It’s easy to get caught up in a shopping and sales frenzy over the holiday period.

There’s a lot on our to-do lists, including stocking up for Christmas celebrations and buying last-minute gifts. You might also be planning to check out the upcoming Boxing Day and January sales.

With increasing pressure from the rising cost of living, it’s more important than ever to make smart shopping choices.

Before you head to the checkout or click ‘add to cart’, follow our tips to ensure you have a positive experience.

Research

Whether buying online or instore, do your research. Read product reviews, shop around, and ensure that the ‘sale’ item you’re considering really is a bargain.

Before you click ‘pay now’, read the terms and conditions of your purchase and ensure you understand any fees you’ll be charged if you cancel or amend your order.

When buying a product or service online, always check the website is secure – look for ‘https’ (make sure it has the ‘s’) at the start of the URL and a padlock icon. Screenshot or save any documentation, receipts, or confirmation emails.

Be alert to fake sellers. Scammers may pose as genuine sellers on classifieds websites and buy/swap/sell sites. They may claim they are travelling, and an agent will deliver goods once you have paid, but you won’t receive the goods and will be unable to contact the seller.

If the advertised price of a good or service looks too good to be true, it probably is. If you have any doubts, don’t go ahead with the deal.

Be cautious with overseas websites

Only buy from websites that are well known, have a good reputation and display clear processes for solving problems.

You have the same rights buying from an Australian business or any online business that is trading in Australia.

If a business is overseas, you may experience practical difficulties in obtaining a refund, repair, or replacement for your product.

Before you commit to a purchase, check delivery timeframes. Be aware of possible delays due to restrictions on businesses, particularly for international traders, and supply chain issues, and always give yourself a grace period to ensure the item arrives in time.

Understand your consumer rights

As a consumer, you have the same rights whether you’re buying online or purchasing in store.

If you’re Christmas shopping and want your loved one to be able to exchange your gift, you need to check the store’s refund policy before you buy it.

‘Change of mind’ refunds and exchanges, such as when you buy the wrong size or colour, or if your loved one would like to exchange your gift for something else, are not covered by consumer law. When businesses offer this option, it is purely to provide a higher level of customer service.

However, if you find something you buy or receive is faulty or doesn’t match the sample or description given, you or your loved one have every right to a remedy. This applies regardless of whether it was on sale. Any reasonable proof of purchase can be used, but it’s usually easier for the gift recipient if they can present a receipt when taking the gift back to the store.

If you experience a problem with a product or service you buy, you should always talk to the business first. Most traders want to do the right thing and fix any problems for their customers.

If you are unable to resolve the problem, contact Consumer and Business Services for advice by calling 131 882.

For more information, go to https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/rights-and-law/consumer-rights