Buying and Repairing Home Appliances
Home appliances are large investments that should last from five to 10 years. You are protected under the law when buying and repairing home appliances, and a few precautions can eliminate common complaints.
Buying Appliances
Here are some quick tips to keep in mind:
- Ask friends and neighbours where they bought their appliances. Ask them if they are happy with the appliance and the service the store provided.
- The best place to buy appliances is from a company you trust.
- Before you buy, make sure you understand the store’s return and guarantee policies.
- When buying an appliance make sure the contract includes your address and description and cost of the appliance. If delivery is required, make sure the delivery date is also included.
- Read your warranty before you buy. You need to know what’s covered and how long the warranty lasts. There may be conditions that make the warranty void. What will the company do if the product doesn’t work? Are all parts covered by the warranty?
- After you buy an appliance keep all sales receipts, cancelled cheques, owner’s manuals and warranty documents.
- Under Ontario law, all suppliers must ensure their products are fit to be used for the intended purpose. Compare prices for goods and services.
- Energy-efficient appliances cost more than lower or average efficiency appliances but your reduced energy bills will put money back into your pocket long before the product wears out.
You can cancel a contract if goods or services are not provided within 30 days of the date the company promised you would get them.
Repairing Appliances
- Make sure the repair contract includes the description of the item, the cost of the repair and your contact information.
- When you get an estimate for a repair, the final cost can’t be higher than 10 per cent of the original estimate. It’s the law.
Tips on Buying Big Ticket Items
