You bought some jeans at a store’s “seconds sale”. It was pointed out by sales staff that the jeans all had minor sewing faults. There was also a sign stating, “No refunds on sale items.” A day later, the zip broke. When you demand a repair or refund, you’re told, “No. Didn’t you see the sign?” Where do you stand?
You have every right to have the zip repaired or a refund. Although it was pointed out that the jeans had faults, they were described as sewing faults, not faulty zips. The Consumer Guarantees Act covers you for faulty goods even if they are bought as seconds, as long as the fault is not to do with the reason the goods are seconds. The no-refunds sign means nothing because stores cannot contract out of the law, which states that if goods are not fit for purpose, they must be repaired or replaced. Had you bought the jeans as seconds and didn’t like the quality of the sewing when you got home, you couldn’t get a repair or a refund because the fault is what you were warned about.
Do you have a question for Kevin? Email [email protected] (Subject line: Consumer) or post to: NZWW, Bauer Media, Private Bag 92512, Auckland 1036.
Image: Phillip Castleton/ bauersyndication.com.au
