Are you planning to go to the Paris Fair at the beginning of May? Here is a rule that you should keep in mind before making any purchase.
Each year, more than 1,200 fairs and exhibitions are organized in different cities in France. According to data from the French Union of Event Professions (UNIMEV), these events attract crowds: nearly 23 million participants including 230,000 companies who have a stand. A sector that brings in a lot of revenue, in 2016 alone, it generated 4.3 billion euros in turnover, notes INSEE. It’s simple, for some French people, these fairs and shows have become an event not to be missed in the hope of getting good deals. Jacuzzis, swimming pools, pergolas, massage chairs, innovative products, kitchen accessories, regional products… In this type of place, we often find a whole bunch of items, with prices that may seem attractive.
Faced with this wide choice and the multiple demonstrations carried out by experienced salespeople, many customers make purchases, sometimes impulsive, as they would in a traditional store. Except that most are unaware that very specific rules apply at fairs and shows, including one in particular which specifically concerns consumer rights. Indeed, as indicated on the website of the National Consumer Institute (INC), “when you purchase a good or service at a fair, exhibition or any commercial event, you have no right of withdrawal.”
Concretely, what does this mean? The buyer does not have the traditional 14-day period to change his mind; once he has purchased a good at a fair or trade show, he cannot in principle withdraw. However, there is an exception if you finance the product through “a credit assigned to it”. In this case, you have the possibility of exercising the right of withdrawal on the credit in question.
Regardless, sellers at fairs or shows are required to tell consumers this. As the INC explains, the professional “must inform you that you do not have a right of withdrawal, before concluding a contract.” In practice, it must also display this information on a sign in a visible manner. If he does not do so, he is at fault in the eyes of the law and he is exposed to an administrative fine of up to 15,000 euros. This obligation to inform the buyer also applies to the existence of a right of withdrawal in the event of credit charged to a purchase. With this rule in mind, you are now equipped to avoid certain traps!