We can’t always be sure that the things we buy are good value for money, but there are laws to protect us.
The things we buy must be fit for the purpose for which they were made. That means they must be safe, be of reasonable quality, and be suitable for the task. For example, a can of dog food may be good quality for animals, but it is not fit for the purpose of serving to humans.
Food must be fit to eat.
Toys must be fit to play with.
Books must be fit to read.
Clothes must be fit to wear.
A pen must be fit to write with.
Kylie bought a kite. She played with it for about an hour. Then it tore and wouldn’t work any more. Is this reasonable quality?
What if she only paid 10 cents for it?
What if she paid $10?
What if she paid $100?
Take it back!
If something you buy isn’t fit for the purpose or isn’t of reasonable quality you should take it back. The shop will refund your money or replace the goods or fix the fault.
What would you say?
Jack’s shoes fell apart
after two weeks’ wear.
Hiromu’s milk tasted off.
If the shopkeeper won’t co-operate you can complain!
In every state in Australia there is a government department for fair trading or consumer affairs.
Buying on E-bay and the Internet
Many things are bought and sold on the Internet nowadays, such as books, CDs and digital cameras. Shoppers have some ways of complaining if they are disappointed by what they buy, but they do have to be very careful when making a purchase.
Let’s explore
Do your friends and family know about shoppers’ rights? Ask these questions of as many people as possible.
Have you or your parents ever returned something you bought? What did your parents say? What did the shop do to fix the problem?
