The Andrews Labor Government is reminding Victorians of their consumer rights as thousands head to the shops to make the most of the annual post-Christmas sales.
In 2015-16, Consumer Affairs Victoria was contacted more than 3,600 times regarding refunds and returns, more than 10,000 times about defective goods and more than 400 times about gift cards.
If you buy or receive a gift that turns out to be faulty you are entitled to a repair. If the item can’t be fixed you are entitled to a refund or replacement, even if it was bought on sale.
You don’t need to have the original packaging to return the item.
Consumers should also be wary of deals that seem too good to be true hiding amongst Boxing Day bargains.
Deals sold as ‘interest-free’ often come with ongoing fees, and an ‘extended warranty’ may not give you any rights not already covered by the Australian Consumer Law.
While gift cards are a quick and easy present for a picky relative or friend, it is easy to forget the expiry date and shops are not required to honour them after this time.
With Consumer Affairs Victoria’s MyShopRights app you can set reminders for the expiry of gift cards, lay-bys and warranties. It also lets you store photos of receipts.
To download the MyShopRights app, visit .
Quotes attributable to Acting Minister for Consumer Affairs Lily D’Ambrosio
"Boxing Day is a great time for a bargain, but it’s important to know your rights."
"If your bargain buy is faulty you can still take it back, and sale items come with the same refund rights as full price goods."
"Download the free MyShopRights app to store photos of your receipts and help keep track of gift card expiry dates, lay-bys and warranties."
Reviewed 19 August 2020