***NEWS RELEASE***: YONKERS MAYOR SPANO & CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU PROVIDE RESIDENTS HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIPS.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: YONKERS MAYOR SPANO & CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU PROVIDE RESIDENTS

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIPS.

To Reduce Deceptive Trade Practices by Businesses, Shoppers are Encouraged to File a Complaint with Yonkers Consumer Protection Bureau.

YONKERS, NY – November 25, 2019 – With the busiest shopping days of the year quickly approaching such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and the city’s Consumer Protection Bureau today issued holiday shopping tips and alerted residents on how to file a complaint in the event that they are misled into purchasing a product or service and become a victim of an Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practice.

The Yonkers Consumer Protection Bureau advises residents to be mindful of the following shopping tips as they head out to stores and shop online this season:

·        Save your receipt, return items in their original packaging and beware of restocking fees (especially for electronics).

·        When buying gifts in advance: get a gift receipt and make sure the item can be returned or exchanged after the holidays.

·        If you are shopping online, make sure you are buying from a reputable company and always make sure that their website is secure before providing any payment information.

“With the holidays upon us, most people are preoccupied with the festivities of the season,” said Mayor Spano. “Unfortunately, the safety precautions we normally take can be forgotten as the excitement of the season causes us to let our guard down. The Yonkers Consumer Protection Bureau asks that you take note of these guidelines as we want to ensure our residents have the happiest and safest of holidays.”

According to the City Code of Yonkers, businesses must abide by the following guidelines:

·        Prices for goods must be clearly displayed, either on the product or with a sign at the point of display.  You should not be required to ask the price of merchandise.

·        Businesses must post a sign clearly stating the store’s policies regarding refunds, exchanges or credit.  While they are allowed to put limitations on refunds and exchanges, they must warn you of those limitations, prior to purchase.

·        If the sale of an item has been advertised, but is unavailable for purchase, a rain check must be offered for the consumer to purchase it at the sale price within 30 days.  If quantities are limited, such quantities must be clearly stated.

·        In any transaction totaling more than $1, a sales slip, register check or receipt must be presented to the customer at the time of purchase.

In the event that any of these City Codes are violated, shoppers are encouraged to file a complaint with the Yonkers Consumer Protection Bureau by calling (914) 377-3000, e-mailing ConsumerHelp@YonkersNY.gov or downloading a complaint form at www.YonkersNY.gov. If warranted, representatives may seek a refund on the resident’s behalf.