With Christmas only days away and the post-Christmas sales just around the corner, consumers are being reminded to shop safely and know their rights, said Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury.
"As consumers hit the stores for those last-minute Christmas gifts, it's important to be aware of the range of rights and protections under the Australian Consumer Law," said Mr Bradbury.
"Consumers looking for gifts online should also make sure they do their research about the reputation of online retailers, always be careful about sharing personal and credit card information and pay via a secure payment method."
Five consumer tips for the last-minute Christmas shopper include:
- Keep your receipts: Make sure you keep track of your receipts if you or the gift recipient wants to exchange or return a purchase. Also pay attention to the returns policy at the store.
- Check for unsafe goods: Do your research when shopping to ensure that the gifts you buy are safe. Check the Product Safety Recalls Australia website, www.productsafety.gov.au, or download the app.
- Avoid scams: Protect yourself when shopping online, including doing your research on sellers and websites to avoid being scammed. Visit www.scamwatch.gov.au to find the latest scams and ways to protect yourself.
- Read gift card terms: Make sure you check the terms and conditions that apply to gift cards and use them before their expiration date. Remember, a gift card is not cash so you may not be able to redeem a gift card in the event of a retailer becoming insolvent.
- Stop before purchasing that extended warranty: Before deciding to purchase an extended warranty, make sure you weigh up whether the warranty provides you any additional rights over the ones you already have under the law.
Mr Bradbury said information about rights and protections under the Australian Consumer Law are also contained in a free app for mobile devices.
"The free ACCC Shopper app provides useful information to consumers about their rights, including answering commonly asked questions about refunds, warranties and lay-bys. It also allows consumers to store information on their phone about their purchase, as well as photograph and store a copy of their receipt."
For more information about consumer rights and the free ACCC Shopper app, go to www.accc.gov.au.