Ask Susan: What can I do about dodgy gumboots?

Thursday, 21 June 2018

You should expect your gumboots to last a year or two, depending on how you use them.

I bought a pair of gumboots on May 19 and paid $50.They have been used less than a month and have begun to leak already. These are made in Christchurch. I was wondering if I can get refund or replacement gumboots? I have bought gumboots, made in China, three times before, but they began to melt after about one year of use.

You are within your rights to ask for a refund or replacement. The Consumer Guarantees Act requires that goods are fit for purpose - in this case, they clearly are not.

Contact the retailer in the first instance and explain the problem to them, and tell them what you'd like to do to resolve it.

You'll probably need to take your receipt or a bank statement showing the purchase.

If you have a personal finance or consumer question, email susan.edmunds@stuff.co.nz