Eight out of ten consumers suspect that most stores cheat with discounts, a perception echoed in a survey conducted via Twitter involving 2,350 participants. The finding suggests that many shoppers feel sale prices can be deceptive, creating distrust around advertised bargains.
Among respondents, 83.6% contend that most businesses push unrealistic discounts during peak sales periods. In contrast, 9.1% think that half of the businesses engage in this practice, 5.5% believe only a few do, and 1.8% feel that none do. The results highlight a broad belief that discount advertising often overstates the saving offered to customers.
Consumer groups identified by Facua note several irregularities in stores, including price tricks where an item is shown as discounted after initially listing a higher price, only to drop again days later as the sale looms. They also point to stores bragging about discounts that never truly materialize for shoppers.
In addition to these so‑called false discounts, Facua reports that many shops avoid taking responsibility when products exhibit manufacturing defects during the sale period. Some promotions appear to be designed to entice buyers even if the product fails to meet expected quality standards.
There are cases where retailers advertise discounts on a broad range of items but then offer only a handful of discounted products that vanish quickly. When this happens, the rest of the shelves may seem depleted of genuinely reduced options, prompting stores to stretch the sale season to two months in an attempt to sustain interest.
Facua regrets that regional consumer authorities often do not conduct inspections before or during sales. The organization asserts that such practices amount to fraud and unfair competition against businesses that maintain real, verifiable discounts in all transactions. They call for appropriate economic sanctions when misrepresentations are identified.
When a store claims a product is discounted and the discount is not real or the percentage stated is inaccurate, Facua advises consumers to document the discrepancy and share the facts through networks to warn other shoppers. Complaints can be filed with autonomous consumer protection authorities to seek sanctions against offending retailers.
Likewise, if a product purchased during a sale shows a manufacturing defect, the association reminds shoppers that a three-year guarantee still applies. This guarantee persists regardless of the discount percentage, ensuring consumer rights remain protected even in sale contexts.