29 May Online Sales and Australian Consumer Guarantees
Written by Eugene Reinboth The High Court recently rejected an appeal by Valve, a US-based company involved in online sales of computer games in Australia. Valve were appealing a three million dollar penalty for non-compliance with the Australian Consumer Law ("ACL"). Despite Valve only having an online presence and no retail outlets in Australia, the critical issue was that sales were to Australian consumers. Valve incurred a $3 million penalty for non-compliance. Your rights as an Australian consumer as protected by the ACL. The ACCC provides this summary of the ACL, which since 2011 has ensured consumer guarantees on products and services. Products Products must be of acceptable quality, which factors in what would normally be expected for the type of product at its cost. For products to be of acceptable quality, they must: Be safe, lasting, and with no faults. Look acceptable Do all the things you would normally expect them to do. Products must also: Match descriptions made by the salesperson on packaging, labels, and in promotions or advertising. Match any demonstration model or sample you asked for. Be fit for the purpose the business told you it would be fit for, and for any purpose that you made known to the business...
