Last minute back to school shopping
THE Christmas break is over and it’s back to school for children around the country this week. Some parents have already done their shopping towards the end of last year, however not every family has finished their back to school shopping and some may be rushing to get their final school supplies.
Last minute shopping can create a lot of chaos because of rushing and you may not be in your right state of mind to exercise your rights and responsibilities as consumers.
As such, the council has in the past received complaints such as misleading advertisements during “back to school” promotions by businesses, consumers being misled by the prices at the shelves with prices at the cashier, consumers were sold products with inferior quality and bookshops selling faulty stationery.
Therefore, if you have waited until the last minute to get your back to school shopping done, don’t worry, here is an ultimate list of last-minute back to school shopping tips for you to avoid going through similar situations.
Take inventory: school supplies aren’t always cheap, but at least they don’t expire. Your child can reuse pencils from 2019 if it is in a good condition. There are other school items that your children can reuse such as school bags, uniforms, shoes and lunch boxes.
It doesn't have to be “new year, new gears” this back school. The key is staying organised and keeping barely-used supplies in a place you can find them the following year. That way, you can quickly take inventory before you shop. For now, take a moment to see what’s left over from last year and make a plan for keeping back-to-school inventory in the future.
The same principles work for school uniforms shopping as well. Build on the wardrobe your children already have, taking inventory will allow you to cut down on new uniforms you need to purchase.
Make a list of necessities and set a budget: Now that you’ve taken inventory on what you already have, make a list and simplify your shopping process. Not creating a plan or making a list often leads to two shopping problems: you forget the necessities, and you buy stuff you don’t need. Now, budgeting comes in.
Once you’ve created your list and determine how much your kids really need, you need to set a realistic uniform and school supply budget and stick to it.
If you haven’t been setting money aside all year (which you really should), you’ll need to determine what you can afford to spend on school-related expenses without going overboard.
Do comparative shopping: Look around! When shopping for school supplies, compare prices and quality of the items that you intent to buy. Also be mindful of your budget for back to school shopping; you do not want to purchase items from one shop only to find out later that goods are cheaper at other stores.
Be vigilant: During this time, many traders will be offering sale on school supplies, therefore consumers need to find out themselves whether these sales are genuine or gimmicks designed to lure consumers.
While gazing through back to school advertisements, it is very important to read all the terms and conditions that are written on the page, especially the fine prints at the bottom of the page.
Consumers should also note that spending a few dollars extra for school supplies may prove to be handy for them in the long run. For example, when buying school shoes, having a warranty can be a good investment, even if it costs more. This will ensure that in an event a strap or a buckle falls off, the conditions of the warranty will be in effect.
Exclusive dealing: It is also important to note that schools cannot force you into buying school uniforms, stationery or shoes from a particular store.
As a consumer, you have the right to look around and purchase these items from the store you feel is affordable and matches the requirements of your child’s school.
Moreover, you do not have to purchase items such as school uniforms or shoes for your child every year, unless they are moving to a different school (for uniforms) or have outgrown them.
It is advisable to re-use them if it is still in good condition.
Be sure to keep your receipt: Keeping receipts can be quite handy if you wish to return any item or request for a refund, especially if you purchase stationery which turns out to be faulty, or when you get a pair of shoes and its sole comes off the first day of usage.
Furthermore, consumers should be aware of the ban on high density polyethylene plastic bags in place, effective from January 1, 2020.
Consumers are reminded to carry their reusable shopping bags when going out to do back to school shopping for a new term. School terms 2020
Term 1: 13/01/20 - 17/04/20
Term 2: 04/05/20 - 07/08/20
Term 3: 24/08/19 - 20/11/19
If you come across a trader who is engaged in unethical trading practices, contact our national consumer helpline on toll-free number 155 or by email on complaints@consumersfiji.org
This is a regular contribution from the Consumer Council of Fiji. Email: mediaofficer@consumersfiji.org for feedback.