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Canadian Consumer Handbook 2006
Consumer Tips - Buying
Before You Buy
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Take advantage of sales, but always compare prices. Do not assume
an item is a bargain just because it is advertised as one.
Don't rush into an expensive purchase because the "price
is only good today."
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If direct selling (sale that takes place in person, away from the
seller's normal place of business, like door-to-door sales),
check whether the company is licensed or registered at the local
and/or provincial level.
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Contact your provincial or territorial consumer affairs office for
any consumer information they might have on this type of purchase.
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Be aware of extra charges such as delivery fees, installation
charges, service costs, and postage and handling fees. Add them
into the total cost of your purchase. A complete directory of
organizations is available at the end of this guide.
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Ask about the company's refund or exchange policy.
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Read the warranty. Note what is covered and what is not. Find out
what you must do and what the manufacturer or seller must do when
there is a problem.
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Never sign a contract without reading it. Don't sign a contract
when there are any blank spaces in it or when you don't
understand it. In fact, do not sign any document that you do not
understand.
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Before buying a product or service, contact your consumer affairs
office to see whether there are automatic cancellation periods for
the purchase you are making. In some provinces and territories,
there is a cancellation period for contracts for credit, dating
clubs, health clubs, pre-need funeral and cemetery services, time
shares, natural gas, electricity, and door-to-door sales (please
also see the section on special contracts).
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Walk out or hang up on high-pressure sales tactics. Don't be
forced or pressured into buying anything.
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Only do business over the telephone with companies you know.
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Be suspicious of post office box addresses. These might indicate
that a business does not want to be found. If you have a complaint
later on, you might have trouble locating the company.
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Do not respond to any prize or gift offer that requires you to pay
even a small amount of money up front.
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Use unit pricing in supermarkets to compare what items really cost.
Unit pricing allows you to compare the price gram-for-gram,
kilogram-for-kilogram. As an example, bigger packages are not
always cheaper than smaller ones.
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Use coupons carefully. Do not assume they are the best deal until
you've compared the price you would pay with a coupon to the
prices of competitive products.
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Do not rely on a salesperson's verbal promises. Get everything
in writing.
After You Buy
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Read and follow product and service instructions.
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Read the warranty so that you understand what is covered and for
how long.
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Be aware that how you use and take care of a product might affect
your warranty rights.
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Keep all sales receipts, warranties, service contracts and
instructions.
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When you have a problem, contact the company as soon as possible.
Trying to fix the product yourself might cancel your right to
service under the warranty.
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Keep a written record of any contact with the company.
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When you have a problem, check with your consumer affairs office to
find out about the warranty rights in your province or territory.
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Check your contract for any statement about your cancellation
rights. Contact your consumer affairs
office to see whether a
cancellation period applies.
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When you take a product in for repair, be sure the technician or
person taking it in understands and writes down the problem you
have described. Ask for and keep a copy of the repair order. Get an
estimate on the cost of repairs before allowing the work to go
ahead.
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