Of interest - the statement "goods fit for purpose" - is if the
salesperson tells you that it meets a performance criteria, not if
you make a judgement yourself. So if buying anything always tell the
salesperson what you want to do with it then you have a claim that it
was not fit for purpose. (ie I want a generator that can be used to
run a 1000 watt microwave and they sell you a 500 watt generator then
you cna claim "not fit for purpose" when you get home and find it
doesn't work. - I now always ask salesperson to tell which item they
recommend to do the task (despite the fact I have already done the
hours of research.

Cheers,
Rob (Geraldton WA)





---- Original Message ----
From: jeelanamin@...
To: aushiker@...
Subject: Re: [Aushiker] FW: WARNING> Buyer Beware Of Ranger Outdoors
Dismal Non-RefundPolicy (12 April 2008)
Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 09:42:23 +0800

>Sorry to hear about your experience with Ranger Camping ralph, you'd
>think
>with the entry of BCF and Anaconda etc into the market place, Ranger
>Camping
>would have got their act together in the face of this competition.
>Clearly
>they're not interested in being keeping their customers happy.
>
>Just one thing you mentioned
>
>"Ranger Outdoors policy does not allow for any money on any item to
>be
>refunded even if the item is found to be damaged when opened and they
>don't have another in stock.. NO CASHBACK. The best you will get
>under
>this policy is a credit. Make up your own mind who you purchase
>from."
>
>this is actually illegal under our fair trading laws. If the item is
>damaged, or wrongly described and they are unable to replace with
>another
>one, you ARE ENTITLED to a full cash refund if this is what you want.
>We own
>several IGA so we're quite aware of what the consumer protection laws
>are.
>
>File a complaint with Fair Trading and let them handle it - a few
>phone
>calls to the owner by DOCEP should help them get their act together.
>HAving
>said that, as you simply changed your mind - i dont know how strong
>this
>case would be but from a customer relations POV, i agree, they should
>have
>given a refund.
>
>cheers
>Jeelan
>
>
>On 18/05/2008, Ralph Ditton <rdassetts@...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 7:25 AM
>> Subject: Fw: WARNING> Buyer Beware Of Ranger Outdoors Dismal
>> Non-Refund Policy (12 April 2008)
>>
>> Someone not very happy.
>>
>> **** Buyer Beware Of Ranger Outdoors *****
>>
>> Buyer Beware Of Ranger Outdoors Rigid No Money Refund Policy Before
>> You Buy Anything From Them !!!
>>
>> To Ranger Outdoors and Cc. hundreds of consumers that will read
>this email.
>>
>> I am writing about my conversations with staff and then the manager
>> of Ranger Outdoors O'Connor in WA on the 11th April 2008 in regards
>> to obtaining a refund on a generator I had bought a day earlier.
>The
>> unit was not suitable for the purpose for which it was bought and
>is
>> in 100% unused, untouched, still in box condition. The information
>> below is further to our conversations regarding a refund to which
>you
>> flatly refused to do.
>>
>> The law in W.A. as I have found out from D.O.C.E.P say's, 'you as a
>> business have legal right to remedy when:
>>
>> * The item has a fault the customer didn't notice when they bought
>> it'
>>
>> * The item isn't the same as described by the sales staff or
>> in advertising' ; or
>>
>> * *The item is not suitable for the purpose in which it was
>bought'.
>>
>> The law then says, 'what settlement you receive when you take the
>> goods back depends on what consumer law describes as 'Fair and
>> Reasonable'
>>
>> Ranger Outdoors do you think that when a customer (me) has made an
>> honest mistake and purchased a product that is not suitable for
>what I
>> bought it for (and you do not stock an appropriate replacement)
>that
>> the most 'fair and reasonable' remedy is to tell me you will not
>> refund one single cent of my $1399 that I gave you only 1 day
>earlier?
>>
>> Instead, after much conversation and 2 calls to the store owner
>> from the manager the best you would finally offer was a $1399
>voucher
>> to purchase other goods from your shop that as I tried so, so hard
>to
>> explain I SIMPLY DON'T NEED ! And after seeing 1st hand the way
>> Ranger Outdoors deals with attempted refunds I would not want to
>spend
>> it at your shop anyway. The manager did say a couple of times that
>he
>> could see my point but 'hey it is not worth losing my job over
>$1400
>> bucks'
>>
>> Coincidently at the same time I was talking with staff another man
>was
>> trying (banging his head up against a brick wall) to also obtain a
>> refund on some jerry cans that he had purchased that did not fit
>into
>> his jerry can holders when he got them home. He was told by a
>female
>> staff member NO REFUNDS. He was very flustered and interrupted my
>> conversation with the manager and demanded that he have the owners
>> direct phone number, to which he was refused as I was.
>>
>> Ranger Outdoors rule makers ask yourself how would you feel if you
>> paid $1400 for an item at a shop and when you got it home you found
