Summer sales: Start July 11 – What consumers should watch out for

Summer sales start on Monday and will last until August 31st, while next Sunday July 17th, stores can be open across the country from 11am to 8pm.

In his announcement, Business and Retail Association of Greece regarding the issue of summer sales, he states that:

“During both the sales and store opening on Sunday 17th July retailers will be displaying a wide variety of products at extremely attractive and advantageous prices».

Also in his statements the president of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vassilis Korkidis notes that: “From Monday 11 July begins a long period of relief against punctuality and in favor of burdened family budgets, which will last 50 days, until 31 August and is suitable for “smart” purchases».

As Mr. Korkidis mentions, regarding the goal and role of this year’s summer sales, as “breakwater” of annual inflation: “This year’s summer sales come at a time when, due to extreme precision, households and businesses need them more than ever to overcome “inflationary shock”. The maintenance of electricity, food and fuel prices at high levels have forced the average Greek family to limit their purchases and drastically change their consumption habits. We hope, therefore, that discount prices reach and attract consumers, so that they work in combination, in favor of incomes and turnover. The double goal of the retail trade for this summer will be achieved, on the one hand, if the turnover of the two months of July-August moves above the threshold of 6 billion euros and, on the other hand, if the discount period manages to limit “national inflation” at least by 1%. We are in a special period, when pan-European inflation at 8.6% continues to increase, draining the wealth of businesses, but also the disposable income of households. However, in a situation where, according to Eurostat, the annual harmonized consumer price index is recorded in June in Greece at 12%, discounts are presented as an opportunity for cheaper purchases. So from Monday July 11th begins a long period of relief towards accuracy and in favor of burdened family budgets, which will last 50 days, until August 31st and is suitable for “smart” purchases. Commercial stores and all retail businesses in Attica are expected to offer a wide variety of consumer goods at low prices and, as always, with the best service and respect for their customers. The commercial world of Attica maintains its optimism and has placed its hopes for higher consumption than last year in the increased tourist flows, during the period of summer sales, where tourists will also enter the sum of the turnover with “imported consumption”. What is desired is that all consumers “take advantage” of the advantageous prices for their purchases and that retail businesses liquidate their seasonal merchandise. I believe that this year’s discounts will act as a “breakwater” in the waves of price hikes in energy, transport and housing, which threaten to “drown” consumers. Let’s hope that, in the management of precision, the discounts will be the antidote to the rise in inflation and, combined with the reductions in electricity bills, we will see a hot trading summer in the market, with good sales and good purchases».

What consumers should watch out for

It is recalled that the legislation (Article 15 of Law 4177/2013) states that shops can open on the first Sunday, at the start of the discount period.

Consumers during the sales period should pay special attention to the following points:

* During the period of sales in stores there should be posted notices that sales are taking place.

* The listing of a double price, i.e. the original (which is usually deleted) and the new price of the products sold at a discount is mandatory, in visible places in the store and certainly in the places where the products are displayed.

* Listing a discount percentage is not mandatory and it is at the discretion of the business whether to list a percentage or not. In case the company lists a percentage, it must be specified that it is a discount (e.g. “30% discount”).

* There should be no confusion between discounts and offers. Discounts concern products of the season, while offers, where the discount is particularly high, usually refer to outdated items.

* catering-retail-entertainment stores

* In the case of tenders, there should be a posted sign stating that tenders are being made. Products must carry the original price and the offer price (not the discount percentage). Caution! Offers often say no changes, so if you regret it, you can’t change.

* Pay particular attention to stores that advertise deep discounts on one or a few of their items. This does not mean that the rest of the items in these stores are cheaper than the corresponding items in other stores.

* Get informed about the details and terms of your transaction when you buy products in installments.

* Do not hesitate to be informed precisely about the origin and quality of the products. The seller must provide the consumer with all information related to the product in accordance with article 1 of Law 2251/94 before the latter makes a purchase.

* Check with merchants if there are any changes to the items they sell during sales. Traders are obliged to exchange defective products purchased during the sales period, unless the product is on sale due to a specific defect and the consumer has been informed of this prior to purchase with a corresponding sign.

* You ask for a receipt, because this is the only way to prove the purchase in the event of a defective product.

* You are asking for the instructions for use of the product and the terms of its warranty in the Greek language.

RES-EMP

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