This Week in Orange County by County Executive Edward A. Diana

Although the weather has been unseasonably warm this December we know that it will not last. Now is an excellent time to finish winterizing your home for the cold weather. Orange County, like many Counties throughout the State of New York, is facing rising energy costs as well as rising energy usage. Installing additional insulation around doors and windows, using florescent light bulbs, and water saving showerheads will save on home heating costs and reduces energy usage.

For more information regarding weatherization, energy savings and energy services offered throughout the County please visit our website at www.orangecountygov.com and click on “Energy Conservation”. These services include the Home Energy Assistance Project (HEAP) and Weatherization Programs.

The holiday season is here and consumers are doing their shopping. Each year the Orange County Department of Consumer Affairs receives numerous complaints about returning holiday purchases. To help avoid problems I’d like to share with you some of your rights as a consumer. Most customers are surprised to learn that a store is not obligated to take any merchandise back from a dissatisfied shopper, but New York State General Business Law requires that the merchant let you know that. In New York State merchants can establish their own refund policy. The policy can vary widely from store to store. Some stores may choose to offer no returns (all sales final), while other stores may allow you a store credit to purchase something else of equal or greater value; and still other stores will take your merchandise back and offer your money back.

Unfortunately when purchasing gifts, the recipient, many times, will not like the color of the tie or the shirt may not fit. Therefore being a smart consumer can save you a lot of grief at a time that should be joyous. Always know what the store refund policy is before you purchase.

The following are highlights of the New York State Refund Policy Law:

New York State General Business Law § 218-a requires retail mercantile establishments to post conspicuously their refund policy on all merchandise offered for sale by any of the following means:

(a) On a sign attached to the item itself; or
(b) On a sign affixed to the cash register or point of sale; or
(c) On a sign so situated as to be clearly visible to the buyer from the cash register; or
(d) On a sign posted at each store entrance used by the public.

Establishments which have a policy of providing a cash refund for cash purchases, or a credit to the buyer’s account for up to twenty days after the purchase when unused and undamaged merchandise is returned are not required to post their refund policies.
A retailer can limit refunds or credits for returns to a period of time shorter than twenty days as long as the refund policy is properly posted. If a store does not post its refund policy, the buyer is entitled to a cash refund or a credit, at the buyer’s option, for a period of up to twenty days after the sale, when merchandise which has not been used or damaged is returned by the buyer.
Being an informed shopper is a satisfied, smart shopper.

Until next week…

Pictured Above: Executive Edward A. Diana