If you are a bargain hunter and thinking of hitting the shops this Boxing Day, watch out for less-than-genuine bargains. Consumer NZ says shoppers need to have a plan to shield themselves from the hype.
“When you’re on the hunt for the best possible deal, you need to watch out for those less-than-genuine bargains (and) you need a plan to shield you from the hype and protect you from buying a dud,” says Jessica Walker, campaigns manager at Consumer.
The first wining strategy, according to Consumer, is to come up with a ‘game plan‘ as Boxing Day is another massive marketing opportunity for businesses to persuade shoppers to part with their dollars.
To avoid a buy-now-regret-later situation, shoppers should separate their wants from their needs and set a budget before hitting the shops.
“Our advice is don’t buy something unless you really need or want it. While the pull of the last sale of 2025 could be strong, the first sale of 2026 is probably less than a week away,” says Walker.
“Keep in mind that the Consumer Guarantees Act does not allow shoppers to get a refund simply because they change their mind about a purchase.”
The second tip of Consumer is to ‘know the rules of the game‘. “No refunds” or “no exchanges on sale items” signs are likely to be misleading. If something you buy is faulty or not up to standard, the Consumer Guarantees Act gives you the right to a replacement or a refund.
You don’t need the original packaging to return a faulty item either. “If one of your boxing day purchases is faulty, the retailer must put things right.”
Walker also urges shoppers to resist the pressure to fork out for extended warranties – you’re already covered under the Consumer Guarantees Act.
The third strategy for bargain shoppers is to ‘play the game‘. “While sales can be exciting, we recommend waiting for the thing you really want to go down in price, rather than just choosing the product with the biggest saving on Boxing Day,” says Walker.
Consumer’s product tests frequently show that top price doesn’t always mean top quality. “A big discount, doesn’t necessarily mean a good deal.”
Do your research to check whether the sale price really is better than the normal selling price, suggests Consumer.
Finally, sweep your wallet and drawers for any unused gift cards before hitting the sales. “One in five gift card holders end up with expired cards, and Consumer estimates over $10 million is wasted on unredeemed gift cards every year. So, if you have got credit on a gift card, we recommend you ‘use it or lose it’ this Boxing Day.”
–from team of NewsViews 
