It is sales time and you may be thinking of splashing out on a new computer, TV or video, a mobile phone or even some furniture.
When you get to the till, you may be asked if you want to purchase an extra warranty or insurance cover. Or you may be asked for a deposit to hold a particular item.
The European Consumer Information Centre has asked consumers to be vigilant when it comes to purchasing additional policies or putting down deposits. Consumers may feel pressurised into purchasing policies which seem to offer additional protection but which, on close reading, don't suit their needs.
The centre has had complaints from consumers who purchased faulty goods and were subsequently told by the retailer that it was not their responsibility. The centre advises that referral of the purchaser to the manufacturer is in breach of the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980, which says that it is the seller who is contractually liable to the buyer, not the manufacturer.
The spokeswoman adds: "This is the case regardless of whether there is a manufacturer's guarantee or not. A consumer's rights may outlast any guarantee so even if a guarantee has run out a consumer may still have a right to redress provided it is within a reasonable length of time."
If you're buying electrical goods, keep the boxes and packaging as proof of purchase. Retailers offering an exchange policy will not provide you with this goodwill if you don't keep boxes and packaging.
Think twice before you put down a deposit, says the centre's spokeswoman. "When you put down a deposit you are bound by the contract. In theory, this means that by failing to fulfil your end of the bargain [you don't want the goods] you are liable for breach of contract, which technically means that the shop is within its rights to claim damages from you. Think very carefully before putting deposits down in future."
If a shop sells on the goods, when you have put down a deposit, the shop is in breach of contract with you.
Having purchased the item, with or without an additional warranty, you may be frustrated by the length of time you have to wait for delivery. The centre receives a large number of complaints relating to late deliveries, where terms promise six to eight weeks delivery and consumers end up waiting more than three months. "This can lead to much frustration, in particular when people take time off work and the deli very fails to arrive on the agreed date. In cases like these the consumer is entitled to get their deposit returned. They could also hold the shop liable for damages, such as loss of earnings," says the spokeswoman.
Case studies
Stolen Walkman not covered by theft policy
"My 18-year-old son bought a Walkman in January in a well-known high street electrical store at a cost of £39. While he was at the counter the shop assistant recommended that he take out an insurance policy which would provide three-year coverage against breakdown or theft. He felt pressurised into buying the insurance policy and duly forked out the £12. I was furious when he told me what he had done but, on reflection, thought I would probably have succumbed as well.
"About a month later the Walkman was stolen from his locker at school. I immediately contacted the shop about claiming on the insurance policy my son had purchased. However, the manager said the policy did not cover theft from public premises and was very rude to me when I protested my case. I was really angry. Is there anything I can do to get my money back?"
The centre advises that her son was "very unfortunate but there are a number of valuable lessons to be learnt from his experience. It is very important to read the terms and conditions of all insurance policies very carefully . . . businesses, of course, want to make as much money as possible and people are often pressurised into buying products they do not need. If you are unsure about whether a particular policy suits you, ask if you can take the brochure home to study it more closely."
No bags for vacuum cleaner
A consumer bought a vacuum cleaner costing £100 and was told bags were widely available. She tried numerous department stores and specialist retailers but could not get the specific bag.
She rang the manufacturer who told her that the particular model was not being distributed in Ireland and must have been shipped in directly by the retail group.
The centre advises that if the company can not provide her with bags or help her locate them she may be entitled to a replacement machine (different model) or, failing this, a refund.
Case studies supplied by the European Consumer Centre, O'Connell Street, Dublin.
Website: ecic.ie