5 Shopping Mistakes to Avoid

Introduction
With Christmas and the subsequent January sales just around the corner many are going to be parting with their hard earned cash and splashing out on various gifts and personal purchases. Providing you are spending within your budgeted means there isn’t a problem with splashing out. After all we work hard all month, why not treat ourselves every now and then?
Often the problems arise when the goods turn up faulty or you simply don’t like them as much as you did in the shop window. It’s all about knowing what you’re entitled to in terms of refunds, returns and exchanges. Throughout this article we are going to outline how you can avoid 5 of the most common shopping mistakes:

1. Make your decision quickly
   While you may get a month to return your unwanted or faulty goods that you’ve bought in store, returning goods you’ve bought online is a different matter. The chances are you’ll only get 7 days from the receipt date to return the goods. Providing you are able to do this you should get a full refund minus the cost of the return postage.
2. You may not be entitled to a money-back refund
   Simply changing your mind may not be a good enough reason to get you money back. Depending on the company’s policy you may only be entitled to an exchange or credit notes/ vouchers. This is why it is always worth checking the company’s returns policy prior to purchasing anything.
3. Faulty goods can be returned
   If your goods aren’t fit for purpose or are faulty for any reason then you can return them, even if they’ve been bought in store. Most stores will require that you return the item within 4 weeks of purchase; however they may still be able to offer a repair or replacement depending on the nature of the fault.
4. Delivery problems are the retailer’s responsibility
   If your goods are damaged in transit then you need to take it up with the retailer you bought the item from, not the courier. The retailer will then take this up with their chosen delivery company and you may then be asked to provide evidence of the damage.
5. Keep your receipts
   Sometimes proof of purchase such as a print out of a bank statement may be sufficient, but the ultimate tool for refunds and returns is the original receipt. It’s important that if you are buying gifts you ask for a gift receipt; these will entitle you to full refunds or an exchange providing the item is returned within a specific time period in the original condition.
   Conclusion

Often these shopping mistakes can be avoided simply by making yourself aware of the company’s policy prior to purchasing an item. By making quick decisions and ensuring that the item remains in its original condition you shouldn’t have any problems getting your money back or getting an equivalent item in exchange.
About Author: This is a guest post by Jason Scott on behalf of Same Day Guarantor Loans. For more top money tips visit https://www.samedayguarantorloans.co.uk/Blog.