Shop ‘til you drop but do so with caution
Shoppers in Renfrewshire have been urged to be on their guard as one of the world’s highest-profile online sales gets underway.
Amazon Prime Day will take place today and tomorrow, and is expected to attract millions of bargain hunters.
Scotland’s national consumer advice service – consumeradvice.scot – has highlighted the key difference between goods sold directly by Amazon or through Amazon Marketplace.
The latter enables other retailers and individuals to sell items, including second-hand goods, through the Amazon platform.
Website consumeradvice.scot said anyone buying on Amazon Marketplace should first check the seller’s details, which reveal delivery charges, return postage rates and their feedback from other customers.
Consumers should also ensure they are aware of Amazon’s own guidance for the return of faulty goods and refunds to protect them in the event of a purchase going wrong.
The consumeradvice.scot website includes a checker tool produced by Scots company Vistalworks, which allows users to enter the online address of a product on sale on Amazon Marketplace to see any potential risks.
Marjorie Gibson, head of operations with Scotland’s national consumer advice service, consumeradvice.scot, said:
“People all over Scotland will be looking forward to getting some bargains when Amazon Prime Day launches.
“It is very much like Black Friday with some great opportunities, but there is also a degree of risk. It’s important that Scots consumers are aware of their rights before they start browsing.
“Crucially, they should note that while Amazon itself is a direct retailer.
“Amazon Marketplace allows others to trade second-hand goods through their systems.
“People should research the sellers on Amazon Marketplace before making a purchase.
“It’s also important that if you want to return faulty goods then you do so in a timely fashion, and post it properly with sufficient tracking procedures and signatures required.
“Shoppers should be aware of Amazon’s own A-to-Z Guarantee in terms of where they stand if things go wrong.”