GIVE LOCAL BUSINESSES CONSIDERATION WHEN MAKING HOLIDAY PURCHASES
TOMS RIVER - "Give the local business people who support our community
and pay taxes first consideration when doing your holiday shopping," urges
Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari.
"The mail order catalogs featuring December holiday items serves as a
reminder for me to suggest that our people in Ocean County shop locally
whenever possible," Freeholder Vicari said.
Vicari has reminded residents to support local businesses when doing
their gift buying for more than a decade.
He notes the Consumer Affairs Department, for which he is the
liaison, receives mail order and Internet complaints such as:
Merchandise was not received in time for the holiday.
Items were back-ordered and into the next year.
Merchandise did not look as it was represented on the web and in the
catalog.
Further, he says that mediation is difficult as purchases made
outside the state are not under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Consumer
Fraud laws.
While not consumer fraud complaints, another consideration is
postage. While the base price may be cheaper postage and handling can
increase the cost considerably. Also, if the merchandise has to be
returned, the return postage is an unanticipated expense that also can
drive up the bottom line.
Vicari goes on to list the advantages of shopping locally:
-Exchanges are easier to make.
-The Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs is available to
mediate complaints and has jurisdiction over consumer fraud.
-It saves gas, no small consideration at today’s prices.
He adds that shopping locally, also:
-Creates jobs
-Supports the local business community, which supports many
charitable and local activities
- Helps businesses that are paying their share of taxes.
He said, "The holiday season is a make or break situation for many of
our small business people. Let’s at least give them the first opportunity
to compete for our purchases."
to the Ocean County News Page