Italian News

It’s sconti (sales) time in Italy. Sigonella shoppers can get ready to strike good bargains but need to keep in mind a few tips to avoid rip-offs! In Sicily, the regional government has decided to kickstart the discount season on July 1, one month before the rest of the country,to help Sicilian retailers to compensate the severe economic losses caused by the lockdown which left them with stocks of unsold merchandise.

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Summer Sale Season Kicks Off July 1st; Top 5 Tips To Get The Best Bargain

By Dr. Alberto Lunetta, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

Sigonella shoppers will be happy to hear that Sicilian retailers will offer discounts one month ahead of the annual government-regulated summer “sconti or saldi” (sales) season. All the other stores in the rest of the Italy will kick off their discount season on August 1st. Sicily’s regional government made the decision to offer discounts early was made in an effort to help the island’s store owners still facing the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

According to retailers’ associations, a month after the May re-opening, many stores are still struggling to compensate for the lost profits from the pandemic closures. They also must abide by the government’s decrees which require them to adapt their stores to the anti-COVID-19 safety measures to protect their staff and customers, causing additional financial burdens.

At the same time, customers have faced a rise in the price of staple foods since the lockdown began, resulting in a reluctance to begin shopping again because of tightened budgets.

The “sconti di fine stagione” (end-of- the-season sales) begin on Wednesday, July 1 and last until the beginning of September. However, some shops will continue offering discounts until the end of September. During the first days of the season, Italian shoppers typically flock to the stores for good deals, so expect long lines!

Unlike the United States, where sales are not regulated, Italy passed a law in 1939 during the Fascist regime which dictated that retailers, mainly clothing stores, were permitted to offer special discounts twice a year to support a shattered economy.

Typically, the saldi seasons last about 60 days and begin after Christmas to lure customers to buy winter collections and in the middle of the summer (July) for the summer collections. However, dates change from region to region.

While you’re in search of big bargains, make sure you keep in mind some tips suggested by all the Italian Consumer Associations to avoid rip-offs and disputes with merchants that would be difficult to handle if you don’t speak Italian. Officials also warn against unscrupulous retailers might try to sell shopworn or damaged items as “promotional sales” just to reduce the quantity of merchandise in stock.

Here are some tips to survive the sales season:

1) First, do not trust discounts higher than 50 per cent from the initial price. A “sensational” 80 or 90 per cent discount might sound like a tempting offer, but it is probably a rip-off.

2) Remember that, during the discount season, defective merchandise may be exchanged or returned as usual. There is no “special return policy” when you shop at sales. Therefore, always keep your “scontrino” or receipt and distrust the shops that display signs saying: “la merce venduta non si cambia,” (purchased merchandise cannot be exchanged) or “all sales are final.” You have the right to change any defective fabric or shoe that is not up to sample within two months. Retailers can either refund you or give you a coupon that should be spent in the same shop.

3) Be sure to look an item over carefully before you buy it. Check different shops to compare prices. If you have previously visited a store, you might be able to evaluate if a product was over-priced and then marked down. As a general rule, if you have just arrived in Sicily and have not been around a lot, it may be easier to shop at big department stores, where sales are usually fair.

4) Stores must display on the tags the initial “prezzo” (price) and the reduced price, both in ciphers and in percentage.

5) Finally, remember that you can use any method of payment. Mistrust shop owners displaying signs saying “non si accettano carte di credito e bancomat” (credit cards and ATM cards are not accepted) because of the sales season. That’s illegal. If you don’t see any signs around, and the sales clerk tells you about it upon paying, tell them you know they are supposed to accept your credit card or ATM card.