Don’t get sold down the river with dodgy sales ‘bargains’
BLACK Friday, Cyber Monday, pre-Christmas price drops... Over the next few weeks a series of neverending sales will be launched, all designed to part us with our hard-earned cash. But are the deals really a bargain? And what are your rights if things go wrong?
TIPS FOR SALES SURVIVAL
■ BE A CYNIC. The rules covering what constitutes a sale item are pretty vague. If you see something that looks like a bargain, go to the manufacturer’s website and look at the recommended retail price (RRP). Bear in mind that items often sell for less than this all year round. Some websites offer price comparisons and price ‘trackers’ that monitor how much an item has cost over the course of a year can be found online.
■ HAVE A MASTERPLAN: It’s tempting to just browse the Black Friday sales, but that’s a sure-fire way to end up buying rubbish that you might not need or can afford.
Think about what actually want to buy – either as gifts, to replace items that are nearing the end of their useful lives, or a one-off luxury purchase that you’ve really wanted. Do your research so you know if you’re getting a bargain and don’t deviate.
■ YOU CAN’T FIGHT SCIENCE: There’s a huge amount of research, planning and science employed by the retailers to get to your impulse buy – ticking timers, glossy images, item offers ‘expiring’. Only buy what you’ve planned and budgeted for.
■ MAKE A BUDGET. Credit cards and interest-free deals can make us careless. Don’t think of these credit sources as ‘free money’. Think of them as bills outstanding. So if you spend £1,000, you’ll need to allow for paying that off each month. Imagine what that will cost over a year and see if it fits your budget.
■ CHECK YOUR RIGHT TO RETURN GOODS: Contrary to what some stores say, you can return sale items – but only if they’re faulty. Always open the delivery box and check the items – you’ve got 30 days to return them to get a refund.
If you’re buying a big item make sure you’ve checked to see if there will be a delivery charge. Some firms now offer assembly services too. Be aware that you might get a local handyman to do the job more cheaply – and bear in mind that just because the assembly firm recommended by the retailer doesn’t mean they’ll replace the item if it’s damaged by the workman.
■ BUYING ABROAD: Watch out for charges for items purchased from other countries. The exchange rate will be applied when the retailer processes the transaction, so ‘estimates’ on websites aren’t guaranteed. Plus, international shipping charges have changed significantly in recent years. Items that might be a bargain in the US will have a hefty UK delivery charge.
■ BUYING FOR CHRISTMAS: Add any expensive items to your home insurance. November and December are the peak times for burglaries.
■ BE ETHICAL: You’d be amazed at what you can recycle – sofas, household appliances and other items will be collected by some charities if they’re in an okay condition. If you’re replacing something that isn’t broken, have a quick check online to see if it’s recyclable. Don’t just bin it.
■ Go to resolver.co.uk to sort out complaints about pretty much anything and share your experiences at yourstories@ resolvergroup.com