Second-hand goods bought in Spain subject to two-year guarantee
Second-hand goods bought in Spain subject to two-year guarantee
ITEMS purchased second-hand in Spain are subject to a two-year guarantee, unless buyer and seller agree to a lesser period, according to a government consumer department.
The buyer and seller are allowed to agree either for the latter to pay for repairs if the product breaks down within the first two years, or to substantially reduce the purchase price.
This does not apply where private individuals sell goods to each other, but in these cases, the buyer has up to six months to claim for repairs, refund or a price reduction through the courts if the item is not satisfactory.
Sales of electrical appliances, furniture or clothes must come with a receipt or invoice giving the shop's details and a written guarantee if requested - if not requested, the guarantee remains valid anyway - and all products, second hand or new, must be properly labelled and show the price on them.
Buyers have the right to a 14-day cooling-off period with second-hand goods bought online from a company, meaning they can return the product and claim a full refund for any reason whatsoever, but purchasers should clarify before buying who should pay return postage and under what circumstances.
Secure payment methods, such as PayPal which is instant and does not let the seller see the buyer's credit card or bank details are strongly recommended.
Sellers on market stalls, including rastros or flea markets, are obliged to comply with the same rules as shops, protecting consumers - this includes making complaint forms available, properly labelling and pricing goods, and guaranteeing them for a year.
When buying a second-hand car, the purchaser is advised to request the vehicle's individual paperwork detailing mileage, age, whether or not it has a hire purchase debt attached, and the date and result of the last ITV, Spain's answer to an MOT.
Consumer protection officers dealt with 237 complaints last year over sales of second-hand goods, and 236 the year before.
Most of those, 97%, related to cars, with 117 complaints about defective selling, 44 over the lack of a guarantee and 11 concerning paperwork problems.
