NSW Fair Trading Minister, Linda Burney, today reminded parents to shop with caution when buying back to school items for their children.

Ms Burney said following Christmas spending and the summer holidays, the back to school shopping list can leave many families out of pocket especially when purchasing bigger ticket items such as computers and lap tops. 

“Computers are a great tool which can help enhance your child’s education experience and learning outcomes however they’re not cheap and parents need to do their homework before embarking on buying one,” Ms Burney said. 

“There are many brands and models out there, it’s essential that you find the one that suits the needs of your child as well as one that meets your budget. 

“There’s no point in buying a computer with all of the trimmings if you won’t have any use for the great functions it has to offer.”  

Ms Burney urged parents to plan their shopping as much as possible and to consider the option of lay-by as an alternative to relying on their credit cards.

“If the item is not needed immediately, lay-by is a great way to pay it off over time without interest.”

Whether shopping for a school uniform, stationery, books or a computer, parents need to make sure they: 

• plan their shopping by preparing a list and sticking to a budget
• shop around and compare quality and price
• check the refund policy of the store 
• find out about the warranty of the product 
• are not pressured into buying anything they don’t want or need.

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