Press release
Minister Troy urges caution to online shoppers ahead of Black Friday
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy TD, has urged online shoppers to exercise caution when availing of online sale offers as the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales approach.
The Minister said:
"I would urge shoppers to spend a little time doing their own research before committing to online purchases. It is extremely important to establish where the business you are purchasing from is based as this can affect your rights after any purchase. If the business is not based in the EU then consumers need to be aware that they don’t have the automatic strong rights that they have when purchasing from within the EU."
The Minister pointed to recent research by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), which shows the majority of those who shop online are guided by the currency and website domain, neither of which should be used as guarantees of a business’s location. The CCPC are urging consumers to check the Terms & Conditions for a registered address before making any purchases.
Minister Troy also pointed to other advice from the CCPC about taking offers at face value.
He said:
"The CCPC has some excellent advice for consumers about shopping online and being aware of the original price of products before they are offered at a reduced sale price. It is very easy to compare prices online and then again before you buy so you can be confident you are getting a good deal."
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission website also has some very useful tips and advice for consumers regarding shopping in person and online. See ccpc.ie for further details.
Minister Troy concluded:
"It has never been easier to shop online but there can be pitfalls too. However, consumers can avoid these by doing some research of their own, such as where the business you are buying from is based and also by doing price comparisons online. And as always, consumers should be very careful with their own financial details and be sure of the bona fides of the business they are dealing with."