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Consumer Guarantees Act Updated 01 Mar 2009

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The Customer is Always Right Posted by: Lorna Price 16 Jul 2009 10:19am

Most consumers are pretty genuine and recognise when a retailer is treating them like a valued customer. We have only ever had one unreasonable customer who was told not to wrap the power cord around his notebook power adapter otherwise the cord joints would be damaged. He did it anyway and then later demanded a refund. He explained that he should be able to wrap the cord around the adapter because they should be designed for that (even though it warned against this in the manufacturer warranty for the notebook) When we refused to supply a refund, he bought a newer heavier duty model adapter off us. Then he took an action in the Disputes Tribunal for the cost. We wrote a submission but it was not economic for us to appear (more costly than the refund) and he got his refund. Even when a customer is being a bit unreasonable, at the end of the day it is easier to just give a consumer a refund and remember "The customer is always right!"

Steven Price
Computer Direct

Golf Shoes Posted by: Ken Hopgood 11 Jul 2009 5:14pm

I purchased a pair of golf shoes from Rebel Sports and in 10 months and aboyr 25 games of golf they started to split and break up across the top just below the laces.,I returned them only to be told its expected that is was expected wear and tear..
What is the expected life of a pair of golf shoes??

Reply 1: Posted by: Lorna Price 16 Jul 2009 9:53am

From what I hear, shoes are one of the most complained about products by consumers. One pair of Hush Puppies started splitting after less than one year (from an obvious manufacturing fault) and the store happily replaced them for me. Well done Hannahs! When I bought my new pair of Hush Puppies I cunningly asked the "Hush Puppies" store person how long they should last. They told me they could last as little as six months depending on the type of use. My boy went through one pair of shoes in about two months so we bought him two more pairs this time around.
Unfortunately with shoes you need to expect the worst but stick with a good brand once you find it.

PS3 Out of warranty Posted by: Steve 11 Jun 2009 6:11pm

I bought my PS3 for $1200 on 23 March 2007. It has a 1 year warranty. It failed after 14 months but got replaced under extended cover by Sony. It has again failed 8 Months after it was replaced the first time. They tell me i have to pay $375 to get it fixed. Does the CGA cover me?

The Act needs an update Posted by: Jarod Dean 10 Jun 2009 12:33pm

The Consumer Guarantees Act needs to be seriously updated to discourage consumers who try to flaunt consumer laws to get what they want. It also needs to be updated to allow for penalties to be in place for traders trying to sell Extended warranties to consumers for a well known product.