Thread: Do people actually read ads before they buy.?

Originally Posted by garrycol

I am not sure that is correct.

As far as I am aware if there is a problem with the goods - faulty or not fit for purpose or misrepresented then the consumer law says that it is the sellers responsibility compensate the buyer any reasonable costs in returning the goods.

that's correct, doesn't have to be in original packaging either..

gramam samuels parting gift to australian small business...

and the reason so many sole trader retailers have given up and shut up shop.

puts the onus on the retailer even though they have in many cases absolutely no input into the manufacture of a sealed boxed product.

and people wonder why it costs so much to buy stuff here..

correct thats the letter of the law, the supplier has to compensate the customer for the return, not that they have to pay for the return.

Typically the easiest and fairest thing is to pay the postage but its not unreasonable to expect the customer to pay for the item to be returned. If upon investigation the item is not fit for resale, is damaged by the customers handling, or does not display the fault the customer is complaining about then there is no requirement for the supplier to compensate for the postage.

Whats easiest and fairest isnt always whats needed, some companies will offer you a voucher for goods and service to the value of what you paid for the postage. For a while one of the major 4x4 after market mobs was including a free magazine subscription or some minor trinkety generic branded item with the replacement part. When questioned the reply was essentially "you were given (x) to the value of (y) you have been compenstated.)

Originally Posted by Gordie

The human race has dumbed down and needs to be spoon fed.

Originally Posted by garrycol

I am not sure that is correct.

As far as I am aware if there is a problem with the goods - faulty or not fit for purpose or misrepresented then the consumer law says that it is the sellers responsibility compensate the buyer any reasonable costs in returning the goods.

Yes your correct, but a lot of sellers don't do this. they put the onus on the buyer.


At least here in Australia consumers have some rights, but buying from the sellers will not pay for freight for returns which can be very expensive.

Here is an extract from consumer affairs in regards of when you can not return a good.

Which in our case number 2 applies. We are not obligated to refund if we so choose.
When you do NOT have the right to return a product

Under the Australian Consumer Law, you have the right to return a product and get a refund or exchange if the product does not meet certain consumer guarantees - for example, if the product is faulty.
You do not have a right to return a product if you:

• changed your mind and no longer want the product
• ordered the wrong product
• found the product cheaper elsewhere
• found a better product elsewhere
• were aware of the relevant fault before buying the product (such as if the fault was written on the product's tag, or for online purchases, indicated in any photos or descriptions of the item online)
• damaged the product by misusing it ? (such as if you dropped your mobile phone in water)
• used the product for a long time and the problem is as a result of usual wear and tear.

Generally I have found "genuine" businesses quite good and if issues are bona-fide all is good.

It is the ebay sellers of a mid northern asian ethnicity that seem to be the problem - some say just keep the item and send you a new one but most want you to send it back at your cost - I refuse until I see a postage cost refund in my paypal account - if not a claim is lodged.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Jaeger isn't alcohol.

It's a health tonic.

As a kid I remember seeing signs in the local auto part / machinery parts departments that their would be a fee for "restocking" if the the wrong part was ordered. I always thought that was reasonable.