Can Bunnings Deny Warranty on Products?

Kaz0551 on 20/04/2020 - 13:11

I was picking up a Ozito Track Saw, a nice cheap option to cut the last decking board to size for my HOME DECK. Pulled out my powerpass card and the staff told me if I scan the card;

a) I wont get powerpass discount on the item
b) I wont get warranty on the item

I use the digital receipting that powerpass offers so I don't have to photo or keep the receipts for the warranty periods.

As Bunnings doesn't know if you are using the item for trade or home use, are they legally allowed to deny warranty claims just because you scanned a card which a) offers no pricing benefit and b) provides digital receipting? If they tried to deny on the grounds of "trade use" but you never used for trade… I assume a stat dec stating it was never used for trade use would work if you needed to return the item under warranty?

Home & Garden Power Tool

Related Stores

Bunnings Warehouse
Bunnings Warehouse
Marketplace

Comments

  • Nugs on 20/04/2020 - 13:17
    +1

    First sentence;

    Bunnings PowerPass Trade Accounts are available for customers who hold an ABN for a professional trade (Carpenters, Plumbers, Electricians, Landscapers, Painters, Residential Builders).
    .

    • Kaz0551 on 20/04/2020 - 13:21
      +1

      Doesn't mean you can't buy an item for home projects

      • Ughhh on 20/04/2020 - 13:46
        +4

        It's stated the card is specifically for trades. If you buy for home, then it's not fit for purpose..

        • Drakesy on 20/04/2020 - 13:57

          Debatable, if i buy a powertool to build a deck and it prematurely fails doing the 1 thing its designed to do then i'd say its not fit for purpose weather or not its my house or someone else's. For them to deny a warranty because the deck belongs to you is not consistent with Australian consumer law

          • dizzle on 20/04/2020 - 14:25
            +2

            @Drakesy: I'm not saying I agree with it, but many consumer warranties exclude commercial use - The idea being that If I brought a drill for home use, I'll use it a lot less. Do some repairs, three days use then nothing for a month. Build a deck, then not use it for a month. If you're using it commercially, you probably use it 5 days a week for several hours a day.

            From the website Powerpass is "Exclusive to Trade customers – receive Trade pricing and special offers." So I think it can be safely assumed that it's not for consumer purchases.

            Otherwise all of their powerpass customers would have "just used it this weekend on my deck" if it needs a repair.

    • subywagon on 20/04/2020 - 18:56

      I use my PowerPass all the time for Ozito brand items and I've never had an issue with warranty claims or returns on any items. It could be that my local Bunnings stores are more friendly, but I've dealt with multiple staff members and still never had an issue. That's one of the main reasons I shop there, as I often need to return items without any hassle. You should try another Bunnings store.

  • yippy on 20/04/2020 - 13:24
    +1

    If Powerpass provides no pricing benefit why don't you just purchase it normally and tell them to email you the receipt. When I buy power tools from Bunnings they usually ask if I want the receipt emailed to me.

    • Hardlyworkin on 20/04/2020 - 16:19
      +3

      Because this suitable solution would mean this thread wouldn't exist!

  • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2020 - 13:26
    +1

    Why though? Don't use the powerpass card if you want warranty. Take a photo of your receipt and email it to yourself?

    • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 20/04/2020 - 13:28

      Or use one of those free apps available to store all your receipts.

      • Agarwal on 20/04/2020 - 13:40
        +5

        Bought something from Bunnings a couple of weeks ago using the self service checkout and it asked a phone number and they sent a link to a digital copy of the receipt, which you can then email to yourself, or save to your account.

        • Kaz0551 on 20/04/2020 - 16:19

          In this case I had an exchange voucher and couldn't use self checkout, so relying on PP digital receipt!

  • trex on 20/04/2020 - 13:28
    +3

    Not the first time its been discussed. Read:-
    this
    this
    this
    and many more

    • Drakesy on 20/04/2020 - 13:32

      I guess the issue is that they haven't changed their ways even when the supplier has provided that Bunnings is incorrect in writing to them

  • Drakesy on 20/04/2020 - 13:29
    -1

    Yeah not sure how Bunnings can pull that off. Warranties come with every item purchased. Would definitely dispute if warranty required

  • pegaxs on 20/04/2020 - 13:32
    +2

    Pretty sure that it doesn't matter what you pay for the tools or what your intended use for them is, they have to be fit for purpose and Bunnings cant just deny a warranty based on "you used it for trade".

