The long hot summer days have started and we will soon be bombarded with adverts and large signs in shop windows promoting sales and reduced prices.

When faced with drastically reduced prices, we may be tempted to buy without reflecting too much on what we really need. Sometimes we end up buying products just because of their low price. Then, a few months later, we may realise we have never used or worn the ‘bargain’ item, so not only was it not a bargain but it was actually a total waste of money.

On the other hand, the sales season can offer us a good opportunity to buy items we could not afford before their prices were reduced.

Since we may be tempted to buy more than usual during sales it is crucial that we are aware of our consumer rights when buying reduced price items.

The first point to note is that ‘Sales’ and ‘Reduced prices’ do not affect our statutory rights. Signs such as ‘No Refunds’ or ‘No Exchanges’ can confuse us, particularly as some shops display these signs prominently during sales.

In reality, sale or no sale, if an item turns out to be faulty, we have a legal right for a remedy free of charge. This legal right cannot be taken away from us, and sellers cannot use their policies to diminish legal consumer rights.

What we buy must be as described, fit for the intended purpose and must also be of satisfactory quality. This does not change even when the goods are bought at extremely discounted prices, unless we are specifically informed by the seller that the goods are marked down because of a fault. In the latter case, we only have a right to complain if a different fault develops.

We may find ourselves in a situation where an item purchased at its original price is defective, and when returned to the seller we discover that its price has been significantly reduced.

When this happens, if the product can neither be repaired nor replaced, then we are entitled to a refund of the full price paid for the product. In other words, we do not have to accept a refund of the lower sales price if the goods are faulty. In these situations, it would be very useful to present the receipt as proof of what we actually paid.

If on the other hand there is no fault with the goods we want to return, and the item’s price has been reduced, we will probably have to accept the lower price, as the seller is allowing us to return the item as a gesture of good will.

It is always worthwhile to shop around first and see what other shops are offering. Only by doing so can we spot real and genuine bargains

In fact, none of the above legal rights apply when we simply change our mind, such as when we buy something and then discover it doesn’t fit, doesn’t match, or simply doesn’t look right and so we would like to return it back to the seller. When this happens the seller is not obliged to offer us a remedy.

Fortunately, most shops do accept returns as long as we adhere to certain terms and conditions, such as returning the goods in a perfect selling condition with intact labels and packaging.

However, during sales, some shops either change their return policies or remove them completely. So it is always advisable to check a retailer’s return policy before making a purchase.

We should also be aware that it is against the law for shops to pretend that goods have been reduced from a higher price when in actual fact the goods were never placed for sale.

It is always worthwhile to shop around first and see what other shops are offering. Only by doing so can we spot real and genuine bargains.

Should we encounter any misleading practices during the coming sales period, we can file a report with the Office for Consumer Affairs at the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.

odette.vella@mccaa.org.mt

Ms Odette Vella is seniorinformation officer, Office for Consumer Affairs, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.