Consumers are prepping for major upcoming Christmas and new year sales events – but Queenslanders should stay informed about their rights and know who they are dealing with when shopping online.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Shannon Fentiman, said many shoppers are looking forward to the big sales events coming up during the peak shopping season but that it’s crucial that consumers do their research when shopping online.
“With the increasing pressure from rising cost of living, it’s never been more important to make smart shopping choices”, the Attorney said.
“Major sale events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday have shoppers chasing a bargain but sometimes those rushing to grab a bargain can be caught out by impulse purchases.
“For online sales, consumers should read reviews from other shoppers and take a careful look into the products and services on offer prior to purchasing to ensure that they are really getting a bargain.
“Don’t forget to check if a business will offer a remedy under their returns policy for change of mind purchases, because businesses don’t automatically have to give a refund if you simply no longer want the item, or you selected the wrong size or colour.”
The Attorney said consumers are changing the way they shop, with a lot more shifting to buying online or through businesses on social media, including traders based overseas.
