Not going to wear Auntie Nuala’s puce jumper? Return it!
Are you looking at a pile of unwanted gifts after Christmas?
Maybe you got a gift you already have? Or like me, books you’d read before? Or perhaps it’s a jumper in a peculiar shade of puce!?
You didn’t want to offend Auntie Nuala when she gave it to you. But in the cold light of day, it doesn’t make any sense to just leave these presents piling up as junk in the attic or garage. All that waste is bad for the planet – and for our pockets.
‘As 2023 draws to a close, Irish households are still feeling the impact of unprecedented price hikes and although pressures look set to ease into 2024, many people are still looking to scrimp and save,’ says Eoin Clarke of comparison site Switcher.ie
If you do want to return unwanted goods, it’ll be a bit easier to do so than in the past.
And as we head into the new year sales, it’s also handy to know your consumer rights if you get a bit carried away.
Here are five things you need to know at this time of year:
1. Gift recipients now have the same rights as buyers
Under new legislation introduced in 2022, the gift recipient has exactly the same rights as the original purchaser.
‘Consumer laws changed,’ explains Eoin Clarke of comparison site Switcher.ie.
‘Even if something is gifted and you have proof of purchase, you have the same rights as the buyer.
‘But if you don’t have the receipt, some shops ‘may offer an exchange or credit note as a goodwill gesture’ for Christmas gifts, as everyone understands they can be hit and miss.
So if the present is ‘not fit for purpose or is faulty and you have the receipt, you should be able to get a refund’.
2. You don’t need a receipt to return goods.
It certainly helps to have a receipt as it proves where it was bought, when and for how much. And with unwanted gifts it’s perfectly reasonable to ask a gift-giver for a receipt – (even if Auntie Nuala’s face turns as puce as the jumper).
But the actual requirement is for ‘proof of purchase’ which doesn’t have to be the paper
receipt. It can also be a bank or card statement or even an email confirmation.
3. You CAN just change your mind with online purchases ‘Online shoppers are entitled to a 14-day cooling-off period, no questions asked,’ Switcher.ie says. ‘But be warned: things like bespoke gifts, security-sealed items and underwear are exempt!’
4. Returns policies may be tougher for items bought in the sales
Sales-bought goods confer the same consumer rights whether bought online or in a shop. But the right to change your mind over goods in perfect working order applies only to online purchases. If you simply don’t like an item’s colour, your chances of a change-of-mind return depends on a shop’s returns policy.
‘If you buy in person from a shop, you are not always entitled to refund or exchange if you change your mind. It is up to each business to decide,’ advises the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
Although most will be lenient for Christmas gifts, when it comes to stuff bought in the January sales, they may not display as much festive spirit.
Businesses may ‘have a different returns policy during sales, so you should check the returns policy before you buy’, says the CCPC.
5. Know your rights
Your basic rights are the same whether you buy in a sale or not.
According to the CCPC, a product must:
• Be fit for the purpose it is normally used for
• Work for a reasonable time with normal use
• Match what is outlined in your contract or any descriptions or samples you saw
• Be capable of being used for the purpose the business knew you bought it for.
Businesses also have to (when it applies):
• Provide instructions and any essential accessories
• Supply the spare parts covered in your contract
• Install the product correctly.
But… these obligations will not apply if:
•The product is not working due to normal wear and tear, accidental damage or misuse
• You did not install an update for the product to continue to work properly.