Advice needed for buying electrical goods as a gift

his_missus

My sister has asked me to buy her a kettle & toaster set for Christmas.

Where would I/she stand if she opens it on Christmas day and an item is faulty? (I obviously won't be testing them out before I give them to her, or should I?)

Is there a limited amount of time to return a new good as faulty? Should I wait until nearer to Christmas to buy it?

Do I still have the same consumer rights if I buy it with vouchers rather than cash?

Should I ask for a gift receipt and will this allow my sister to exchange it if faulty?

Hope this is the right forum area to post this. Sorry if some of my questions seem stooopid, she usually just asks for PJs!

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

his_missus wrote: »

My sister has asked me to buy her a kettle & toaster set for Christmas.
Pop round for a cup of tea and Jam on toast

Where would I/she stand if she opens it on Christmas day and an item is faulty? (I obviously won't be testing them out before I give them to her, or should I?)
As purchasers, the rights to return remian with you. You can of course take it out of the packing and test it, if you feel the need to do so.

Is there a limited amount of time to return a new good as faulty? Should I wait until nearer to Christmas to buy it?
Same as usual, 28 days, six months etc


Do I still have the same consumer rights if I buy it with vouchers rather than cash?
You could give vouchers to the value, and Sis can buy in the sales!

Should I ask for a gift receipt and will this allow my sister to exchange it if faulty?
You always get a reciept. Just keep it as usual.

Hope this is the right forum area to post this. Sorry if some of my questions seem stooopid, she usually just asks for PJs!

I have answered in red

unholyangel

If you get them to write on the receipt/issue a gift receipt, it then forms part of the contract and statutory rights pass to the recipient.

paddyrg

Get them from a physical store, pay cash, receipt in the box? The store won't then show/know that she didn't buy them herself?

[Deleted User]

Know anyone with Costco membership? They don't give a fig about returns - broken or working (for most stuff). Even if you take back a 3 year old broken toaster, they'll do it.

My kettle only lasted 14 months, but they gave me a full refund on it

hollydays

Costco don't do a great range

agrinnall

The obvious answer is to buy from a retailer that has an extended period for returns over the festive season, and can provide a gift receipt that will allow the recipient to return the gift if there is a problem. Have a walk around the shops and see who this applies to.

frugal_mike

If you want to return a faulty item for a full refund then you have a 'reasonable' amount of time to reject an item according to the Sale of Goods Act. Reasonable is undefined and will depend on the circumstances, but in my personal opinion it would be reasonable to return a Christmas gift in early January if it was bought in December. That's just my opinion though, others may disagree.

If you will be happy with a refund or replacement then just buy it now. The Sale of Goods Act gives you up to 6 years to make a claim for inherent faults, and for the first 6 months after purchase it will be assumed that any fault is inherent unless the retailer can prove otherwise. The shop gets to pick the cheapest remedy out of refund, repair or replacement in this situation.

random1980s

its a kettle/toaster, there are more important things to worry about in life for christs sake

browneyedbazzi

random1980s wrote: »

its a kettle/toaster, there are more important things to worry about in life for christs sake

If you think people should only post about major life changing things or internationally important events then you may be on the wrong forum.

OP - what frugalmike said above is spot on as far as statutory rights go. Many shops will go beyond what they must do in respect of returns though - particularly at Christmas. You should ask the retailer you buy from about their returns policy over the Christmas period.

his_missus

Thanks for the useful responses.

I've decided where I'm going to shop and I've emailed the store I intend to buy from to ask about their returns policy regarding buying electical gifts.