Closing sales

Closing sales

Smart shopping

Some things to watch out for in going-out-of-business sales:

False or misleading price comparisons. Items may be advertised half off, but half off of what? The original price may have been inflated to make it sound like more of a bargain than it actually is.

Warranties. Since the business no longer will be there, where will a consumer take the product for service? Can it be repaired at another facility or a service center?

Quality of merchandise. By law, the sellers cannot bring in merchandise that they did not routinely carry.

Sale dates. A business advertising it is going out of business must disclose the beginning and end dates of the sale.

Paid deposits. Consumers who have paid a deposit or have undelivered merchandise can file a proof of claim with the bankruptcy court. Consumers’ claims are unsecured debt and, depending on the terms of the bankruptcy, may not be paid.

Source: Ohio attorney general