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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⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
The Pūrākau of Tane and the Sacred Kauri - Day 32
In a small Māori village nestled beneath the shadow of a great forest, there lived a young man named Tane. He was named after Tāne Mahuta, the atua of the forest, and like his namesake, he had a deep connection with the ngahere (forest). Tane was admired for his tireless efforts to care for the trees and plants. He often cleared fallen branches, watered the ferns, and tended to the roots of the great Kauri trees.
One day, an elder named Kuia Hine called Tane to her whare. She was the spiritual guide of the iwi and held wisdom passed down through generations.
“Tane,” she said, “you have a kind heart, but your efforts are scattered like leaves in the wind. You water the ferns, prune the harakeke, and tend to each plant, yet the ngahere is struggling to thrive. Why do you think that is?”
Tane bowed his head, confused. “Kuia, I thought I was serving the forest by tending to its parts. Have I been doing it wrong?”
Kuia Hine smiled and handed him a kete. Inside was a small bowl of pure spring water.
“Take this water,” she said, “and pour it at the base of the sacred Kauri in the heart of the ngahere. Do this every day, and watch what happens.”
Tane did as instructed. Each day, he journeyed to the sacred Kauri, an ancient tree standing tall in the center of the forest. He poured the spring water at its roots, speaking karakia to Tāne Mahuta, asking for blessings for the forest.
As the days turned into weeks, a miraculous change began to unfold. The sacred Kauri’s leaves became greener, its bark glowed with vitality, and its roots seemed to hum with life. But it wasn’t just the Kauri that thrived—across the ngahere, the ferns unfurled, the harakeke stood tall, and even the smallest plants blossomed with renewed vigor. The forest came alive with the songs of birds and the rustle of the wind through rejuvenated branches.
Kuia Hine visited Tane in the ngahere and observed the transformation.
“Tane,” she said, “do you see now? By nurturing the roots of the Kauri, the source of the forest’s strength, you have nourished the entire ngahere. The Kauri shares its vitality with all the plants, birds, and creatures around it.”
Tane bowed his head in awe. “Kuia, I understand now. To truly serve the whole, I must focus on the source.”
Kuia Hine nodded. “This is the way of life, Tane. By serving Io Matua Kore, the Supreme, we nourish all beings. Like the Kauri is to the ngahere, Io is the root of all existence. Through karakia, aroha, and devotion to the Divine, all of creation is blessed.”
From that day on, Tane continued his work in the ngahere with a renewed sense of purpose. He poured water at the base of the sacred Kauri and sang karakia, knowing that his service to the source benefited not just the forest, but all the beings who called it home.
Moral of the Story:
Like watering the root of a tree nourishes all its branches and leaves, serving Io Matua Kore, the Supreme, nourishes and uplifts all living beings. When we focus on the source of life and offer our devotion there, the blessings flow outward to sustain and enrich all of creation.
Poll: Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?
Just a bit of a fun poll to get you thinking.
If you had to live out your Christmas days, would you prefer it was a summer Christmas or a winter Christmas?
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61.5% Summer
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36.8% Winter
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1.6% Other - I'll share below
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