Once this is cleared up, bargain-hunters should watch up for several things to make sure they are not getting cheated. They include examining the price tag, which should feature the old price and the discounted one. It might also show the actual percentage of the discount and other information such as instructions for use and care of the item.

Sale time means lots of problems and mistakes by consumers. Stores that hold January sales abound in the clothing, shoes and accessories sectors, and in department stores.

From a strictly legal standpoint, other kinds of price-lowering initiatives are not sales. These include liquidations, sales of out-of-season or damaged stock and promotions.

Impulse buying
A bargain-hunter is his or her own worst enemy. At this time of year many households acquire things they don't need. To avoid impulse buying, there is nothing better than drawing up a list and sticking to it.

Sales don't mean you have to settle for poor quality goods just because they are discounted. The same applies to goods that are damaged. So it is important to check the condition of the merchandise before you acquire it.

Returning goods and filing complaints

Returning goods tends to be messy. To avoid problems, before making a purchase shoppers should ask if things can be returned, or at least exchanged. But if the item is damaged, the store is obliged to exchange it, whether there is a sale on or not. Naturally, you will need to show your receipt if you want to return something or exchange it.

One common problem with stores that hold sales is they don't have enough stock to meet demand. Consumers have ways to defend their rights and denounce this kind of dilemma: asking for complaint form, or reporting the store to a consumer group or at town hall, which tends to have a consumer information office. Likewise for the consumer affairs office of the regional government.

Sale period
The law says sales cannot last more than two months or less than two weeks. Also, for a store to advertise a sale, the discounts must be of at least 20 percent and apply to at least half the merchandise in the establishment.

Credit cards are compatible with sales. That means stores that accept all year must keep doing so at January sale time. But some stores prefer cash, and use all kinds of tricks to avoid paying the fees to banks that process payment from a customer flashing plastic. The most common one is to tell people they are having trouble with the telephone line.