It started as a consumer protection measure - France has always set down firm rules on dates for "soldes" to stop unscrupulous retailers from claiming that everything in their shop was always on sale. But, like many well-meaning restrictive measures, the  date rules became more a hindrance than a help so this year the dates have been extended and modified in the interest of consumers.

Stores are allowed to put merchandise on sale during a fixed 5 week period in winter, 5 weeks in summer and 2 weeks whenever they wish to clear out unsold stock at a discount. In every case the consumer regulators do spot controls before and during the "period des soldes" to ensure that items are indeed discounted from their normal price.

The sales dates are set by government decree, department by department. In Alpes Maritimes retailers can start their summer sales from July 8 but savvy consumers will know that they can just drive into the Var in order to profit from that department's dates which start two weeks earlier. Effectively this extends the summer sales period by two weeks for those willing to drive half an hour down the autoroute.

Customer rights for sales items are exactly the same as if you had bought the item at the normal price. It is not legal for a shop to limit guarantee or after sales service just because the item was bought "en soldes". Items on sale must be clearly marked in the shop in order to differentiate them from items sold at the normal price. Items bought for professional use can benefit from VAT reimbursement on your company accounts and the retailer is legally obliged to provide you with a VAT invoice upon request if your purchase is for professional use.

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