Goods

 

Trading Standards (TS) aims to protect consumers, who live and shop in Glasgow from the dangers of unsafe consumer goods,in shops, markets and wholesalers, whilst continuing to ensure value for money.

 

TS has the responsibility of enforcing the law in relation to the safety of all types of consumer goods, for example:

  • toys
  • furniture
  • fireworks
  • gas cookers
  • tyres
  • plugs and sockets
  • cosmetics
  • bunk beds
  • nightwear
  • pencils
  • bicycles and many more.

 

You can get more specific information in our Consumer Guides section by clicking here.

 

PRE-SHOPPING ADVICE
BUYING GOODS


When buying goods ask yourself,

  1. Is it what I want?
  2. Can I afford it and how will I pay for it?
  3. If I buy on the spur of the moment will I regret it?


You should always compare prices. Shop around. Consider whether any after-sales service is included in the price. Always check the small print.


Negotiate on the price the shop is offering, you can sometimes get the shop to give a better price.  Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount.  Bear in mind that all traders are competing for your business and to keep your business they will offer the best deal they can.


If paying by credit check out the Annual Percentage Rate (APR).  The higher the APR the more interest you will pay.


Be very careful when you buy from a private advert in your local newspaper. Check that the seller is who they say they are. Make sure you know their correct address e.g. beware of a dealer who wants to sell you a car from a motorway service point or similar venue.


Do your homework.  Your local library will stock the consumer magazine “Which?” This magazine looks at a wide range of products on offer and advise what they consider to be the “best buy”.


Be assertive, take your time.  Don’t be rushed into making a decision. Do not be swayed by offers of, “this price is only available if you sign today”.  If it is a good company and a genuine deal, the same offer will be there tomorrow.


Some traders offer a ‘goodwill’ policy for returning unwanted or duplicated goods. Don’t be afraid to ask what their policy is in relation to this.  If the trader offers a credit note make sure you know how long it is valid for.


If you have to pay a deposit, pay as little as possible and check if it is refundable. 

 

Remember an oral contract will be legally binding whether a deposit is paid or not.


Consider how you will pay for the goods.  You will have additional rights if you pay using credit or your credit card and the goods are more than £100.00. Your bank will have equal liability if the goods turn out to be defective. Remember; if goods are not faulty or misdescribed, the trader does not have to do anything.

 

Download the Pre-Shopping Advice Buying Goods leaflet 

 

PETROL SITES

 

TS also licence all petrol sites in order to ensure that petroleum is stored and sold safely. 

 

In order to achieve these objectives TS will:

  • advise consumers and traders
  • investigate complaints
  • regularly inspect trade premises
  • purchase goods and test them for compliance with the law
  • have unsafe goods removed from the market
  • report suppliers of unsafe items for prosecution 

You can help us by contacting us if you discover an item, which you think, might be dangerous, or any practice in a petrol station or petroleum store, which you consider to be unsafe.

 

If you have a problem with the safety of goods please contact Trading Standards:

 

Phone: 0141 287 6681

 

E-mail: ts.enquiries@eps.glasgow.gov.uk

 

 

Counterfeited Goods
 
Why Counterfeiting is Bad for You

 

Guidance for Consumers on the dangers posed by counterfeit products.

 

Counterfeits can seem to be a bargain. This is not the case. Counterfeits may be cheaper than the real thing, but they harm legitimate business, the economy and YOU.

 

Here are a few reasons why.

 

Quality

 

Counterfeits are often of inferior quality. Examples include:

  • cartoon video tapes reproduced in black and white, instead of colour and sometimes without sound  
  • clothing where the brand name logos disappeared after one wash.
  • computer games which crash after a few minutes or which contain viruses.

Safety

 

Unsafe counterfeit goods have been found to have serious consequences:

  • fake perfume caused skin reactions
  • fake medicine had no active ingredient and so did nothing to fight disease
  • fake plane parts led to a crash in Norway
  • fake alcoholic drinks contained methylated spirit which can cause blindness
  • kids cartoon videos have been found to contain pornographic material.

 

The Economy

 

Counterfeiting is a multi-million pound industry, which steals money from the legitimate economy.

  • counterfeiters pay no income tax, VAT or business rates. This means the rest of us have to pay more
  • counterfeiters make no contribution to product development, so there is less money to produce new films and music
  • counterfeiting affects the local economy causing fewer cinema attendances and purchases of legitimate products. Some legitimate traders have been driven out of business

The Law 

 

Counterfeiting is simply theft by another name. There are other legal problems.

  • counterfeiting goes hand in hand with other crimes including the drugs trade, illegal moneylending and violent "turf wars"
  • using a counterfeit could affect your legal rights. For example, if pirate software damages your computer, your warranty could be invalid

Our advice

 

If a bargain looks too good to be true, then it probably is. Goods offered cheaply by street traders or at car boot sales may well be counterfeit. If in doubt, don’t buy.

 

If you have information on counterfeiting then help us to help the local economy.

Any information passed to us will be treated in strictest confidence.

Please contact Trading Standards (TS):

 

Phone: 0141 287 6681

 

E-mail: ts.enquiries@eps.glasgow.gov.uk