1. What are our consumer rights? When shopping, consumers like Jason are protected by Irish and European Law against unfair treatment by retailers.
The legal rights of consumers are as follows: (a) Goods sold must be of merchantable quality. Merchantable quality means that goods sold to consumers must be reasonably durable and do what they are supposed to do, even if they are ‘sale’ items.
Examples:
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A laptop for music production must have a working sound card. A new car must not break down after travelling just five kilometres. Cornflakes should be fresh and edible.
Buttons must not fall off a shirt within days of purchase.
(b) Goods sold must be fit for the purpose intended. This means that the goods must do what they are supposed to do.
Examples: ¶
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If a customer wants a computer that can play, mix and record music, it must be able to do so.
If a customer asks for a car with heated seats, then the seats must be heated. If a consumer asks for a waterproof jacket, then the jacket sold must be waterproof.
(c) Goods sold must be as described by the salesperson/brochure/sample. There should be no misleading descriptions, packaging or samples provided.
Examples:
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A computer described as being a ‘silver sound machine’ on the box should not turn out to be canary yellow when the box is opened. A car described as blue in a brochure must not turn out to be green when delivered to the customer.
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(d) Services supplied must be carried out by a suitably qualified person who does the job properly and uses good quality materials.
