18 May 2013
Economists said 90 percent of consumers don't know their rights or duties, and that makes them fall prey to some traders' "greed" and the loss of their consumer rights.
The economist, Salem Bajajh, lamented the voracious appetite of Saudi consumers and their indifference of their rights. If they are aware of their rights, they can cut their shopping expenses.
He said consumers should be aware of buying large quantities of unnecessary goods without paying attention to their expiry dates, such as purchasing foodstuffs in bulk. Many such large quantity items are expired at the time of purchase, he said. He said that carelessness and negligence of consumers in choosing the quantity over quality and buying fast-moving consumer goods at low price yet low quality may burden the household budget.
Warning the consumers of poor and fake goods, which are often sold at "Two Riyals" shops, Bajajh urged them to demand original receipts of their purchases to ensure their rights, as also they asked for the warranties, especially on expensive goods like electronics.
Essam Khalifa, a member of the Saudi Economic Association (SEA), warns consumers misled about the special offers and discounts to check prices before and after the discounts to prove that there isn't a big difference between the two.
A source at the Saudi Consumer Protection Association (CPA) said the CPA issues guides that outline the key consumers' rights and cover the major current consumer laws and regulations as well as provide the necessary information of the government authorities concerned with the interests of the Kingdom's consumers and their rights.
He pointed to Consumer Satisfaction Index that the association has launched, which aims to bridge the gap between consumer expectations and reality. He called on consumers to contact the service provider at first to resolve the dispute, if they were unable to reach an agreement then he could file a complaint with CPA.
Economists said 90 percent of consumers don't know their rights or duties, and that makes them fall prey to some traders' "greed" and the loss of their consumer rights.
The economist, Salem Bajajh, lamented the voracious appetite of Saudi consumers and their indifference of their rights. If they are aware of their rights, they can cut their shopping expenses.
He said consumers should be aware of buying large quantities of unnecessary goods without paying attention to their expiry dates, such as purchasing foodstuffs in bulk. Many such large quantity items are expired at the time of purchase, he said. He said that carelessness and negligence of consumers in choosing the quantity over quality and buying fast-moving consumer goods at low price yet low quality may burden the household budget.
Warning the consumers of poor and fake goods, which are often sold at "Two Riyals" shops, Bajajh urged them to demand original receipts of their purchases to ensure their rights, as also they asked for the warranties, especially on expensive goods like electronics.
Essam Khalifa, a member of the Saudi Economic Association (SEA), warns consumers misled about the special offers and discounts to check prices before and after the discounts to prove that there isn't a big difference between the two.
A source at the Saudi Consumer Protection Association (CPA) said the CPA issues guides that outline the key consumers' rights and cover the major current consumer laws and regulations as well as provide the necessary information of the government authorities concerned with the interests of the Kingdom's consumers and their rights.
He pointed to Consumer Satisfaction Index that the association has launched, which aims to bridge the gap between consumer expectations and reality. He called on consumers to contact the service provider at first to resolve the dispute, if they were unable to reach an agreement then he could file a complaint with CPA.
© Arab News 2013
