Top tips for Christmas shopping
Stressed about the pre-Christmas shopping rush? Here are 7 top tips to make gift buying a breeze, plus your rights when things don't go to plan.
1. Watch out for sale prices
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Are you tempted by a “sale” price that looks too good to miss? Check you’re getting a genuine bargain before handing over your cash. Do a quick online comparison of prices on other retailers’ websites to see whether it’s the best price on offer. Sales are so common at some retailers that discounts aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be.
2. Get an exchange card
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Not sure your gift will get a glowing reception? To avoid it gathering dust in someone’s wardrobe or being “re-gifted”, ask the store for an exchange card so the recipient can swap the unloved item for something else. Not all stores offer exchange cards, but they may still be willing to do an exchange.
3. Avoid gift cards
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Gift cards are the go-to option if you’re short on time or ideas. But before you buy, check whether the card has an expiry date. Cards with short expiry dates mean they could become worthless before they can be redeemed. You could always consider giving cash instead – it doesn’t come with any expiry date. Check out our campaign to end unfair gift card expiry dates.
4. Avoid extended warranties
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If you’re offered an extended warranty with your purchase, don’t waste your money. You’ll probably be paying for protection you already have under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA). The CGA requires goods to be of acceptable quality. The retailer must put things right when a product doesn’t measure up.
5. Ignore pressure tactics
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“Hurry, last items in this size.” “Limited stock.” “Ten other people are looking at this.” Treat these claims with the scepticism they deserve. They’re pressure tactics that tempt you to head to the checkout without delay. Don’t let them sway you into making a purchase you could end up regretting.
6. Watch out for credit traps
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Is your shopping budget running thin? Many retailers will be more than happy to offer you credit with an interest-free period. But think carefully before signing up – these offers may be interest-free but rarely fee-free. You’ll usually have to pay a fee to set up the deal, and you can also be stung with default fees if you miss payments.
Missed payment fees can also apply if you sign up with services such as Afterpay and Laybuy. With these payment options, you get your goods immediately and pay off the price in instalments. But they’re not currently covered by credit or layby laws, and you don’t have the same right to cancel if you change your mind.
7. Remember that mistakes happen
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Check your bank statements and receipts to make sure you haven’t been overcharged. If you spot an error, immediately contact the retailer and ask it to fix the problem.
What the law says
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The Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) applies to all traders that advertise or sell to Kiwi consumers, even if the company is based abroad. The CGA covers all items bought from a trader for personal use. It doesn’t matter if you purchased the product or received it as a gift.
The CGA requires that goods:
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are of acceptable quality
are fit for purpose
match the advertised descriptions
will be priced reasonably (if no price or pricing systems have been agreed upfront)
will be delivered on time or within a reasonable time if the supplier arranges delivery
will be owned by the customer once purchased.
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www.consumer.org.nz...
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Neighbourhood Challenge: Who Can Crack This One? ⛓️💥❔
What has a head but no brain?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
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Poll: 🗑️ Would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Aucklanders, our weekly rubbish collections are staying after councillors voted to scrap a proposed trial of fortnightly pick-ups.
We want to hear from you: would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Keen for the details? Read up about the scrapped collection trial here.
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83.9% Same!
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16.1% Would have liked to try something different
7 tips for buying your Christmas ham
It’s the centerpiece of the Christmas table, so when you’re peering into the supermarket chiller or ordering from the butcher, choosing the perfect ham can feel like a daunting task.
Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing one to bring home with you.
1. What type of ham to buy
You’ve got some decisions to make when it comes to the type of Christmas ham you’re going to buy.
Cooked on the bone (COB) ham is the traditional Christmas ham. If you’re buying a half ham, you’ll have the choice of the shank or fillet end. The shank is the part with the bone sticking out that gives the ham that traditional look. The fillet end is the round part that gives more meat. If you’re deciding whether to get a whole ham or half, consider how quickly you’ll be able to eat it all. You only have about a week to eat an opened ham before it will go off, so it can be a good idea to get two halves. That way you can eat one half during the week of Christmas and save the other for January.
Champagne ham has had the bone removed and only has the hock left on, so it’s easier to carve.
Pressed ham – also known as continental ham – has had the bones removed and has been pressed, so it’s also easy to carve.
2. Check the pork percentage
The label on a packaged ham will say what percentage is actually meat. Hams are injected with brine, to keep them moist, and additives. The brine injection level for manufactured hams is usually between 10% and 35% of the ham's weight. A manufacturer that wants to produce a cheap ham will add more water to bump up the weight.
3. Know how to tell if it’s New Zealand pork
By far, most of the hams bought in New Zealand this Christmas will be from pigs reared overseas. New Zealand imports pork from about 25 countries. It’s frustrating for New Zealand pig farmers because this ham can come from farms that don’t have to meet the same animal welfare standards as we have in this country. As a result, overseas meat is often cheaper.
If buying New Zealand pork is important to you, look for:
words on the packaging like ‘New Zealand pork’ or ‘born and raised in New Zealand’
4. Have a good look at the ham
If you’re going to be glazing your ham, look for one that is covered in a finger-thick layer of fat. This will give you the thickness you need to make good score lines.
New Zealand Pork’s website also advises looking for a ham that has a meaty texture rather than one that looks wet or rubbery. It says the ham’s skin should be smooth with even colouring. “If the knuckle is sunken, it may be overcooked. If the rind is buckled or uneven, it may be a sign of dryness.”
5. Ask a lot of questions
If you’re ordering your pork from a butcher, you probably won’t be able to compare hams like you would at the supermarket. So, make sure you ask lots of questions, now that you know what you’re looking for.
You could ask:
Is the ham made from New Zealand born and farmed pork?
What will be its injection percentage?
What flavours will it have?
You could even ask if there’s a glaze the butcher thinks would work particularly well with those flavours.
6. Know what size you’ll need
If the ham is the only meat on your Christmas menu, New Zealand Pork advises allowing 1kg of ham for five people. Or if you’ve got other meat options, 1kg will feed about six to eight people.
7. Know the best hams in New Zealand
The best hams of the year were awarded at the 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards earlier in the year so you can check out which ones got medals. Some of them are only available in the city the butcher is based, but a Farmland boneless ham available nationwide won a gold award and Woolworths bone-in and boneless hams picked up bronze.
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