Call for electronic vendors to improve quality control
The Consumer Council on Tuesday urged the electrical appliances sector to step up quality control measures and spell out responsibilities among relevant parties to avoid disputes with customers. The watchdog said it had received more than 8,400 relevant complaints since 2023. In the first seven months of this year alone, the figure surged 18.2 percent year-on-year to 1,432. In one case, a…
The Consumer Council has called on the electrical appliances industry to enhance quality control and clarify responsibilities among various parties to prevent customer disputes. The watchdog has received over 8,400 complaints since 2023, with a 18.2% increase in the first seven months of the current year. One incident involved a customer seeking a refund after a refrigerator, purchased and fixed by an agent, failed to cool.
The store initially told the customer to wait for instructions from the retailer, which further confused the consumer as the agent suggested the matter should be handled by the retailer. The Consumer Council's CEO, Alaina Shum, emphasized the need for improved communication among sellers, agents, and customers to avoid confusion over responsibility allocation.
Another case saw a consumer facing delayed refunds due to a non-delivered purchase and a non-cashable post-dated cheque. After the council's intervention, the store provided a full refund in cash. The council stressed the importance of sellers establishing clear refund and exchange policies, along with transparent timelines. Consumers were also advised to verify the existence of online shops to avoid potential scams, after a trader was convicted for accepting payments after ceasing operations.
Written by urgent.news from RTHK English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
