Do customers' rights apply to second-hand goods?
Under the the Sale of Goods Act 1979, amended by the Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994, and the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, customers have full rights when buying second-hand goods. This means, as with new items, goods should be of satisfactory quality, do what they are designed to do, be as described, and safe under consumer protection legislation.
However, the law states that customers should understand that the quality and performance of second-hand goods is usually lower than that of new ones and take account of this. Nevertheless, goods must always be as described; so, for example, it is illegal to describe a plastic coat as 'leather'. Also, if goods are faulty or a safety hazard, a consumer is protected by law and can demand a refund or compensation.
If a customer buys second-hand goods from a private vendor, different rules apply.
For further information see the Department of Trade and Industry , Office of Fair Trading, and ITSA, Trading Standards Central web sites. |
