You have been shopping on your own for a long time, and since you also have your own income, this gives you more freedom. People shop differently – some give in to their emotions, others plan and research, others “chase” only discounts, and others are interested in whether the products are environmentally friendly or produced under fair conditions. And you? Do you immediately grab something that you like or just to keep up with fashion and not stand out from your friends? Are you influenced by advertisements or influencers? For example, you see an advertisement for a great new pair of sneakers. Right now, you don’t need them at all, and they are quite expensive, but you want so much to look like the famous athlete who is advertising them! What will you do? Will you act impulsively or will you give up because this expense is unnecessary?

 

Shopping wisely – whether in a store or online – means planning and considering your purchases. Plan your budget for what you really need with a clear assessment of your needs and capabilities. This does not mean always choosing the cheapest option – it is important to correctly assess the ratio between price and quality so that your purchase brings the greatest value to you. Don’t buy something just because it is on sale or because you liked its advertisement. Remember that in addition to informing, the purpose of advertisements is most often to convince you that you “need” this particular product, that now is the best time to buy it, or that it is a symbol of higher status.

If you research and compare prices, quality and features, check reviews and look for additional information about the product, then you are definitely a smart consumer.

 

Some tips for smart shopping

 

Planning your purchases

-          Plan your purchases within your budget and stick to it. Think critically. Don’t give in to fashion trends or tempting promotions.

-          Analyze which advertising techniques appeal to you – emotions, celebrities, promotions, etc. Then consider whether you really need the products.

 

When shopping

-          When shopping, always request a receipt and/or invoice, as well as a warranty card – they are necessary for returning, replacing, or repairing the product. Also, keep any service contracts you have signed – for example, a mobile operator plan. Keep these documents in a separate folder and take photos of them so you have copies. You will need them if you want to protect your rights as a consumer – for example, to make a complaint or file a claim with the competent authority.

-          When shopping online, check whether online stores are legitimate. To check whether an online store is legitimate, first see if the website lists the company name, address, telephone number, and contact email. There must be sections like “General Terms and Conditions”, “Privacy Policy” and “Return Policy”. You can check the Commercial Register by name or UIC (Uniform Identification Code). Check the security of the site – it should start with „https://“instead of „http://“ and have a key or padlock icon in the website's address bar. An indicator of the security and legitimacy of the site is whether secure methods are used for payment. Look for reviews of the store and comments on social networks – often fraudulent stores prohibit comments under their publications or there are only a suspiciously large number of praises from “satisfied customers”. It is a red flag if the prices are too low compared to the market or the texts do not sound logical. If you still have doubts, even though everything seems fine, place a small order to check whether everything will be delivered as it should.

-          Avoid shopping on social networks and shared commerce platforms. It is often difficult to establish who the merchant is, which means that it is very likely that they are illegitimate (for example, there is no registration in the Commercial Register, there is no data such as company name, address, UIC, contacts) or that he is a private person. There is a risk that the goods offered may be counterfeit, not delivered or not returnable.

-          When making online purchases, pay in advance only if you are sure of the merchant. Take advantage of your right to inspect and test in the presence of the courier – they are obliged to wait for you. If the goods do not correspond to what you ordered, refuse them.

 

Signing service contracts

-          When signing a service contract, for example with a mobile operator, check whether the tariff plan includes services with a free promotional period of use, after which a fee is charged. It must be described in the contract together with the method of cancellation of the service. Otherwise, the operator has no right to charge you fees for using it.

 

In the event of complaints and claims for compensation

-          When submitting a complaint, you must attach a receipt or invoice, as well as documents proving the defect or supporting your claim. Make complaints in writing, although you have the right to do so verbally.

-          If the seller has not carried out a free repair or replacement of the goods within a month after the complaint, or the repair has been carried out but the defect reappears, you have the right to a proportional reduction in the price or termination of the contract. For example, one of the ports on your new laptop sometimes does not recognize the connected devices. You make a complaint, but since the damage is minor, the seller refuses to replace the laptop and directs you to a service center. However, after the repair, the port shows the same defect again. Since it is within the warranty period, this can be considered a significant defect that entitles you to demand a replacement or refund.

-          The right to a proportional price reduction or contract termination also applies to service contracts if there is a frequent or persistent serious deviation from the agreed quality. For example, if your mobile phone service is interrupted for more than eight hours a day, you can request compensation for each day of the interruption, the amount of which is part of the monthly subscription fee. You must submit a written request to the operator and they should reflect the compensation in your invoice for the next billing period. Keep in mind that the procedure may vary between operators, so check the general terms and conditions and follow the instructions.

-          When submitting a claim for compensation to the trader, prepare proof. You will also need them if you have to file a complaint with the Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP). For example, to prove a significant and continuous or frequently recurring discrepancy between the actual speed of the Internet connection and the indicators in the contract, you can use the official Internet speed measurement tools of the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC). This will provide you with objective and accurate information about the quality of the Internet service and you can compare the results with the agreed parameters. Perform tests at different times of the day and on different days of the week, sending the results to your email to compare them with the indicators in the contract.

-          When you have made a complaint about a product or service, but the trader has not taken action within 30 days or refuses to provide compensation, you can contact the CCP. If you have a problem with a mobile phone service, internet, television, etc., you can contact the CRC for assistance.

 

Payments in Foreign Currency

-          When you shop online from international stores or travel abroad, you use different currencies – the official monetary units of the respective countries. To pay in another currency, you need to exchange your money. This is done at a certain exchange rate, which shows how much of one currency you can get in exchange for another. For example, if you shop online with your debit card and need to make the payment in another currency, your bank will automatically convert it at the bank’s exchange rate on the day of payment (which is different from the official exchange rate of the Bulgarian National Bank).

-          When exchanging currency, always use official exchange places – banks and exchange offices with a good reputation. Check the rates and whether commissions are charged. Always ask for a receipt.

-          You can also use reliable online applications for currency exchange – for example, from banks or other licensed financial institutions.

-          When traveling abroad, use an international card to pay directly at POS terminals and withdraw from ATMs. First, check whether you can use your card in that country, as well as what the fees are for international transactions and ATM withdrawals with that card.

-          When paying with a card or withdrawing money from an ATM abroad, you may be offered the transaction in your own currency, rather than the local currency. This is called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) and is usually associated with additional fees and worse exchange rate. Therefore, always choose the local currency.

-          Before traveling abroad, it is a good idea to exchange some money for emergency cases while you are still in Bulgaria, where the rate will be more favorable than at the airport in the other country.

-          Check the exchange rate before exchanging money online, for example on bank websites, as well as on-site. Offers that are too good often hide traps. Do not exchange money on the street – there is a serious risk of fraud or counterfeit money.

 

Useful Links

Commission for Consumer Protection

Helping Consumers

Active Consumers

Communications Regulations Commission

Measuring the Quality of Internet Access Service

Consumer Protection Act