Black Friday is fast approaching, so many businesses have already announced their “huge sales“, “exceptional price reductions”, and “huge discounts”.
However, the announcement of the Ministry of National Economy emphasizes that behind the promises that sound nice at first, in many cases, there is no discount, or even a much lower discount than what can be read in the advertisement, so anyone can easily become a victim of a scam. However, with sufficient awareness and attention, unnecessary annoyance can be avoided.
Starting from May 2022, traders have a clear obligation to provide information in the event of promotions. Thus, they must indicate not only the selling price, but also the lowest price used in the previous 30 days, in relation to which they must determine the extent of the devaluation, in the case of a price reduction announcement. In this way, it is possible to ensure that customers come across real deals. In case of continuous devaluation, the amount of the promotion must be indicated in relation to the previous initial price.
It is always advisable to compare prices during sales, because it can easily happen that sale products cost the same or even cheaper than original products elsewhere.
In any case, it is worth checking whether the coupons and markdowns given by the retailer contain a meaningful discount. The situation is complicated by the fact that as Christmas approaches, countless “today only and only for you” type discounts can be found not only in traditional stores, but also in online stores.
Online shopping deserves attention
Before shopping online, it is recommended to first click on the “Contact” menu item, as this is where you should find out whether it is a domestic online store. In the case of a purchase from a foreign online store, when a problem arises, the enforcement of consumer rights can be considerably more difficult. It is also advisable to take into account that in the case of an order from overseas or the Far East, it is not certain that the ordered product will arrive in the required time.
Webshops that do not have a company name or contact information on their website should definitely be avoided. Information about infringing e-traders can be found on the government website Jogsértő webáruházak, but before making a purchase it is worth reading the consumer comments as well. When shopping online, consumers are entitled to similar rights as when shopping in a store, however, in addition to these, the right to cancel within 14 days without giving any reason appears as a significant additional right.
This can even be done for subjective reasons, for example if you don’t like the product.
Within the withdrawal period, the product can be opened and tested in order for the consumer to determine whether it is suitable for him, but the testing can only be to the extent that it would be possible in a traditional store. Furthermore, there are exceptions to the right of withdrawal without justification, such as customized products based on individual needs, perishable goods or goods that retain their quality for a short time.
If, despite conscious and careful shopping, a problem still arises – which cannot be resolved with the online store – then help can be requested from the consumer protection authority, conciliation bodies or, in the case of online purchases from other EU member states, from the European Consumer Center operating within the Ministry of National Economy.
(Cover photo: Customers stand in line on Black Friday, November 25, 2016. Photo: Attila Balázs / MTI)
Follow Index on Facebook too!
I’m following you!
