Markets
The best and worst bargains can be found at markets.
• Before setting out, write a list of things you’d planned to buy at retail stores. The same items may be at the markets at a fraction of the price. The list also will keep you focused so you’re not tempted to buy useless items.
• Take cash. Stallholders prefer it, and it gives you better bargaining power.
• If you’re planning to buy drapery or furnishings, take a tape measure and measure areas before you go.
• Find out what time the market starts and get there early when the best range of goods is on offer. It also pays to be there just before closing time. Items such as flowers and food are virtually given away.
• Don’t accept the price tag figure. Always ask, “What’s your best price?”
• Bad weather shouldn’t deter you, but it will stop less serious shoppers. You’ll have more room to move and stallholders will be more co-operative in lowering their prices.
• Beware of fly-by-night operators. If you have problems with your purchase, you want to ensure the seller is a regular or has a contact number.
Retail sales
• The only way to make sure a sale price is a genuine discount is to shop around first and compare prices.
• These days, retail stores often are open to offers, so it pays to haggle. If you know another store is offering an item at a lower price, ask the shop to match or better it.
• Beware of retailers who display two prices for the same product. If the higher price has a line through it, the lower price often looks considerably discounted. This is called false price indication, as the shop never offered those shoes for $200. It’s an offence and the retailer can be prosecuted.
• Beware of retailers who advertise products at bargain prices, only to inform customers the items have sold out - in reality, they were never available. Known as bait advertising, it is an offence for a store to mislead potential customers in this way.
• If shops advertise bargains, they should ensure they are available for a reasonable period and in reasonable quantities. Otherwise, the advertisement should indicate there is only a limited number available.
Second-hand woes
• Always inspect used items. Look for damage. If there are faults, can they be repaired and at what cost? Do they interfere with the function or safety of the product?
• Don’t buy chipped china or glass -unless you know it’s special and that it can be restored easily and cheaply.
• Beware of second-hand electrical goods — such as white goods, heaters, radios and so on. They may have faults which could be extremely dangerous.
• Does it have a motor? I know of one shopper who bought a food blender at a market and found later that the motor was missing. So always try appliances out for a few minutes. If it needs any additional wiring or plumbing, add these expenses to the purchase price and then ask, “Is it really worth the money?”
• Ask if the motor has been reconditioned - and by a properly qualified person. Is it clean inside and out?
$ Inquire if the original manual is available for an appliance. Many good second-hand dealers supply these with purchases.
• In some cases, used appliances should be labelled to show whether they have been tested for safety by a qualified person. If an appliance has not been tested, you might be liable for the cost of modifications.
Your rights
• Remember, second-hand goods should work properly and be safe, but you can’t expect them to be the same quality as the new product. If you do have problems, check with the Department of Fair Trading, because you may have rights against the seller or manufacturer. For example, in spite of “no refund” signs, if the item has faults you were not aware of before sale which affect its safety and function, the seller may be legally obliged to give you a refund or exchange. This applies to new goods bought in stores as well as second-hand purchases.
