Summer may not yet be over and the kids are having a carefree break from school, but there are plenty of parents who have already started preparing so that their students are ready for the first bell come September. To this end, they have gone to the markets and started recording the prevailing prices, while they have already identified violations, which they reported to the relevant links.
On Tuesday morning, the Consumer Protection Agency has released, in an effort to help parents get the facts, the prices it has recorded from its market research for the basic items a student needs for his school career. Among the prices, what stood out is the maximum price on student bags with wheels, since it has almost touched 200 euros. Specifically, the maximum price is 199.95 euros. However, there are reports of even higher prices, and this is of particular interest given that these are school bags.
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“As the Cypriot Consumer Protection Association, we have recorded that there are prices for school bags that amount to 300 euros. In last year's research we did and in the last year we found something similar. What we urge consumers to do is to also monitor the online pages of companies that sell school supplies, because we have noticed that through the Internet, the price is lower for school cases and school bags, but also for clothing and footwear, something which the consumer cannot find when he goes to the store in person,” Virginia Christou, legal officer of the Cyprus Consumers Association, told REPORTER.
It is noted that this is not an unfair practice on the part of the stores, as it is legal to sell the same products, but at lower prices, on the companies' online channels. However, what is not fair is when stores do not inform consumers of their rights and policies regarding returns and warranties.
“All products that are bought by consumers and will be used for personal and non-professional needs, have a two-year warranty and must inform consumers who buy school supplies, whether it is clothing and footwear, or school bags and caskets”.
It is recalled that according to the Consumer Protection Service, the prices recorded are:
-For school backpacks from 6.99 euros to 134.95 euros
-For school bags with wheels from 16 euros to 199.95 euros
-For caskets from 0.99 euros up to 44.95 euros
As for clothing and footwear, the prices recorded are:
-For a white gym shirt from 2 euros to 10 euros
-For white blouse with collar from 3.99 euros to 10 euros
-For gym shorts for boys from 2 .99 euros to 23 euros
-For girls' gym leggings from 1.99 euros to 17 euros
-For short gray school trousers from 6.5 euros to 15.37 euros
-For school gray skirts from 7.5 euros to 30 euros
Caution when shopping online
Meanwhile, many parents are turning to the internet to shop for school supplies, but they need to be extra careful to avoid the pitfalls, especially behind the new platforms that have started and gain the attention of the consumer public, as well as when they buy from European Union countries, but also from third countries, outside the EU.
“What we record, through research we did on platforms and through the data of the Statistical Service, is that Cypriots choose to shop online, especially from stores that do not meet the basic rules for consumer rights. If they do buy from the specific platforms, which operate in third countries, then they should know that it is up to the policy of each company whether to return the money back, in case of a mistake”, stressed Ms. Christ.
However, from an audit carried out by the Consumer Protection Association, it was found that in case a product is defective or presents a problem, the companies are willing to repair it or give new products. At the same time, there have been cases where the platforms have disabled the consumer's account.
“As far as the platforms operating in the European Union are concerned, the fourteen-day rule applies, that is, after a purchase, within fourteen days, the consumer can return the product and ask for his money, and the company is obliged, within fourteen days from the return of the product, to give back the money to the consumers”.
It is noted that the return policy for fourteen days also contains some pitfalls, regarding the charges that burden consumers and the charges that burden businesses. “The law states that when there is no mention of who should pay the cost of the return, then the company covers it. But if the company states that in the case of a return the consumer will have to pay the amount, then it is the consumer's responsibility. What we recommend is that they should ask about the specific policy”.
Advice to consumers
Ms. Christou also wanted to give some advice to consumers, given that at the moment it is a period of sales, both in stores where purchases are made in person and for online stores. Essentially, what citizens need to do is:
-A market research, both in physical stores and online, to record prices, before buying something,
-To draw up a comprehensive list of the purchases they want to make, to meet their needs, so they don't go beyond their budget
-There and wherever if it is found that the tags show discounted prices, however when they remove the tag they find that the previous price is the same as the discount or even lower, then they should make an official complaint, because the fine is very high and reaches up to 3 million euros.
“We have already received two complaints about school supplies, which were on sale and did not meet the relevant specifications. Essentially, another price was written on the tag and at checkout the discount was not included in the final price. What we are saying to the world is not to stick to the owners' verbal commitments that they will make changes, but to make complaints.”
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