Father’s Day: Retailers expect R$7.7 billion in sales this year; see tips to avoid falling for scams

Given the increase in commerce as children search for gifts for their parents, lawyer and consumer law specialist Giulia Mayrink emphasizes that, in order to avoid falling for online scams, it is necessary to be sure that the shopping site is trustworthy. She warns that it is impossible to track payments via Pix in cases of fake stores.

“In other words, if it is in fact the store’s website, if it is an official website, if it is a purchase made through a social network, check if it is the store’s official account, because if the payment was made via Pix, for example, it is not traceable, so there is no refund. If the purchase was made by credit card and, later on, the consumer comes across fraud, he or she can request a dispute over the purchase with his or her credit card, thus seeking a possible refund”, highlights Giulia.

The expert indicates that, when shopping in physical stores, the consumer should pay attention to the amount that appears on the machine to avoid paying more.

Giulia Mayrink explains that the best way to save money and avoid losses is to be vigilant. “If a consumer makes a purchase through an unreliable website or social network, the amount may not be refunded and the consumer may end up suffering financial losses. The easiest way to save money is to avoid this type of loss resulting from fraud.”

Exchanges

Regarding product exchanges, Giulia Mayrink explains that this procedure depends on the regulations of each store and the consumer must be up to date on the policy adopted by the establishments.

“In principle, here in Brazil, we have this culture of the right to exchange items within 30 days, but it is purely cultural. There is no provision in the Consumer Protection Code that the commercial establishment has to make exchanges within 30 days due to size errors or taste,” he says.

However, the expert points out that the Consumer Protection Code guarantees the right to exchange in cases of manufacturing defects. “We are therefore talking about a defect in the product and, therefore, it generates the right to exchange. However, if the store grants you the right to exchange within 30 days, stick to that deadline. After that, since the store’s regulations are strict, the consumer will not be able to exchange the product,” warns Giulia Mayrink.

To exchange products purchased online, the right to exchange is linked to the right to cancel. The consumer has a period of seven calendar days to contest the purchase and return the product. “Within this period, the consumer can return the product with a full refund, or arrange with the establishment to send a new product and then return the one he received, if it is a defect.”