Shopping in Trinidad and Tobago

Common shopping channels include supermarkets, mini-marts, local markets, wayside vendors, malls, hardware and electrical stores, pharmacies, department stores and retailer websites. Online orders may use a website, retailer portal, WhatsApp ordering, delivery or curbside pick-up. Massy Stores, Persad’s Supermarkets, Tru Valu Supermarkets and Viewport Supermarket are examples of retailers named by the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism. Availability, delivery coverage and return terms depend on the individual seller. Trinidad and Tobago require separate price and availability checks because supply conditions and retailer coverage differ between the islands. For groceries, compare the same product by shop, pack size and weight. The Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism publishes Quarterly Supermarket Retail Prices and monitors supermarket prices in Trinidad. The Tobago Consumer Affairs Unit of the Tobago House of Assembly conducts its own Tobago price surveys. A pound is 454 grams, while 2.2 pounds is approximately 1 kilogram, so unit comparisons can prevent misleading price differences. Personal and household care products are commonly sold by supermarkets, pharmacies, hardware stores and department stores. Clothing is available through malls, retail shops, markets and online sellers. Fit, exchange and return options usually follow the retailer’s policy, and Trinidad and Tobago do not provide a general right to return clothing or other goods simply because the buyer changed their mind. For technology, check the warranty, repair and replacement terms in writing. The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards, or TTBS, supports product certification, compulsory standards and market surveillance for safety and environmental requirements. Online sellers are subject to disclosure rules under the Electronic Transactions Act No. 6 of 2011. Before completing an order, check the seller’s legal name, geographic address, contact details, product description, payment terms, privacy information, withdrawal or termination terms, return, exchange, cancellation and refund rules, delivery terms and the way to retain a copy of the contract. If required information is missing, the buyer may have a right to rescind the transaction within 30 calendar days, provided the buyer has not received a material benefit. Review the delivery, shipping, return and warranty policies together with the total price, and check that the seller is genuine before sending money. Payments may use Trinidad and Tobago dollars, cash, credit or debit cards, bank transfer, mobile money, QR payments or cheques, depending on the retailer. A 2024 UNCTAD survey reported credit or debit card use in 95% of online ordering. A domestic card can still be declined when a merchant uses an international payment service provider and treats the transaction as international. Payment services and bank integrations remain fragmented, so check foreign exchange rates and fees. Use a secure payment gateway, provide only necessary personal data, and do not send unnecessary bank-account, identity-card or driver’s-licence details. Check the bank or card transaction and retain the receipt because phishing and fake-seller risks exist. Imported online purchases can cost more than the advertised product price. The landed cost can include the item price, shipping, an administration fee, foreign exchange charges, customs duty and VAT. Customs duty depends on the item. Examples in the Customs table include 20% duty plus 12.5% VAT for clothing, shoes, perfumes and digital cameras, while Bluetooth headsets show 0% duty plus 12.5% VAT. Personal effects may qualify for free treatment in some circumstances, and restricted goods require separate checks. Use the Customs Duty Calculator, keep the original invoice and ensure the shipment is declared accurately. Goods should be safe, of merchantable quality, fit for their intended purpose and consistent with their representation. If a product is defective, its main function fails or it differs from what the seller represented, stop using it and contact the retailer promptly. Present the item, receipt or other proof of purchase and any warranty documents, and request an appropriate remedy such as a refund, replacement, repair or credit note. If the purchase outlet does not resolve the matter, escalate it to the retailer’s head office and then to the managing director or chief executive officer before making a formal complaint to the Consumer Affairs Division. The Division accepts complaints from anyone dissatisfied with a good or service and can be reached at 800-4CPS, 868-623-2931 or consumeraffairs@gov.tt. Submit copies of receipts and documents rather than original receipts to the Division. A buyer generally has no remedy based only on a change of mind, and a claim may fail after tampering or using a product for an unintended purpose. Signs or terms saying “No Refund, No Exchange” or “No Refund on sale items” are not permitted under the Adverse Trade Practices Order 2000. Return-service costs, conditions, warranties and other representations should be clear before payment. If a displayed price excludes VAT, the VAT amount must appear in Trinidad and Tobago dollars with the same size and prominence as the price. Check the quantity, unit, label, seal, expiry date or warranty and receipt at purchase. The Metrology Act 2004 supports checks of weighing and measuring equipment used in supermarkets, mini-marts, fabric and electrical stores, hardware stores, markets and by vendors. For sustainability, Buy Local, Build Trinbago promotes local products and services, shorter supply chains and less foreign-exchange outflow and international packaging. Durable, rechargeable, repairable and reusable goods can reduce reliance on disposables. The Municipal Curbside Recycling Programme, together with SWMCOL, the Solid Waste Management Company Limited, and municipal corporations, provides voluntary and phased collection of glass and plastic bottles, aluminium cans and beverage cartons. Prepare these items by emptying and rinsing them and placing them in non-opaque plastic bags. The National Recycling Policy 2024 identifies waste electrical and electronic equipment, tyres, oil, organic waste, paper and cardboard, glass and metals as areas for further development. The available material does not establish a nationwide mandatory take-back system for electronic waste.