The Sale That Isn’t…

Consumer Reports recently published advice about the meaning of store discounts and how consumers should be on the lookout for retailers that are offering goods at a discount that were never sold at a higher price.  The article cites several high-profile retailers that have been accused of misleading customers by such things as using price tags with false “suggested retail prices” or basing discounts on made-up list prices.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, which the article quotes, before a store sells a good on sale, the good should be available at a list price for a “reasonably substantial period of time.” The article encourages consumers to not be swayed by retailers’ claims of big sales – look for deceptive store tags or advertisements. It also provides links to four online pricing-comparison tools for consumers to see how much other retailers charge for the same product.

By the way, have you ever wondered why the cars in Consumer Reports have Connecticut license plates?  It’s because the magazine’s auto test track is located in Colchester, CT!