{August 20, 2012} VICTORIA BC - It’s that time of year again. As August draws to a close, students and their parents are getting ready for school to start again. According to a recent consumer survey, Canadians will be spending 13 per cent more than last year on back to school shopping, with British Columbians spending an average of $397.

Consumer Protection BC encourages consumers to consider these five tips to help them be a smart shopper:

1. Plan ahead. Put together a budget and identify which items are a “need “versus a “want.” This way your budget can be spent on the required items first. If you know what items are absolutely necessary then you can also shop around to figure out where the best prices are for those items.
2. Ask about returns and refunds. Back to school shopping can be really exciting – especially for students.  Always ask the store about their return policy and keep your receipts.  Most people don’t know that in BC, stores are not legally required to exchange an item or give you a refund. Once you know the store’s policy, this will help you make an informed decision about your purchase.
3. Read the fine print when getting a credit card. When heading off to university or college, many students may consider getting a credit card for emergencies. Do your research before signing up for the first credit card offer that comes your way. Find out what a particular card gives you and definitely make sure you know what the interest rates is, how long any introductory interest rates apply for and when interest begins.
4. Find out the details about your new cell phone plan. You may be considering purchasing a new cell phone before school starts. You don’t want to sign up for something that you don’t want, so  before you buy anything, spend a little time asking yourself what you actually do want. Ask about the time commitment, billing details, replacement costs and how you can get out of the contract if you need to.  If you are considering data use for things like social media, email, texting or web-browsing on your device, you can often bundle these services.       Always get a copy of the contract and make sure you read all the terms and conditions before signing up.
5. Know what to expect with gift cards. Students may be given a mall card or a pre-loaded credit card to do their back to school shopping on their own. It’s true that most gift cards can’t have fees or expiry dates anymore; however mall cards are allowed to have fees.  Pre-loaded credit cards can also have expiry dates and fees.

For more consumer tips from Consumer Protection BC, please visit the consumer tips section of our website, our blog, or our Facebook page.