DOHA: Making a list before going shopping can help restrain compulsive buying and encourage household spending discipline, says the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.
This is a key tip consumer behaviour experts from the Ministry are giving to people at the Ministry’s tent at Darb El Saai as part of a consumer awareness campaign. Darb El Saai, in Al Sadd, is the venue of official National Day celebrations and has been attracting huge crowds since it opened its doors to the public on December 8. The Ministry has divided its tent into three parts—one is dedicated to commerce, the other to economy, while the third one is for consumer affairs. And this is the part of the tent which has been attracting people literally in hordes due to the ongoing consumer awareness campaign.
The tent is operating in two shifts—morning and evening. Events at Darb El Saai will conclude on December 20. The Ministry’s consumer awareness campaign aims to make people familiar with their rights and duties as consumers and urge them to shop responsibly.
“Read the specifications of a product and be sure about its quality and also whether the price is compatible with quality and then decide to buy it,” say the Ministry’s experts.
According to a press statement issued by the Ministry, the other objective of the drive is to make consumers aware of their rights and duties.
“The consumer has the right to get a good quality product or service,” said the Ministry. It is important that the consumer’s safety and security are not risked.
Also, he has the right to live in a healthy physical environment which good quality products and services can guarantee.
Consumers also have the right to get compensation if they are cheated and given poor quality products and services.
One must balance one’s income and expenditure and restrain oneself from compulsive shopping.
The consumer also needs to be cautious about promotions and advertisements promoting various products and services.
Exchanging a product is also one of the rights of a consumer, said the Ministry release, adding that the most effective way to make sure that one doesn’t indulge in wasteful shopping is to make a list in advance of what is to be bought.
The Peninsula
