Fit for purpose

[sigma]

Does a company have a duty or responsibility to ensure goods that are sold to the public are "Fit for purpose".

[emeritus]

Yes they do. Its covered under the Sale of Goods Act.

Lots of information here

http://whatconsumer.c...he-sale-of-goods-act/

[Maydup]

Agree - good advice from emeritus, but be sure you're clear on the difference between fit for purpose and fit for the purpose intended.

If the item is not standing up to the job then it is not fit for purpose, but if the item is the wrong choice for the job it might be a different matter.

[tonywiltshire]

Your basic rights are contained in the 1979 sale of goods act, as amended and improved in one particular respect by the 1994 Sale and supply of goods act

Goods must be the sellers to sell. Seems obvious so do not buy from the man in the pub or you may find you do not become the legal owner. It does not matter that both you and the man in the pub are totally innocent the villainy of the original thief can affect you. The law says (in Latin) no one gives what they have not got.

The description of the goods must be accurate.

The goods must be of satisfactory quality. This had a limited but important effect on the law the original form was “merchantable quality” a term with uncertain legal meaning, it was changed to Satisfactory. But remember everything is taking into account.

Goods should be fit for their purpose. Your original point, it is covered by section 14 (3) of the sale of goods act 1979.

[Buenchico]

I agree with the above answers but it needs to remembered that the purchaser either has to specify the purpose or that it should be self-evident.

For example, if I tell a retailer that I want the DVD version of a movie and he sells me a BluRay disc (which won't play on my DVD player) I have the right to a refund as it was not fit for purpose. But if I simply (erroneously) select the BluRay version from the retailer's display, I have no right to a refund (as the retailer could not know that it was not fit for purpose).

Chris