>> out it was not suitable for your needs and you returned it? The
>staff
>> then tell you that they do not have an appropriate replacement and
>you
>> can't have ANY of your money back but here's a voucher for $1400 to
>> buy some stuff you simply don't need.
>>
>> SECONDLY. Why hide your refund policy from the consumer? Is it
>because
>> of the utter unfairness in it? Your refund policy is not displayed
>> clearly in your shop. I did not see anything on the doors, nothing
>in
>> the isles, on the walls etc. (for good reason I suspect) When it
>was
>> bought to your attention that your refund policy was not clearly
>> displayed in your shop you pointed out that your refund policy is
>> 'clearly written on the bottom of my docket' and this is just
>> stupidity as the money changes hands before the warning is given on
>> the receipt. Do you see my point ? If I did notice that your shops
>> have such a backwards non-refund policy I may not have purchased
>the
>> product in the first place (just in case) as maybe the man with the
>> jerry cans and many other people would not have either.
>>
>> THIRDLY AND LASTLY. As Ranger Outdoors is clearly having troubles
>> displaying and telling people of their non-refund policy and what
>will
>> happen if you dare ask for your money back I will help you.
>>
>> I have printed below the refund policies of some of the major
>> players in your industry as well as yours.
>>
>> Here is B.C.F 's refund policy which reads : If you are not 100%
>> satisfied with your purchase just let us know .We'll sort out the
>> problem or give you your money back .
>>
>> Mountain Designs refund policy reads : Should you change your mind
>> ,you are welcome to return most products , together with your proof
>of
>> purchase within 30 days of purchase to receive an exchange, credit
>or
>> refund. Excludes products such as climbing gear and underwear.. If
>> unsure whether our return policy covers your purchase please check
>> with one of our friendly team members.
>>
>> AND Ranger Outdoors refund policy : We trust you have made you
>> decision carefully as goods are non-refundable unless proven faulty
>> within warranty. In this event Ranger and supplier will access and
>> offer or replace, repair or credit.
>>
>> Ranger Outdoors policy does not allow for any money on any item to
>be
>> refunded even if the item is found to be damaged when opened and
>they
>> don't have another in stock.. NO CASHBACK. The best you will get
>under
>> this policy is a credit. Make up your own mind who you purchase
>from.
>>
>> Ranger Outdoors, as you are having difficulty displaying and
>letting
>> people know about your non-refund policy on the net (I could find
>many
>> others but not yours) and in your shops I WILL keep sending this
>email
>> many, many times to many different people to help you (and you can
>> count on it as I will send Ranger Outdoors Main office the sent
>list
>> when I have finished). Those customers can then make an informed
>> decision as to who they purchase goods from.
>>
>> Mark my words I am going to email EVERY fishing club, fishing
>forum,
>> fishing charters, camping and scout clubs , tracking clubs, outdoor
>> education departments, 4WD clubs, Campervan and Motor-home club of
>> Australia and forums (they alone have 51500 members of which I am
>> one) and any and every potential customer so they can let their
>> members (your customers) know exactly what they are up against. I
>will
>> also email this to all competitors in this industry so if they have
>> fairer refund policies they can compare theirs to yours and others
>and
>> let their customers know if they choose. As many customers would
>agree
>> refund policies are important before choosing which shop to
>purchase
>> from.
>>
>> CONCLUSION: Ranger Outdoors, if you do consider yourself 'Western
>> Australia's biggest and best retailer of outdoor products' and 'The
>> leader of the outdoor industry in the W.A. market' as your website
>> says then why not back your claims up with a refund policy to
>match?
>>
>> Or if you do really think that your non-refund policy is fair and
>> that of the 'industry leader' then display it clearly for all to
>see
>> on the net and throughout your shops.
>>
>> Note: The Department of Consumer and Employment Protection will
>send
>> to any business free signage to show people exactly where your
>policy
>> is written within your shop.
>>
>> P.S. To all people concerned... If you have received this email and
>> you believe the content to be Fair and Reasonable please forward it
>> to everyone you know who purchases fishing, camping, 4WD or hiking
>gear.
>>
>> Ray Simpson.
>>
>> South Fremantle
>>
>> W.A. 6162
>>
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>>
>> _____
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>--
>"At the close of life the question will be not how much have you got,
>but
>how much have you given; not how much have you won, but how much have
>you
>done; not how much have you saved, but how much have you sacrificed;
>not how
>much were you honoured but rather how much have you loved and
>served."
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>