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Boxing Day Sales: Don’t Fall for Fake Discounts
That feeling of scoring a great deal is powerful. “Naturally, if you’re looking to reward yourself, adn you can score a big discount, that’ll feel like a double win.” But the psychological pull of a discount can also lead to impulsive purchases and, unfortunately, can be exploited by retailers.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is urging shoppers to carefully check if advertised discounts are genuine before making a purchase. The consumer watchdog recently sent letters to major retailers, warning them against misleading or deceptive conduct during the Boxing Day sales.
Officeworks
Here’s how to protect yourself from misleading sales tactics:
- Check the original price: Don’t assume the “original” price is what the item actually sold for recently. Retailers sometimes inflate the original price to make the discount seem larger.
- Compare prices: Shop around at different stores to see if the discounted price is truly competitive.
- Read the fine print: