It’s wise to keep your bills

THE EDITOR: Customers of retail outlets who do not keep their cash bills/receipts when making purchases and then later decide they do not want the item(s) purchased and return to the retailer demanding an exchange or refund surely live in a fantasy world!

None would ever return and admit they had not actually bought the item, that would be absurd, but it is equally absurd therefore that the retailer is expected to accept the assurance that the returned goods were indeed purchased, and at the correct price, and recently! What else, other than that, would he be told? (“Oh, I shoplifted these last week but by mistake I stole the wrong size/colour/style, please exchange them for what I really want,” would never be admitted, so why expect a retailer to accept a verbal statement that a legal purchase was made?)

Why don’t shoppers make sure (a) they are buying perfect, undamaged goods and are getting what they pay for and (b) receive and safeguard a proper receipt for their purchases in case of future need? (For a mere few hours, just until they are sure they are keeping the items). I wish the Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Legal Affairs would have posters printed with a concise list of the rights and obligations of both the retailer and the consumer which could then be displayed in business houses for public information. There is an apparent broad misconception that the consumer has no obligations and the retailer has no rights. A pathetic assessment? Take my word for it, it’s out there!

GEOFF HUDSON
Port-of-Spain