Sales:

As a tradition, after Christmas and the Three Kings come the long awaited sales. The Catalan business calendar places them from January 5th  to February 28th  and we’d like to give  you some tips  published by the OCU (Organization of Consumer and Users www.ocu.org).

1. Plan what you need in advance: making lists is a good way to avoid impulse purchases.

2. The rules state that the products must have been part of the usual run of the establishment for at least one month and its quality cannot be differentiated in anything they had before being lowered.

3. The sale items must show their original price next to the lowered one, or clearly state the percentage of the discount.

4. Special conditions for shopping sales period (about accepting card payments, refunds, etc.) are set out in some establishments. They can do it, that's their prerogative, but those conditions must be explicitly stated. If in doubt, ask the person in charge of the establishment.

5. Do retain the receipt or simplified invoice purchases, because you'll need them for any possible claim, change, etc.

6. After-sales service and warranty application are the same, regardless of whether you buy the product during the sales or outside this period.

7. If you have any problems during the sales, it is best to act as you would at any other time. In the sales period prices are cut, but never the rights you have as a consumer: try to reach an agreement on the transaction itself.

8. If you do not get a friendly settlement, ask for a complaints form (they must have them in any establishment) and write down your complaint.

9. If possible, try to choose establishments that adhere to a consumer arbitration system, which offer more guarantees to the buyer (in case of disagreement they tend to resolve their differences with the customer in a fast and free manner)

10. And if problems arise, do not be silent:  stake your claim.