JANUARY sales "bargains" sometimes cost more say trading watchdogs.

Shoppers looking for cheap snips should look at the price, not the reduction, says Wigan's principal trading standards officer Alan Blundell.

He said: "There are many ways sales offers can be made and not all are straightforward.

"We know of isolated examples in previous years of goods offered as January sales bargains which were at a higher price than at any time since the previous summer!

"Bargain hunters should shop around and look at the price they will actually pay."

But he also put customers straight on refund liability.

He said: "Many shops are now good at customer care and offer refunds if you change your mind about something you have bought. But they are not legally required to do this, nor offer a credit note.

"But the customer has no less rights in relation to goods bought in a sale than goods bought at any other time."

To clear up misconceptions trading standards, officers are distributing mags and a simple quiz to out shoppers in the picture.

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