With stores like Sears in Moose Jaw and across Canada closing and holding liquidation sale, the Government of Saskatchewan warns about the dangers of these sales. 

"When a business shuts down there, tends to be big sales and discounts to clear out old inventory before closing the doors for good," warns the news release. "Consumers should beware of the risks and pitfalls while hunting for deals during liquidation sales."

Consumer complaints involving liquidation sales usually fall under five different categories. This includes deceptive pricing, returns, warranty support, gift cards and non-delivery.

Here are some tips directly from the news release:

Pricing

  • Use your phone to price-check similar items listed by other retailers. Don’t fall for “shopping math.” Watch out for pricing mark-ups just before a sale that make discounts seem bigger than they actually are.

Returns

  • When a business closes, all sales are final. Ask to check the contents of the box to make sure everything is there before you take it home.

Warranties

  • Items like appliances may need warranty work. If a retailer closes, their warranty offerings will likely go with them and it might be difficult to get repairs.

Gift Cards

  • Use your gift cards immediately. If the business closes, it is unlikely you will get value for the card.

Non-Delivery

  • If you’re ordering something for delivery, pay with a credit card. If your goods don’t get delivered you may be able to get a refund from the credit card issuer.

As these tips come out, Sears will continue it's liquidation sales after the announcement of the store closure back in July of this year. Luckily though, no huge problems have come about from their sales there.