Summer Car Boot Warning
Summer is here and this will herald an increase in the number of car boot sales taking place in Warwickshire.
Car boot sales can be great places to pick up a bargain. However, Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards warn that, consumers buying second hand goods need to be vigilant if they want to avoid being ripped off, or even hurt!
Bargain hunters are advised to consider the following before visiting a car boot sale:
Be careful when buying used goods, especially toys and electrical products.
Many old and damaged products find their way on to car boot sales. Some may have lost their instructions and warnings, designed to ensure their safe use, whilst wear and tear may also have affected their safety.
Watch out for old painted toys - the paint might contain lead, or old electrical products, they might have old wiring and damaged plugs that could be a potential fire hazard.
Remember, buying from a private seller, is not like buying from a trader.
If you buy goods from someone who is in business, you have rights against the seller if they are not of satisfactory quality, fit for the purpose or correctly described. If there is a problem with the goods you can return to the shop to sort it out.
However, if you buy from a private seller, the only requirement is that the goods are described correctly.
Watch Out For Fakes.
Car Boot Sales can be an ideal venue for disposing of counterfeit goods.
Fakes may not just be shoddy, but can be dangerous too. Counterfeit DVD’s are often of poor quality, some may even be blank! Computer software may not work properly and watch out too for fake alcohol. Spirits labelled ‘Russian Vodka’, may be little more than meths!
For more safety advice, visit our website: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards