Aldi Warrant Trap warning

LGiantBird on 06/03/2019 - 18:21

I have been a big fan of the Aldi ski sale in the past as it encourages and makes it more affordable for families to get started in snow sports. I have been recommending it to my first time snow visitor guests.
However I will be more cautious in recommending and buying items from them in the future in finding their approach to warranty varies significantly. Some items like appliances seem to be supplied by wholesalers and Aldi seems very tough on them regarding warranty conditions. Other items including clothing and footwear seem to come direct from the manufacturer to Aldi and Aldi carries any warranty. After the 60 days return policy I have found Aldi claim there is no warranty on these items. This is not true in Australia and it is illegal to say this. It is the law in Australia that all items have a statutory warranty that they are fit for purpose and will last a reasonable length of time.
A bought some snow walking boots in May but did not use until going overseas the next January. Third day I put them on one of the lace loops failed and over the next couple of days and second and third loop failed. Clearly due to careless sewing in manufacture. I submitted a claim and photos to Aldi. After chasing Aldi more than necessary both head office and the local manager claimed there was no warranty on footwear, which is not true. Statutory warranty means they are warrantied to last more than 3 days.
Even though the cost of the boots is not worth the effort as a matter of principal I am pursuing Aldi via consumer affairs as they are not allowed to say there is no warranty.
Not to deal with Aldi would be to cut off your nose in spite of your face as many of their items are excellent quality and value.
One strategy with Aldi items would be
1. If it does not mention a warranty period on the packaging always open the packing to check for a warranty certificate.
2. If there is no warranty certificate be particularly rough pulling and pushing the item to test that it has been well manufactured properly before purchase.
If you end up damaging the item and putting it back then Aldi have only themselves to blame by their policy of denying their statutory responsibility.

Fashion & Apparel

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Comments

  • WreckTangle on 06/03/2019 - 18:22
    +1

    TL;DR

  • HighAndDry on 06/03/2019 - 18:24
    -1

    A bought some snow walking boots in May but did not use until going overseas the next January.

    Okay..

    Statutory warranty means they are warrantied to last more than 3 days.

    True, but May to January the next year is not 3 days. Things deteriorate over time, even without use depending on the materials, manufacture, and how you stored them.

    Btw, the ACL rights are "consumer guarantees", not warranties. And they depend on a lot of factors, including the price of the goods. I'm curious to know how much you paid for the boots.

    One strategy with Aldi items would be

    Opening and trying the products within 60 days instead of months later.

    • Kangal on 06/03/2019 - 19:16
      +2

      True, but May to January the next year is not 3 days.

      He's saying the items were in use for 3 days, not that 10 months is 3 days.

      Things deteriorate over time, even without use depending on the materials, manufacture, and how you stored them.

      Irrelevant. If it was 20 years sure, or stored in high humidity, high radiation, high heat, or high pressure.
      You do know these things are manufactured months and sometimes years before its bought right? It takes some time for the materials to come together, then some time to ship them to a storage facility, then some time to ship them overseas. Then some time to transport them to individual stores. By your logic, the goods would have passed warranty before purchase was made, or significantly shorter than 12 months.

      Opening and trying the products within 60 days instead of months later.

      Not really useful advice for snow gear. If this was Germany sure, you have a point, but in Australia it is quite common to buy snow gear and not actually use them months later. And you can't quite test the items out in the beach or city, as its not reflective of its quality or properties. Not to mention that testing the product in of itself could be grounds for Aldi to dishonour the warranty under the conditions of improper use.

  • Seraphin7 on 06/03/2019 - 18:32

    If there is no warranty certificate be particularly rough pulling and pushing the item to test that it has been well manufactured properly before purchase.
    If you end up damaging the item and putting it back then Aldi have only themselves to blame by their policy of denying their statutory responsibility.

    No, then you'll be up for damaging the goods with your "particularly rough pulling and pushing".

    • [Deactivated] on 07/03/2019 - 11:03

      didn't you know it's always best to defeat one wrong with another

  • blonky on 06/03/2019 - 18:36
    +2

    Timeframe is 8 months, not 3 days, but I would expect snow boots to last more than 8 months

    Return policy doesn't matter as this is a warranty issue and under ACL needs to be covered for a reasonable amount of time - say 1 - 2 years at least.

    • HighAndDry on 07/03/2019 - 14:12

      I would expect snow boots to last more than 8 months

      Normally? Yes. But ALDI often sells things at incredibly cheap prices where you can't apply those assumptions.

      For example, if you bought snow boots for $15, would you also expect them to last 8 months?

  • havebeerbelywillsumo on 06/03/2019 - 20:24

    Timeframe is 8 months, not 3 days, but I would expect snow boots to last more than 8 months………….THIS says it all here, the only caveat would be that original cost (not the sale cost - as long as that "original" cost was traded for a while and not just a dummy price) indicates they should be well made but OP has missed putting that in….for a reason or just a simple omission?

  • djkelly69 on 06/03/2019 - 21:13
    +1

    I think ACCC would be quite interested in their representation that there is no warranty on shoes (if it was actually that blunt).

  • poboy on 06/03/2019 - 21:30

    Yeah, consumer affairs those buggers.

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