceled purchase within the prescribed period, the consumer can request chargeback, that is to say the reminder of the payment, from the issuer of the credit card with which he paid his purchase,” explains the Consumer Protection Office.
See also: Fake Quebec artisans on Facebook sell products made in China
It is possible to cancel an online purchase for various reasons, including when there is a case of a stolen package or one that was never delivered or if you receive a purchase that bears no resemblance to the item purchased .
The OPC adds that the Consumer Protection Law (LPC) also regulates prepaid cards. “With some exceptions, they do not have an expiration date and you can request to receive the balance of a card in cash if it is $5 or less,” we specify.
Here are five questions to ask yourself before making an online purchase according to the OPC:
- Does the merchant provide their contact details?
- Is the company located in Quebec or Canada?
- Do you have complete and true information on the desired item?
- What are the conditions of sale?
- Does the merchant require anything other than credit card payment?
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