Winter sales 2024, the calendar and the Confcommercio vademecum

With New Year's Eve behind us, it is already time for the winter sales: Wednesday 3 January starts in Valle d'Aosta, Friday 5 in all other regions. 15.8 million families will dedicate themselves to discounted shopping and each person will spend about 137 euros, for a turnover of 4.8 billion euros: these are, according to the estimates of the Confcommercio Studies Office, the numbers of the winter sales.

The national president of Federazione Moda Italia-Confcommercio, Giulio Felloni, explains: "These are estimates that show that the Italians' propensity to consume is holding up, after a complex year in which fashion made a decisive contribution to the decline and containment of inflation. These sales represent an exceptional opportunity for consumers who will be able to find a vast assortment of quality products at very affordable prices in fashion shops. Fashion retail confirms itself as an essential component of the value and vitality of streets, squares and historic centres and contributes to the growth of GDP and employment in Italy'.

For the correct purchase of articles on sale, Federazione Moda Italia and Confcommercio recall some basic principles. The possibility of exchanging the garment after it has been purchased is generally left to the discretion of the retailer, unless the product is damaged or non-compliant. In this case, the retailer is obliged to repair or replace the garment and, if this is impossible, to reduce or refund the price paid. However, the buyer is obliged to report the defect in the garment within two months from the date of discovery of the defect. For online purchases, exchanges or cancellation of the contract are always permitted within 14 days of receipt of the product regardless of the presence of defects, with the exception of made-to-measure or customised products. There is no obligation to try on garments, but this is left to the discretion of the shopkeeper, while as far as payment is concerned, credit cards must be accepted by the shopkeeper and cashless payments should be favoured.

Garments offered on sale must be seasonal or fashionable, and be susceptible to considerable depreciation if not sold within a certain period of time. Finally, the shopkeeper is obliged to indicate the normal sale price, the discount and, generally, the final price. Throughout the sales period, the starting price will be the lowest price charged to the general public in the 30 days preceding the start of the sales. Confcommercio also points out the various initiatives promoted throughout the country by Federazione Moda Italia such as 'Saldi Chiari e Sicuri', 'Saldi Trasparenti' and 'Saldi Tranquilli'.