Consumer Council receives reports of dealers retailing shoddy parts to obtain thousands of dollars

Consumer Council receives reports of dealers retailing shoddy parts to obtain thousands of dollars

By Shanil Singh
Saturday 04/06/2022
Consumer Council CEO Seema Shandil.

Fijians are urged to be cautious when dealing with secondhand vehicle spare part dealers as certain dealers are deliberately retailing shoddy parts to obtain thousands of dollars from consumers.

This is after the Consumer Council of Fiji received reports of people being intentionally sold shoddy spare parts, which ceased to function immediately or within days of purchase.

In one of the cases, a consumer spent almost $1,700 on an accumulator pump however the product stopped working just few days after purchase.

The spare part trader simply denied any redress to the consumer, hiding behind the excuse that it was a secondhand part and they cannot bear any liability for it.

Cases regarding short warranty periods being provided on spare parts have also been brought to the Council’s attention.

In one instance, a consumer was provided only with a 7-day warranty for secondhand product costing $1,500 however the item stopped functioning on the 8th day and he was not provided any redress.

Consumer Council CEO Seema Shandil says secondhand spare part retailers need to put redress mechanisms in place which can be used by consumers in instances where parts become faulty after purchase.

Shandil says these products do not come cheap and as such businesses must not use short warranty periods and no warranty conditions to push shoddy products into the market.

She adds they should also be free from defects that were not obvious at the time of purchase.

FEATURE NEWS
Tikoduadua offers to temporarily step aside
Minister for Home Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua has offered to temporarily step aside from his role as Minister pending the outcome of an investigation to a...
8 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
FEYE provisional results to be released tomorrow as Ministry records 69% pass rate
18,968 students who sat for the Fiji Eighth Year Examination can get their provisional results from tomorrow. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro ...
12 hours ago

Doctors concerned about growing list of out of stock essential and critical meds at public hospitals – Dr Vakamocea
There is now a very concerning growing list of out of stock essential and critical medicines at our public hospitals, and Fiji Medical Association ...
13 hours ago

Racial discrimination in tenant selection raises alarm for Consumer Council
The Consumer Council of Fiji is reminding all stakeholders that racial discrimination is strictly prohibited under the Constitution of Fiji after a ...
13 hours ago

Leonardo DiCaprio is in Fiji
Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio is in Fiji. DiCaprio was spotted at a hotel in Nadi today. The actor who is known for his various films ...
13 hours ago

Fiji-China trade hits $1.1B milestone – Ali
The trade relationship between Fiji and China has reached a significant milestone, with trade worth $1.1 billion recorded last year and this ...
14 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Doctor Alipate Vakamocea on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Fiji Medical Association President, Doctor Alipate Vakamocea will appear on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan The show will focus on ...
7 days ago

Mangal and Akauola on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Adult Teen Challenge Fiji Executive Director, Hemraj Mangal and Director, Matai Akauola appear on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan The ...
7 days ago

Sporting federations demand answers from FASANOC
National sporting federations who are part of Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee or FASANOC, are still calling for answers and ...
14 days ago

TOP