Huddsonline - Legal Advice

Buying Goods

Your Rights

The law says that goods must be:

of satisfactory quality - they must meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as acceptable bearing in mind the way they were described, what they cost and any other relevant circumstances. This covers, for instance, the appearance and finish of the goods, their safety, and their durability. Goods must be free from defects, even minor ones, except when they have been brought to your attention by the seller for example, if the goods are said to be shop-soiled.

fit for their purposes - including any particular purpose mentioned by you to the seller - for example, if you are buying a computer game and you explain that you want one which can be played on a particular type of machine, the seller must not give you one that cannot.

as described - on the package or a display sign, or by the seller. If you are told that a shirt is 100% cotton, then it should not turn out to be cotton and polyester.

These are your statutory rights. All goods bought or hired from a trader - whether from shops, street markets, mail order catalogues, UK websites or door to door sellers - are covered by these rights. This includes goods bought in sales. When you decide to complain, bear in mind how the item was described. A new item must look new and unspoiled as well as work properly, but if the goods are second-hand, or seconds, then you cannot expect perfect quality.

Many traders have goodwill policies which go beyond your statutory rights. For example, some stores will allow you to exchange goods which are not faulty, such as clothes which are the wrong size.

	Legal Advice - Buying Goods


	Buying Goods Your Rights The law says that goods must be: of satisfactory quality - they must meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as acceptable bearing in mind the way they were described, what they cost and any other relevant circumstances. This covers, for instance, the appearance and finish of the goods, their safety, and their durability. Goods must be free from defects, even minor ones, except when they have been brought to your attention by the seller for example, if the goods are said to be shop-soiled. fit for their purposes - including any particular purpose mentioned by you to the seller - for example, if you are buying a computer game and you explain that you want one which can be played on a particular type of machine, the seller must not give you one that cannot. as described - on the package or a display sign, or by the seller. If you are told that a shirt is 100% cotton, then it should not turn out to be cotton and polyester. These are your statutory rights. All goods bought or hired from a trader - whether from shops, street markets, mail order catalogues, UK websites or door to door sellers - are covered by these rights. This includes goods bought in sales. When you decide to complain, bear in mind how the item was described. A new item must look new and unspoiled as well as work properly, but if the goods are second-hand, or seconds, then you cannot expect perfect quality. Many traders have goodwill policies which go beyond your statutory rights. For example, some stores will allow you to exchange goods which are not faulty, such as clothes which are the wrong size.