VIC Australian Consumer Law - EB Games Sellling Preowned Games?

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Andrew Sloss

Member
3 September 2017
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Are EB Games allowed to sell a game that is used/second hand or as they call it preowned as new even if it has the original disk and booklet under Australian Consumer Law?
 

Rob Legat - SBPL

Lawyer
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16 February 2017
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No. Once the goods are sold the first time they are no longer new, even if they are returned. Selling them as 'new' after that is a breach of the Australian Consumer Law for making false or misleading representations about goods. Simply failing to label them are 'pre-owned' would still be a breach, because it is reasonable for a customer to expect the item is new in the store if it is not labelled otherwise.
 

Andrew Sloss

Member
3 September 2017
2
0
1
No. Once the goods are sold the first time they are no longer new, even if they are returned. Selling them as 'new' after that is a breach of the Australian Consumer Law for making false or misleading representations about goods. Simply failing to label them are 'pre-owned' would still be a breach, because it is reasonable for a customer to expect the item is new in the store if it is not labelled otherwise.

Hi Rob, thank you for replying.

I bought the games from the EB games website and they were advertised as being new. So when I received the games, they were preowned games. I emailed a complaint about that and they replied saying that because the games come with the booklet and maps, they consider them to be new and sell them as new.
 

Rob Legat - SBPL

Lawyer
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16 February 2017
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Gold Coast, Queensland
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Unless there's clear indication they're pre-owned (such as a sticker, or they've admitted the fact), it may be hard to prove they're not new. Either way, you can refer the matter to the ACCC to see if they're willing to investigate: Complaints & problems