AVOID BUYERS REMORSE AND BE AWARE OF CONSUMER RIGHTS
It’s that time of the year where Black Friday and Festive Season deals are all around. You need to remember and be aware of the rights you have as a Consumer regarding return policies and the possibility of repairs in some instances.
When you purchase a product (in-store or online), you have an expectation that the product will be of a certain standard and in a proper working condition, and free from defects. Every store provides an implied warranty of the quality; this is in terms of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). You may ask “when does the CPA apply to me?” – it applies to every transaction where there are goods and services supplied within South Africa. All goods that businesses sell must meet all approved standards, because producers, importers, and retailers of any goods are liable for the supply of products that have defects.
APPLICANCES / ELECTRONICS
Unfortunately, there are times where products you purchased are not up to standard and may be defective. In terms of the CPA, you have one of three options: 1.refund, 2.return or 3.repair the defective product within 6 (six) months of purchase. If you choose the option to repair the product and the product is still defective, you have an additional 3 (three) months within which you may request a refund or replace the product.
DO NOT be discouraged if you bought your products online, you are still entitled to return goods that are not up to standard. The process is merely different.
The implied warranty mentioned above applies once the product purchased has been delivered. As mentioned before, you may elect to have the defective product replaced, refunded or repaired as long as the defect hinders the use thereof, and the Consumer did not damage the property through their own negligence. If the Consumer chooses to have the product replaced, refunded or repaired, in some instances, the Consumer may need to pay for the cost of returning the goods to the supplier.
Delivery of items bought online can be another nightmare. The CPA states that;
“unless the contract of agreement expressly states otherwise, the supplier will always be responsible for the delivery of the goods.”
By purchasing online, you agree to a delivery time-frame indicated once you confirmed payment of the product. You are therefore entitled to expect delivery to occur timeously or receive a notice if there are any unexpected delays.
CLOTHING
It is likely that while you’re shopping, you feel “lazy” to try on clothing, or in a rush that you did not notice a hem or thread that is loose. The implied warranty is still applicable.
In the following circumstances, customers can return goods and receive a full refund:
- When goods are defective, unless the Consumer was negligent in causing the defect;
- Goods purchased from a specific catalogue and they do not fit the description;
- Goods that the Consumer did not have the opportunity to inspect nor try on to ensure it fits.
Each shop is entitled to their own policies regarding return, replace and refunds, as long as it is exercised in accordance with the CPA. Therefore, be mindful and careful of misleading advertisements. Black Friday sales often lead Consumers to make purchases they wouldn’t usually make. It is therefore, important to be aware of the businesses / shops return policy when dealing with buyer’s remorse.
PS: Stay savvy!
