Reminder of people’s consumer rights with sales purchases

The Citizens Information Centre (CIC) in Ennis is reminding consumers in Clare that their Consumer’s rights when buying in the January sales are the same as they are at any other time.
According to the CIC, goods, including sale items, must be fit for the purpose for which they are sold and be durable as can be expected having regard to the price paid for them and any other factor about them that may be relevant.
“We get a lot of queries this time of the year in relation to goods bought in the sales,” said Paul Woulfe, manager of the Citizens Information Service. “Be careful about buying for other people in the sales. Remember, the purchaser is the ‘person with the statutory consumer rights’ so articles bought as such as gifts, which may not fit the recipient or are otherwise unacceptable to them, may not be so easily exchanged or the cost reimbursed. This rule-of-thumb is good at all times but in the sales in particular, there is a tendency for individuals, when they see a ‘bargain’ to buy for other people (nieces, nephews, older children), with the consequent risk that the article bought might be unsuitable
“Remember, the seller is not legally obliged to ‘exchange’ goods or to ‘refund’ money in circumstances otherwise than where the goods are unfit for their purpose
“For example, just because a jumper given as a present does not fit your son does not make the jumper unfit for its purpose. It simply means, in all probability, that you, having seen a bargain, thought that it would fit your son. In this all-too-frequent type of situation, neither your son nor yourself has any legal right at all against the seller. However, the seller, in the interests of good customer relations, may very well come to a satisfactory settlement with you when you bring the goods back.”
The centre is also advising that it is wise to keep the receipt for all goods bought, particularly ‘sale’ goods. The receipt is, for obvious reasons, the most straightforward method of proof of purchase.
Mr Woulfe explained sale goods must not be falsely described. False or misleading trade descriptions are offences for which the director can prosecute.
“Remember, goods do not become unfit for their purpose just because a person changes there mind or has second thoughts about them,” he concluded.
People can call or drop in to a local Citizen Information centre, which offers a free and confidential service on rights and entitlements.