As the start of the new school year approaches, shopping for bags, uniforms, stationery, laptops, and tablets in Dubai has increased; however, alongside this shopping wave, inspections of stores and shopping centers have also intensified.

The Dubai Consumer Protection Department has announced that inspection teams will check various stores during the shopping season to ensure that the advertised discounts are genuine, prices are clearly displayed, and sellers do not use misleading methods.

The conditions for exchanging and refunding goods, as well as the regulations and limitations related to promotional offers, are also under the inspectors' scrutiny.

However, the main advice from Dubai officials to families is: before seeing discounts, determine your shopping list.

Families are better off first writing down their child's actual needs, setting a budget for shopping, and then comparing prices from several stores. Because a 50% discount does not necessarily mean a better purchase; the final price, quality, and whether you actually need that item or not are more important than the discount percentage.

For purchasing electronic goods like laptops and tablets, you should also ensure that the product has an official warranty and know the warranty conditions and authorized service centers.

Another simple but important point: keep the invoice and purchase documents. These documents may be necessary for warranty use, product exchange, or filing a consumer complaint.

If your purchase is online, only shop from trusted stores, read product descriptions and user reviews, and check the exchange and return policies before payment. Also, keep the order confirmation and electronic invoice and use secure payment methods.

Regarding offers like "buy several, get one free," read the terms and limitations before payment.

Dubai officials have also suggested that parents involve their children in preparing the shopping list; a simple opportunity for children to learn the difference between needs and wants and take more responsibility for their school supplies.

And if you haven't started your school shopping yet, acting sooner has another advantage: more choices, less crowding, and a lower chance of essential items running out.
Source: Gulf News