R
Ray Stafford
if i take back a faulty product to any shop, merchant etc.... it will be replaced or i will be given my money back. This is my right as a comsumer and im protected by law.
This is a bit of an odd one actually, and isn't as straightforward as it appears.
As soon as you walk past a sign that says "trade counter", or operate a trade account, or accept a trade discount, you are making a business purchase. Business purchases do not enjoy the same statutory protections as consumer purchases. You still have the protection of contract law, including the prohibition on unfair contract provisions, but its a completely different legal framework, and less slanted in favour of the purchaser.
When buying online, its not easy to establish at the time of sale whether you are transacting as a consumer or as a business, since most public websites don't differentiate between the two.
So you can be in bizarre situation buying online where you actually have better legal rights, but they are harder to enforce because its not so easy to physically turn up demand them.
Your legal rights may be weaker at the merchant, but you have more chance of getting your problem sorted through personal contacts, goodwill, long standing relationships etc.