Australian fashion retailer Sportscraft has received another reprimand from the corporate watchdog.
Speaking at a conference in Melbourne this week, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chairman Rod Sims reminded retailers of their obligations under consumer law.
Earlier this year, Sportscraft paid penalties totalling $21,600 after being issued two infringement notices from the watchdog.
"We believe statements on Sportscraft’s receipts at the time may have misled consumers into thinking they would not be able to return or exchange faulty goods purchased from a clearance store.
"Retailers cannot exclude or refuse a consumer’s right to a remedy simply because goods are bought at a discount clearance store.
"Sportscraft also stated on its website that it would not refund, exchange or credit note the item more than 21 days after purchase.
"Consumer guarantee rights apply for all purchases a consumer makes, and these rights cannot be removed or reduced by a business’s terms and conditions."
Sims said with Australians collectively buying around 1.1 billion things a year, it is no surprise the organisation receives many reports about consumer guarantees.
"These are statutory rights a consumer has to a good free of defects and will often outlive and always apply regardless of a manufacturers’ or extended warranty.
"Misrepresentations about consumer guarantee rights have been a staple of ACCC consumer actions and we have stepped these up again this year.
"Blunt misstatements of consumer rights, for example no refund statements, and blanket refusals to consider claims after the expiry of a manufacturer’s warranty without considering the application of the consumer law will attract our attention."