Christmas shopping – consumer rights and responsibilities

Christmas is now only a couple of weeks away and those who have not yet started shopping for Christmas gifts do not have much time left. Buying gifts for our loved ones is no easy task and involves an element of risk.

In other words, no matter how well we think we know our loved ones, there is always the risk that we may choose the wrong gift for them. This risk can, however, be significantly minimised if we consumers avoid rushed buying decisions and take some basic precautions.

In the first instance, we should remember that unless there is a pre-sale agreement that states otherwise, sellers have no legal obligation to accept our request to return and exchange unsuitable gifts. This means that it is up to sellers to adopt voluntary return policies that allow such exchanges.

Hence, to ensure the gifts we are buying can be exchanged, we are responsible to check the shop’s return policy before concluding any purchase. Some important questions to ask include whether the gift can be exchanged, and if the answer is yes, ask about the terms and conditions on how returns can be affected. It is also our responsibility to ask the seller to give us a gift receipt that includes information...