    Businesses are protected under the same and similar rights as consumers. So, it should not matter that the tool was bought on a trade account or paid cash, those rights do not disolve.

    ACCC's information site regarding issues as related to buying good as a business/trade. You are still considered a consumer and you would still be covered by consumer guarantees

    • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2020 - 13:35

      they have to be fit for purpose and Bunnings cant just deny a warranty based on "you used it for trade".

      Ozito tools are intended for DIY use only (according to Bunnings) and this is clearly mentionned on the website. so yes, they can deny warranty if you've used it for trade.

      • pegaxs on 20/04/2020 - 13:48

        Then that is up to them to prove. They simply cannot deny a claim based on it being bought on a certain card. If you bought a "DIY Ozito drill" and it got half way through the first hole and died, who is to say that hole was a "trade" hole or a "DIY" hole?

        It's a drill. It's job is to drill holes. If it doesn't drill holes, it's not a drill, it's a paperweight. Bunnings stating that it does not carry a warranty because it was purchased on a certain type of card is misleading, as it most certainly does carry a warranty under Australian consumer law.

        Now, if you take a drill back in and it's scratched up, been dropped a dozen times, worn out rubber grips and covered in paint splatter, then they might be able to claim it was "trade use", but what OP is saying is that his warranty was denied before he made a purchase, and that is just misleading and wrong.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2020 - 13:54
          +5

          If you bought a "DIY Ozito drill" and it got half way through the first hole and died, who is to say that hole was a "trade" hole or a "DIY" hole?

          A reasonable person would conclude that if you're buying tools using a trade card, you are buying it for trade use.The onus would be on the buyer to prove that it wasn't for trade use. Good luck with that.

          as it most certainly does carry a warranty under Australian consumer law

          That is also incorrect. The ACL protects consumers. A trade is a business and has no recourse whatsoever under the ACL.

          what OP is saying is that his warranty was denied before he made a purchase, and that is just misleading and wrong.

          Again , incorrect. It is the very opposite of 'misleading'. Op has been informed of this prior to buying : he can choose to go ahead with his purchase or not. This is all fair and above board.

          What would be wrong ,and illegal, is if OP is using his trade card to buy an item for home use and then claim it as a business expense.

          • pegaxs on 20/04/2020 - 13:59
            +1

            @[Deactivated]:

            A trade is a business and has no recourse whatsoever under the ACL.

            This is ABSOLUTELY incorrect… and I even posted the links above that you can feel free to read if you like.

            Repair, replace, refund on business purchases

            When you buy goods or services for your business which are:

            • under $40,000
            • over $40,000 and normally bought for personal, domestic or household use or consumption vehicles and trailers used mainly to transport goods on public roads (not really relevant to OP)

            your business will be considered a consumer and entitled to certain remedies under the consumer guarantees if something goes wrong.

            However, these consumer rights do not apply if goods are purchased to be resold or to be transformed into a product that is sold.

            Source: Part of my job at work is to chase up warranty replacements for tools and goods we have purchased for our business.

            • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2020 - 14:00

              @pegaxs: I stand corrected on claiming under the ACL. Although in this case the equipment is sold as fit for diy use and not as fit for trade use. The onus is still on OP to prove that it was only ever used for diy use. All my other points are still valid.

          • Drakesy on 20/04/2020 - 14:00
            +2

            @[Deactivated]: i would debate that, if you purchase something, you become a consumer. This would imply that no tradesperson has warranty rights to their tools because they're a business?

            also FYI the OZITO website makes not mention of warranty limitations.

            https://ozito.com.au/warranty/

            • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2020 - 14:01

              @Drakesy: Then contact OZITO directly if you require repair under warranty.

    • abb on 20/04/2020 - 13:51
      +1

      From your 2nd link:

      Acceptable quality takes into account what would normally be expected for the type of product and cost.

      So a saw that costs $50 and is clearly labelled as "DIY only" should not be expected to survive day-in day-out usage on a worksite. Pretty clear to me. (Although it does disappoint me how disposable power tools have become)

      OP probably wants to get a fraudulent tax deduction for his personal purchases. tsk tsk.

      • pegaxs on 20/04/2020 - 14:10
        +1

        Is it clearly labelled as "DIY only"??

