Issue Date:  -  Thursday, 20 April 2000

Sound deals sound consumer warnings

The Ministry of Fair Trading has been receiving calls from concerned consumers about being approached at their work-place, home and in car-parks to purchase hi-fi speakers.

A firm selling speakers from “the back of a truck” was prosecuted in May 1998 for failing to advise customers of the mandatory "cooling off period" which applies under the Door to Door Trading Act. The company (Techtime Pty Ltd trading as Coast Sound Distributors) was found to have breached six provisions of the Act. They were fined $900 with costs of $395.

"People should be very wary of so called good deals when approached in this manner" Commissioner for Fair Trading Patrick Walker said today. "This type of selling is often done by unscrupulous inter-state traders making it very difficult for consumers to get redress in the event of faulty goods", Mr Walker said. "In the past the speakers were found not to be value for money prompting me to again advise consumers to shop around locally for fair deals."

Celebratory times of the year such as Easter seem to attract opportunists and it is a case of "Buyer Beware".

"Anyone who is approached to purchase speakers should be aware that they have ten days in which to change their mind should the deal be over $50 in value. The trader can not ask for deposits or payment of any kind during that time" Mr Walker said.

Suspicious activity should be immediately reported to the Ministry's Call Centre on 1300 30 40 54 which is the cost of a local call anywhere in Western Australia.

Media contact:
Mike Winchester
Tel: (08) 9282 0961