On April 24, the Sichuan Province Consumer Rights Protection Committee, together with consumer rights protection organizations from ten other provinces and regions including Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, and Ningxia, released consumer tips ahead of the May Day holiday. The tips aim to guide consumers toward rational, safe, and civilized spending, and to protect their legitimate rights and interests.
The tips note that travel during the May Day holiday involves dense crowds, so consumers should plan ahead, monitor real-time traffic, scenic spot, and weather information, travel during off-peak times, and avoid congested routes. They recommend prioritizing green and low-carbon transportation options such as buses, subways, shared bikes, and high-speed trains. For short trips, walking or cycling is encouraged to support environmental protection. When choosing a travel agency, consumers should select reputable and properly licensed agencies, sign formal written contracts specifying details like itineraries, costs, and cancellation policies, and be wary of traps such as “low-price tours” or “zero-fee tours.” Airline tickets, hotel rooms, and scenic spot tickets should be booked through official platforms, with order confirmations checked promptly and purchase receipts kept safely. Consumers should avoid unlicensed taxis and tour guides, and prioritize travel safety and civilized sightseeing.
Regarding the holiday sales frenzy, the tips remind consumers to stay rational, set a budget beforehand, and buy only what they need. They should not be swayed by phrases like “limited-time offer” or “final discount,” and should avoid hoarding or competitive spending. When shopping, consumers should carefully evaluate product quality, reject substandard, expired, or “three-no” products (no production date, no quality certificate, no manufacturer), and watch out for tricks like raising prices before offering discounts or fake promotions. For prepaid cards or stored-value purchases, consumers should be cautious, avoid large one-time deposits, prefer stable and reputable merchants, and always request official receipts to prevent issues like merchants closing down or coupons becoming unusable. For online shopping, consumers should inspect goods before signing for delivery, and promptly request returns or exchanges for damaged or incorrect items.
For dining, when eating out or having family meals, consumers should choose licensed, clean, and transparent restaurants over unlicensed vendors. For online food orders, they should select vendors with complete credentials to ensure food safety. When ordering, they should practice “order according to needs, small portions multiple times,” follow the “clean plate campaign,” and pack leftovers. Using serving chopsticks and spoons is encouraged to prevent cross-infection. Consumers should also check that menu prices are clearly marked, review bills carefully when paying, and reject unfair charges like forced consumption, minimum spending, or excessively priced dishes, ensuring transparent and civilized dining.
In line with the 2026 consumer rights year theme of “improving consumption quality,” the tips encourage consumers to focus on quality, preferring goods and services that are durable, eco-friendly, safe, and healthy, while avoiding low-quality, high-consumption, or unsafe products. They should choose service-oriented and honest merchants, and actively safeguard their rights to information and choice. Additionally, consumers are urged to follow public order, respect service staff, protect public facilities, and adopt a simple, moderate, and green consumption mindset, becoming responsible and rational consumers.
The tips emphasize that during holiday shopping, consumers should keep receipts, invoices, contracts, payment records, and chat screenshots as key evidence for rights protection. In case of disputes, they should stay calm, first communicate and negotiate with the merchant or platform, and make reasonable demands. If negotiation fails, they can call the 12315 hotline, log into the “National Consumer Council Smart 315” platform to file a complaint, or seek help from local market regulators or consumer rights organizations to protect their rights according to the law.
