Sales, with their infectious lure of a bargain, are difficult to ignore…. Even by the most conservative shoppers.
But bargains, according to the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) should mean just that – getting the best at the biggest discount.
Paying less, the CAC said, should not mean one has to accept shoddy goods or services.
“ A sale is supposed to be a benefit for the consumer,” explained Dorothy Campbell, Communication Specialist at the CAC. “A sale should not put the consumer at a disadvantage but instead be an offering of an item at a reduced price.”
According to Campbell, consumers have the right” to the highest quality” at the best prices.
“Consumers must insist upon the quality they require for the price they are going to pay,” she told Thursday life, adding that far too often consumer waive their rights in order to save on a few dollars.
Warranties on certain product and valid receipts for all purchases are among the list of things consumers should insist upon getting regardless of the price cuts. All warranties, Campbell said, should be given in writing while receipts must carry, among other things, the names and address of the vendor as well as the item that was purchased.
“Under the Consumer Protection Act, consumers should get no less than six months’ warranty on appliances, and they must ensure that it is tested before they leave the store,” Campbell explained.
Additionally, she said that consumers should ensure that all products carry manufacturing tags. She said consumers should check labels and tags carefully before they buy and in the case of apparel, should ensure that such items carry care labels.
“We have seen a case where piece of a suite carried a label that said ‘gentle wash’ and the other said ‘dry clean only’, ” Campbell said.

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