Moldova warns shoppers to check Black Friday deals
Moldova’s consumer protection authority is urging shoppers to check Black Friday offers carefully, verify online sellers and keep payment records as complaints typically rise during the year-end sales season.
How to spot misleading discounts
One common deceptive practice involves raising a product’s price before advertising a discount, creating the impression of a better deal than the actual savings justify. Some retailers also advertise exaggerated discounts that do not reflect the real difference between the original and reduced prices.
Consumers should compare the same product across several stores to determine whether a promotion offers genuine savings.
“What we encounter most often in these deceptive practices is raising prices before applying discounts or advertising exaggerated price reductions,” Tatiana Frunză, a spokesperson for the State Inspectorate for Non-Food Product Surveillance and Consumer Protection (ISSPNPC), said in an interview with Teleradio-Moldova.
When shopping online, consumers should check whether the seller is a legally identifiable business and whether its contact details, including its registered address and telephone number, are valid.
Product descriptions and prices should be clear, and delivery conditions should be available before an order is placed.
Frunză also advises shoppers to exercise caution when buying through social media or online marketplaces, particularly when the responsible seller cannot be identified. Before transferring money, buyers should verify who will receive the payment and ensure they are dealing with a legitimate business.
“Communication with the business is also essential. Many people make the mistake of placing an order very quickly when they see a good price. This should not stop them from shopping, but it means they need to be much more cautious when accepting such an offer,” Frunză said.
Discounted products carry the same consumer rights
Products sold at a discount are covered by the same consumer protection rights as products sold at full price. If an item is defective or does not match the characteristics advertised by the seller, consumers can seek a remedy under the applicable law.
Buyers should keep receipts, warranty documents and any other evidence of purchase.
For online purchases, consumers may have the right to withdraw from a contract within 14 days without giving a reason, subject to applicable legal conditions and exceptions. The right does not apply to every product or transaction.
“Products purchased at a discount carry exactly the same rights for consumers as those that are not on promotion. A discount does not cancel consumer rights,” Frunză said.
Consumers who believe they have been misled should keep their order confirmation, proof of payment, screenshots of advertised offers and correspondence with the seller.
If a product is defective or the seller fails to meet the agreed purchase conditions, consumers should first submit a complaint to the business. Suspected unfair commercial practices can subsequently be reported to the competent authority.
Keep receipts and compare offers
Consumer protection specialists advise shoppers not to rely solely on large discount percentages. Comparing prices across several sources and checking the terms of purchase before paying can help prevent financial losses.
Consumers should prepare a shopping list in advance, focus on products they actually need and verify the identity of sellers before placing orders.
Keeping receipts and other purchase documents is essential when seeking refunds, submitting complaints or requesting other remedies.
“The most important thing is to shop with information. We should go with a well-prepared list of what we intend to buy in November, carefully assess the seller’s offer, make sure the business is legitimate and, above all, keep the receipt and all the documents provided at the time of purchase,” Frunză said.
According to Frunză, the number of complaints submitted to the inspectorate increases considerably during the year-end sales period.
The monthly average rises from 80 complaints in September and October to around 120 in November and December, according to the figures she provided. These figures represent a 50% increase, rather than the one-third increase stated in the original report.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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