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Adverts & Descriptions
Adverts & Descriptions
Tempted by the
latest ad? Wondering if that product really can do what they say
it can?
Advertisements are a good way
of marketing products and can help you decide what to buy.
However, remember, they are made by companies with one aim
in mind –
to sell
their product to you.
They will
highlight all the good things about any product but may ignore
any faults. They may make a product sound new and exciting when
it has been around a while and they won’t tell you what their
product doesn’t have or cannot do. And they won’t inform you of
any alternative, similar products which may be available.
So its up to you to run around
to find out if this is the best product for you. Check
out different makes and models – you might find
one even better, or very similar but much cheaper. Don’t believe
adverts telling you that something is a “must have”, use your own
judgement.
Are any
freebies being offered, worth having? Ask yourself if you would
still want that brand or model if there were no freebie being
offered. If the answer is no, then perhaps you should think
again.
But what about how products are
described? Do you always get what you pay for? The answer is you should! Anything you buy must match its
description,
whether
that description is on an advert, on the product’s packaging, or
on the shelf in the shop. For example if a garment is described
as 100% cotton it should not be made of polyester, a computer
sold with a DVD writer must have that facility.
Shopkeepers are not
allowed to have any
notice
which
says that your shopping
rights
(see Ur
Rites section) are
restricted
in any
way, such as ‘no cash refunds’, ‘no sale goods exchanged or
money refunded’ or ‘sold as seen and inspected’.
If you
would like free advice or information on your rights when buying
anything then please do not hesitate to contact your local
Trading Standards Office.
So remember:
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Don’t be
taken in by adverts – shop around to check you get the best
deal
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If something
you buy does not live up to what the manufacturer says it
will do, contact Trading Standards
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Shopkeepers
cannot have a sign restricting your right to a refund if
what you have bought is not as described, or is faulty.
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