Discounts must show the price before and after the discount, without hidden fees

Acting Director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Dubai Consumer Protection and Fair Trade Foundation, one of the institutions of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, Ahmed Ahli, stated that the announcement of any offer or discount must clearly include the original price and the price after the discount, without hidden information or undisclosed fees, and if the consumer discovers that there are fees that were not disclosed during the purchase process, he has the right to object and request treatment.

My family warned of the necessity of checking the details before purchasing, stressing the importance of ensuring that the product offered within the discounts is the same product requested, in terms of size and price, as confusion may sometimes occur between similar packages of different sizes.

My family added to “Emirates Today” that some of the discounted products may be close to their expiration date, and are suitable for consumption, but attention should be paid to purchasing them in quantities that are proportional to the actual ability to use them before their expiry.

He stated that “one of the recurring phenomena during the holy month is the desire of some consumers to buy quantities that exceed their actual needs,” stressing that the “establishment” works to ensure the availability of products throughout the month, and calls for purchasing actual needs only, to avoid waste and ensure fair distribution.

He also clarified that setting the purchase ceiling for some products aims to protect everyone and prevent monopoly or resale at high prices, and not to restrict consumer freedom.

My family warned against the habit of buying heavily and storing food, especially during spending seasons such as the month of Ramadan, stressing that this habit may harm the consumer for several reasons, including budget exhaustion, the possibility of waste, and misjudgment of price offers, in addition to the dangers of inappropriate storage.

My family said, “Excessive buying and storing during the seasons is, in fact, a behavior that harms the consumer, especially when the quantities purchased are much larger than the actual need of the family,” and stressed that planning in advance for purchases is the best option that preserves the budget and limits waste.

He pointed out that some materials need a specific storage environment that is not necessarily available in homes, while these conditions are available and safe in the sales outlets themselves. This means that storing these items at home for long periods may lead to their spoilage or loss of their nutritional value, contrary to what some people expect when purchasing them in large quantities.

My family added: “There are products that have a short life cycle, and purchasing them in quantities exceeding what is needed makes them vulnerable to spoilage before consumption, which means financial loss for the consumer and waste of resources.”

He pointed out that the local market is well supplied, and the products are available in sufficient quantities throughout the season, and there is no cause for concern in terms of supply. He directed consumers to buy only the quantities they need, instead of responding to tempting offers at a lower price, which may not actually be needed. He stressed that drifting behind offers only for the sake of the lowest price is wrong from an economic standpoint, especially since some of these goods may return and be offered at better prices two weeks after purchase.

He stressed that planning for purchases must be linked to the needs of each person or family for a certain period, without excess or waste.

He said: “We buy the quantity we need for a reasonable period according to the needs of each family, and this helps reduce waste and control the household budget without unnecessary stress,” noting that the excessive demand for purchases creates an abnormal and sudden demand for goods, which leads to pressure on supply chains. He pointed out that ill-considered spending may exhaust the family budget, explaining that instead of distributing spending in a balanced manner, a large portion of the income is consumed at once during a single shopping visit, which may cause financial distress for the family, and my family noted. He pointed to the ease of access to outlets in Dubai, adding that “the outlets are minutes away from anyone, which allows the consumer to return to buy his needs at any time without the need for excessive storage.”

He stated that a sudden increase in demand could lead to pressure on the market, which the regulatory authorities are keen to avoid by directing consumers towards conscious and balanced shopping behavior. He said: “We are keen to ensure that prices remain stable throughout the season.”

Ahly called on consumers to “smart shopping” that is based on planning and the real needs of the family, while taking advantage of appropriate offers that actually serve those needs, and not just responding to the lowest price for the sake of hoarding.

In a related context, Ahli called on consumers to enhance their awareness of their rights by adhering to the basic procedures when submitting complaints, stressing that keeping the invoice or any promotional offer obtained upon purchase constitutes the cornerstone of enabling the competent authority to initiate and address the complaint efficiently and quickly. Ahli explained that a large percentage of complaints received by Consumer Protection lack sufficient documents and data, which hinders the ability to take immediate action regarding them. He said, “Some consumers submit complaints without attaching the purchase invoice, offer details, or merchant information, which makes it It is difficult to verify the incident or address the concerned party officially,” stressing that “the availability of supporting documents shortens time and ensures that the consumer’s right is fully preserved.”

A hotline for complaints and inquiries during Ramadan

Acting Director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Dubai Foundation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade, Ahmed Ahli, said, “During the month of Ramadan, the Foundation provided a hotline to receive complaints and inquiries, as part of its keenness to respond quickly and raise the level of service during the season that witnesses intense commercial activity. “Working hours and complaints reception hours have also been extended to meet the needs of the public, reflecting consumer protection’s commitment to ensuring a safe and fair shopping experience for all.”

My family explained that complaints are classified according to their nature and degree of urgency, as urgent complaints are dealt with within 24 hours. He explained: “For example, a consumer has booked a hotel room and discovered that there is a malfunction that prevents him from benefiting from it. Such cases require rapid intervention to ensure his right to benefit from the service he paid for. As for other complaints, such as not obtaining a warranty on a product or the existence of disputes related to the terms of sale or after-sales services, he explained that they are dealt with within four working days according to established procedures, after studying the documents and communicating with the concerned parties. He stressed that the speed of completion is directly related to the completeness of the data provided by the consumer.