The way we interact with retailers and other traders has changed considerably over the course of the last few years. With many of us turning to online shopping out of necessity during the pandemic, and continuing to do so now, many high street retailers have reduced the number of physical stores they have as a …
Christmas Shopping Online: Avoiding Payment Pitfalls and Knowing Our Rights Read More »
Hot off the heels of National Consumer Week Scotland 2022 last week, Advice Direct Scotland are asking Scottish consumers to wear their ‘savvy shopper’ badges pride of place for a bit longer – to help avoid being caught out by counterfeit cosmetics and problematic products in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. This year, …
Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2022 – Avoiding Regretful Bargains and Dangerous Products Read More »
Growing up, Halloween was always a well-thought-out occasion for us, with myself and my two younger siblings taking time to describe what we wanted to dress up as, and my mum and aunt making or purchasing items to make our vision a reality. From the time I dressed up as Dracula, with a bin bag …
Halloween 2022 – Avoiding a Safety Horror Story this Halloween Read More »
We all like to feel like we are getting value-for-money on anything we purchase, but sometimes a bargain can leave us feeling cheaper than expected when it turns out to be a counterfeit, sub-standard imitation of the real thing. Questions are raised about the multiple perspectives involved in the operation of the movement of these …
Counterfeit Goods: Impacts on Consumers and the Economy Read More »
As consumers, the access we have to makeup and tips from beauty experts on how to apply it is growing every day. You only have to go onto YouTube, Instagram or any other social media platform to see the reach that beauty influencers have, and the brand engagement that endorsed products can have. At …
Counterfeit Cosmetics – Keeping this Halloween as Scare-Free as Possible Read More »
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are set to be more popular than ever this year, with many retailers offering early and extended sales on the must-have items for Christmas. Cyber Monday presents an opportunity to pick up the latest gadgets and electrical equipment, including the newest releases of games consoles. With the genuine retailers out …
Cyber Monday: Avoiding Counterfeit Electronics and Issues with Games Consoles Read More »
We all like to feel like we are getting value-for-money in anything we purchase, but sometimes a bargain can leave us feeling cheaper than expected when it turns out to be a counterfeit, sub-standard imitation of the real thing. Questions are raised about the multiple perspectives involved in the operation of the movement of these …
Counterfeit Goods: Impacts on Consumers and the Economy Read More »
Throughout the public health crisis and resulting lockdown restrictions, consumeradvice.scot has received a significant increase in the number of cases relating to faulty goods and safety concerns. Between April and July this year, we have seen faulty goods cases increase by nearly 110%. Since March, Scottish consumers have witnessed a seismic change in how they interact with, and …
Throughout the entirety of the coronavirus pandemic, there have been individuals exploiting fear and uncertainty in order to make profit. This has been evident through advertisements of counterfeit personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 testing kits online. Just last week, a British man was sentenced for pocketing approximately £12,000 selling bogus coronavirus treatment kits online …
The illegal trading of puppies is a practice which not only proves incredibly damaging to the animals involved, but can also severely impact consumers, carrying a significant financial and emotional toll. Scottish Government figures estimate that almost half (45%) of people who bought a puppy in 2019 purchased the animal online, an increase of 25% …