        The problem here is that Bunnings is saying that the tool will be subject to "trade" conditions based on what card is used. If this is the case, then it is up to the manufacturer to outline what it considers "trade" and what it considers "DIY" usage. It would be up to them to prove that you used the device outside those parameters.

        They simply cannot say "there is no warranty because you purchased this on a "PowerPass" card", as even if it was purchased for a business, there is no knowing what use it may get, and it does not absolve Bunnings or the manufacturer of warranty issues from shit build quality.

        Again, If I bought a $50 saw to cut some gyprock for the office wall where I stuffed a customers head through it and it died on the first cut, Bunnings cannot deny warranty based on nothing but the card I purchased it on. It would be up to them to prove it was used in a non-DIY capacity.

        But I agree. If you take back a DIY tool after you have cut enough timber to make a house or used it with a concrete cut off disk, then sure, suck it up and spend another $50.

        • abb on 20/04/2020 - 17:08

          Bunnings can do what they want with their voluntary warranty (which is well above statutory requirements) & powerpass scheme.

          As you say, they can't override the ACL, so you may have an ACL claim to make.
          Good luck convincing the checkout staff. Much easier to not scan the damn card and keep the receipt in the box with the tool.

          • pegaxs on 20/04/2020 - 17:17

            @abb: Much easier to buy a new one, without the card and return the old one on the new receipt :D

            • abb on 21/04/2020 - 09:06

              @pegaxs: Nah, easier to steal one :P

  • seanpain4 on 20/04/2020 - 14:18
    +5

    I spoke to Ozito about this late last year and they said they sent a notice out to all Bunnings that warranty is still valid if you scan your powerpass. They said the method of purchase does not determine the use. Call the ozito warranty number if you want to confirm. I also had no issues return an ozito item under warranty when i used my powerpass earlier this year.

  • apu on 20/04/2020 - 14:18
    +4

    I think Bunnings/OP/Staff need to distinguish a few things when they say warranty.

    Warranties provided under the ACL will continue to apply as per normal.

    Ozito's express 3/5/whatever year DIY warranty will not apply if it the tool is used for commercial purposes. This express warranty will be provided without limiting the OP's rights under the ACL. Staff at Bunnings assumed given the trade card was being used that the tool was being purchased most likely for commercial purposes. This is not an unrealistic expectation, particularly if the OP intends to claim the cost of the tool for tax purposes (saved with all the other receipts) and enjoys the trade discount on the tool.

  • try2bhelpful on 20/04/2020 - 15:00

    If you go the the Bunnings self checkouts they, usually, give you the option to email the receipt to the email address you enter at the time. You don’t need to be trade to do it.

    I don’t know about the warranty for commercial vs home use, but there are a number of Home appliances that have the same conditions. However, it just usually means the warranty period is for less time rather than non existent.

    If you are using a trade card it is not unreasonable to think you are going to use the device for trade purposes, otherwise you, probably, shouldn’t be using the card.

  • brad1-8tsi on 20/04/2020 - 15:16

    PowerPass is for Tradies so you need to buy a "professional" level tool to maintain the warranty.

    Ozito is specifically aimed at the DIY casual home user (as is Ryobi and several others)

    I know plenty of tradies that use Ozito but they pay without powerpass so they can get warranty every 9 months when it fails.

    I think AEG, Bosch Professional, Milwaukee & DeWalt are all warranted when used by "Professionals"

    • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2020 - 15:35

      I think AEG, Bosch Professional, Milwaukee & DeWalt are all warranted when used by "Professionals"

      So any ozbargainers then ? :p

      • brad1-8tsi on 20/04/2020 - 15:37
        +1

        Only the ones that insist on using their powerpass :-)

        I must admit, I do like the 5% discount on gardening items.

  • JimmyF on 20/04/2020 - 16:33

    As Bunnings doesn't know if you are using the item for trade or home use, are they legally allowed to deny warranty claims just because you scanned a card

    Powerpass is only offered to people in commercial/trade. Your long Ozito warranty says for home use only, commercial warranty is 3 months only. Scanning your powerpass card, basically flags this as 'trade' and the trade warranty now applies.

    I use the digital receipting that powerpass offers so I don't have to photo or keep the receipts for the warranty periods.

    Oh and not for the discount at all?

    Well in this case, you can only have one from the following

    • User powerpass to store your receipt and get a 3 month warranty period
    • Take a photo and store it yourself for the full warranty.
Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join