Galway Advertiser 1991/1991_09_26/GA_26091991_E1_016.pdf 

Extracted text

KNOW YOUR -RIGHTS
If your new television breaks down during Coronation Street or your new hot water bottle bursts, what do you do? Scream and yank your hair out? Or go back to the shop and demand your money back? When it comes to complaining, we Irish should take a leaf out of our European friends' books? Can you imagine a Frenchman eating a poor meal in a restaurant pr a German putting up with a faulty toaster? Not likely. But so often we prefer to moan about the inconvenience caused than demand our rights. If your new stereo breaks down or your hoover stops working you should go to the shop where you bought them and ask for your money back. B U Y I N G GOODS When you buy goods, you have a contract with the seller, even i f nothing is written down or m e n tioned by y o u or the seller. Under the contract, you are entitled to expect certain things. Goods should be of "merchantable quality" taking into account what was said about them, what they are supposed to do, the price, how long they should last and so on. A lot depends on the circumstances of each case, but washing machines should wash, cars should provide transport, lawn mowers should cut grass, food should be edible and so on. The goods should be fit for their purpose. This might include the normal purpose that such goods are used for or it could be some particular purpose made known to the seller at the time of purchase. Goods should be as described - whether the description is on the package, is something said by the salesperson, is written in the brochure etc. It is not always easy claiming refunds but is worth it in the end because you stood up for your rights. It is important to remember that whatever you buy. the person who sells it to you is responsible if it is faulty. Always go back to the shop and not to the manufacturer, to demand your money back. If necessary, put your claim in writing to show t h a t you are serious about your complaint. SERVICE W I T H A SMILE Goods are n o t the only things y o u c a n c l a i m unsatisfactory or faulty - services, t o o , m u s t b e
to standard. So, for e x a m p l e , the builder m e n d i n g y o u r roof 4. art up

Vive l'lmpulse!
Long live impulsive actions - especially by men! Well, that's what we think anyway! Remember the original TV commercial for "Impulse" - that man chasing down the street after a woman and offering her flowers, captivated by her fragrance.
" T h a t really c a p t u r e d w o m e n ' s and hearts" imaginations

says Joanna Cahill of Elida Gibbs who make "Impulse". " I t r e a l l y a p p e a l e d t o
instincts!"

their romantic

To celebrate the launch of a new Impulse fragrance - "Vive" Elida Gibbs and ourselves want to find out exactly HOW impulsive your man is! We want YOU to answer the questions below, and send them with your name and address to: V I V E I ' I M P U L S E SURVEY, 2 2 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 and EVERYONE who does so gets a free sample of "Vive" in return! So answer those questions NOW!
Q. 1 It's your birthday, d o e s he:

Don't let shops refuse you a refund for goods bought in a sale, your rights are the same
cond" does not boil water, it is not of merchan table quality and you can get your money back. However, if it just had a dented lid and was marked "second", bearing in mind its price you should have known it would have some defect and can't get your money back. P L A Y I N G THEIR G A M E While losing your temper and swearing loudly is unlikely to get you your refund, if you are feel ing courageous and know you are in the right, you can play the shop at their own game. If you are not fainthearted, waving the mouldy melon you bought yesterday in front of the manager and more importantly, his other customers may bring a favourable response. Talking loudly whenever another customer comes in, might work miracles also. Equally, refusing to leave the shop can work wonders provided you don't cause a disturbance and find the guards have been called. ROUTE TO A REFUND Go back V t h e shop with the faulty item. . Tell the assistant you would like a refund for ty merchandise and quote the sale of Goods i the shop manager and repeat ^KFRTthe
shop and

Shelbourne House, Shelbourne Road, Dublin 4 Tel. (091) 606011.

(a) Forget? (b) Buy flowers and scent and bring you out to dinner? (c) Surprise you and whisk you off to some exotic location for the weekend? (d) Do something REALLY unusual-please explain!
Q. 2 H o w often would he surprise you gift? with flowers, scent or a

FIRE

RISK

With winter on the way, the elderly should be extra careful about fire safety. Cold weather brings added fire risks especially where older people are concerned because they feel the cold more and as a result tend to move closer to open fires, elec tric and gas heaters. Clothing, furniture or bedding may catch fire easily because of this. The National Safety Council advises people, especially the elderly, to ensure that all clothes or furnishings are kept well away from sources of fire outbreak and similarly that they also keep back a suitable distance. SAFETY S T A N D A R D S When buying an electric blanket, look for the following standard marks: IS(Irish Standard) BSlBritish Standard) or VDE(German Standard). If the blanket does not carry one of these ask the retailer if the blanket is covered under safety standards. All electric blankets should be inspected at least once a year tp ensure they are in perfect working order and the manufacturers instructions should always be strictly followed concerning the safe use of electric blankets. As with all domestic appliances, when install ing initially or servicing, care should be taken that fuses in plug tops are of the correct rating for the appliance, suitable either for a 3 amp or a 13 amp depending on the wattage of the appliance.

]

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Never! Only on special occasions When he's feeling guilty! Often!
What's the most impulsive thing done? he's

Q. 3 ever

(a) Bought a pink tie? (b) Asked you to marry him! (c) Run down the street with flowers - only to discover he's left with a bunch of stems! (d) Something else - please explain!
Q. 4 is H e comes h o m e to find you've in the background cooked music it's but he: d i n n e r , lit t h e c a n d l e s , s o f t r o m a n t i c playing Tuesday, his football night. Does

(a) Hang up the boots, change into something appropriate and thoroughly enjoy the evening (b) Say "thanks luv", wolf down the dinner and rush out to football (c) Go straight to football (d) Say "what happened the car?"
Q. 5 he You've w o n a w e e k e n d for t w o in Paris - but you have to g o this w e e k e n d - H o w does react?

must carry out the w o r k t o a reasonable standard, w i t h i n a r e a s o n a b l e t i m e a n d at a r e a s o n a b l e c o s t .

Head Office c* Trade Association. ipHppf

send a copy to t h e i r Always keep

SALE T I M E
D o n ' t let s h o p s refuse y o u a refund for g o o d s bought in a s a l e . Y o u r rights are the s a m e . If a n e l e c t r i c kettle r e d u c e d in p r i c e o r m a r k e d a s a " s e -

copies, of all e o o e s p o n d e n c c rite directly to t h e H e a d O f f i c e and t h r e a t e n court action if they don't r e f u n d you w i t h i n 10 d a y s f r o m t h e dale of y o u r " l e t t e r .
6. F o r further information o n y o u r rights as a

(a) He says "bring your mum" (b) Rush out and read up on all there is to know about Paris ( c ) Go - unwillingly, complain about the "frogs", the foreign language, the strange food, the price o f a pint... (d) Buy y o u a Chanel suit, t o get the weekend o f f t o a g o o d start!
S o t h e r y o u h a v e it - o u r i n

impulsive

Irish m e n are! T o get

depth survey o n h o w your F R E E

, consumer,

contact t h e

Office o f C o n s u m e r Affairs,

s a m p l e o f " V I V E " get t h o s e a n s w e r s in a s s o o n as possible.