Sale of Good Act 1979

Covers all contracts made by consumers when purchasing goods, consumers are given full rights under this Act in all circumstances, these rights cannot be restricted by the terms and conditions of the contract.

Consumers can expect that goods will be:

• As described. Goods provided must conform to any description applied to them; this description can be made verbally or in writing.
• Of a satisfactory quality.  Satisfactory quality means that the product should be of a quality that a reasonable person would expect from the goods taking into account any description, the intended purpose and the price that is paid.
• Fit for the purpose made known. If a consumer intends to purchase goods to use for a specific purpose other than that which it is intended and this is made known to the seller, then the goods should be suitable for that purpose.

Generally a consumer can claim a repair or replacement of the goods if they become faulty or do not conform to the contract, if this is not possible or not economical the consumer can look to claim a full or partial refund.  If the consumer notices the fault, misdescription or unsuitability quick enough after the purchase then they may be able to reject the goods for a full refund.If second-hand goods are being purchased the purchaser must take into account the age, condition and price of the product. Consumers get the same rights when purchasing second-hand goods unless a fault is related to reasonable wear and tear or they are made aware of any faults before purchase.

Howard is your online shopping assistant

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