Consumer Laws?

Forums › Off topic › Consumer Laws?

xdzgor

23 posts

Geek

#59903 14-Apr-2010 17:09

Hi, does anyone have some links to sites regarding consumer law in NZ, especially as it pertains to purchasing goods online?

Links to the actual law would be good, but I'm looking for something a little easier to read, a "guide" for shopping online, what I should expect as a consumer, and what a shop can and can't do under the law - maybe a forum where I can ask specific questions.

Thanks,
Peter

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2526
Inactive user

#318443 14-Apr-2010 17:21

This was on target last night

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80646 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41028

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#318447 14-Apr-2010 17:27

Check http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz, http://www.comcom.govt.nz and http://www.consumer.org.nz

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

Ragnor

8279 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 585

Trusted

#318449 14-Apr-2010 17:27

http://www.consumer.org.nz/category/legal-rights

heavenlywild

5091 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 901

Trusted

#318454 14-Apr-2010 17:37

Basically you have similar / same rights as buying something in-store. You definitely won't lose out by buying online, but do read up on each retailer's return policies.

xdzgor

23 posts

Geek

#318573 14-Apr-2010 23:00

Thanks for the replies - I'll look through the links as soon as I can. I hope I can find out whether or not I can expect to get my money back from a web-shop who sent me the wrong goods (the wrong harddisk), or if I just have to shrug my shoulders and accept it because that's the risk you run...

heavenlywild

5091 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 901

Trusted

#318585 15-Apr-2010 00:24

xdzgor: Thanks for the replies - I'll look through the links as soon as I can. I hope I can find out whether or not I can expect to get my money back from a web-shop who sent me the wrong goods (the wrong harddisk), or if I just have to shrug my shoulders and accept it because that's the risk you run...

You DEFINITELY should get your money back for sure! The sent you the wrong item you so they are in the wrong. This is very standard and you shouldn't need to quote any laws to the retailer to get your money back or be sent the right item.

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

Geese

1028 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 53
Inactive user

#318586 15-Apr-2010 00:51

I dealt with an online computer shop in Auckland, and still after 2+ weeks I have no product or a refund. I've had to set the Commerce Commission onto them, and they don't even care. I'm still waiting for some action.

heavenlywild

5091 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 901

Trusted

#318706 15-Apr-2010 11:25

It really is quite simple to make sure a online shop is half decent or not. Look at their website, see if they have a phone number or a physical office address. If you don't see either, then they are obviously not wanting to be contacted at all.

Ragnor

8279 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 585

Trusted

#318707 15-Apr-2010 11:27

Name and shame the shop...

richms

29097 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10205

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#318822 15-Apr-2010 14:40

How did you pay? Often its worth the CC surchare just to be able to chargeback with ease. If a place is bank deposit only then that should raise alarms since that means they were turned down for a merchant account.

Richard rich.ms

wreck90

780 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#318839 15-Apr-2010 14:55

The commerce commission does not care with cases like this.

The values are too low and if they were involved in every dispute......

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

Geese

1028 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 53
Inactive user

#319206 16-Apr-2010 08:47

Notebookcity.

Paid by Debit Card. On tuesday I contacted them against to ask wheres my item/or refund, they said refund would be done before friday, but here we are friday morning, no refund.

I looked at doing chargeback - but unless Visa debit is different, it takes ages according to the disputes procedure flowchart list thing. I will ring Visa now as I'm sick of waiting.

And as for Com Com, it seems in this case they are interested in investigating, as they want me to mail them additional supporting documents. They may (???) have already received similar complains from others, their TM feedback shows 1 in 35ish have a problem (neutral/negative fb), and lately the common theme in the fb is they list things on TM they do not have in stock, or don't supply goods.

xdzgor

23 posts

Geek

#319270 16-Apr-2010 10:48

In my case, I did pay by credit card. And it seems the shop will refund my money (I wonder if I'll get the 3% credit card fee refunded as well).

I am not terribly impressed with this shop - I ordered an ink cartridge, and a NAS drive. They charged my credit card immediately ($550), but I had still not received the goods, nor any explanation after 5 days. When I rang them they said they couldn't supply the ink - even though they had accepted my order and had my money! They hadn't bothered to contact me of course, I had to contact them.

Anyway, they refunded the cost of the ink (but not the 3% credit charge regarding the ink), and sent the NAS disk. Only the disk they sent was not the one advertised, and not the one on the order form or invoice. They sent a "Western Digital World Edition 2TB" disk, I had ordered a "Western Digital World Edition II 2TB" disk. The "II" makes a bit of difference.

The shop then told me that Western Digital did not supply the "Edition II" in NZ. So I contacted Western Digital myself, who told me they did in fact supply "Edition II" in NZ, and that the "Edition II" was what I wanted (I wanted the possibility for raid mirroring).

I contacted the shop again... and gave them an ultimatum: send me the correct disk, or I'll have my bank reverse the charge. The shop then relented, and said they'd take the disk back - but they wanted me to organise and pay for a courier. No way - so they then sent a courier themselves.

Just waiting to see if I get all my money back.

While the whole thing has been irritating, at least the shop is willing to admit their error, and take the incorrect goods return. Although they did "try it on" a little. (And they still have the incorrect disk on their website).

Ragnor

8279 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 585

Trusted

#319282 16-Apr-2010 11:08

Disputes tribunal is the best course of action for small claims/disputes like this. The process is easy and simple and often gets good results.

It sounds like you've run into the old top 5 cheapest sellers on pricespy/gearbot are dodgy syndrome. 99% of the time they are: no retail store, operating our of mums garage, drop shipped stock direct from the distributor.

A good rule of thumb for the future is only buy from sellers that accept CC, have a real physical store and have a proven reputation: eg: Ascent, Computer Lounge, Playtech, PB Tech, Xp Computers.

Computer Lounge and Playtech will often price match the cheaper sellers, especially if you a regular customer.