This is directed to anyone who may be interested in learning more about the obligations of retailers in Ontario.
I know I've written all of this here before, but a little refresher seems in order.
First of all, the manufacturer may provide an “explicit” or “express” warranty for their products. Nobody's saying they can't, or that the manufacturer doesn't have to abide by it.
However, this is not your only protection. A consumer is entitled to additional protection under Ontario legislation, which imposes additional obligations on Ontario retialers.
The two main laws are:
For instance, Section 15 of the SGA describes an additional “implied” warranty that the seller must adhere to:
Implied conditions as to quality or fitness
15. 2. Where goods are bought by description from a seller who deals in goods of that description (whether the seller is the manufacturer or not), there is an implied condition that the goods will be of merchantable quality….
So, if the product you buy is defective, there is an implied warranty.
Canadian Tire attempts to circumvent this legislation, by declaring a policy that states, “If a product is defective, the manufacturers warranty willl apply.”
That makes it sound like you have no other recourse.
Luckily, the SGA addresses this very point:
15. 4. An express warranty or condition does not negative a warranty or condition implied by this Act unless inconsistent therewith.
So, Crappy Tire is not off the hook. They have chosen to conduct business in the province of Ontario, and they should abide by its laws.
It has been claimed that the store policy somehow forms part of a contract to which you are legally bound.
But a store’s policy is not part of any “contract”. (But wouldn’t it nice if CT was legally obligated to follow their own policies? There would be far fewer complaints).
These above conditions are echoed in the CPA:
PART II - CONSUMER RIGHTS AND WARRANTIES
Quality of goods
9. (2) The implied conditions and warranties applying to the sale of goods by virtue of the Sale of Goods Act are deemed to apply with necessary modifications to goods that are … supplied under a consumer agreement.
9. (3) Any term or acknowledgement, whether part of the consumer agreement or not, that purports to negate or vary any implied condition or warranty under the Sale of Goods Act or any deemed condition or warranty under this Act is void.
There you have it:
- CT has an obligation to meet the implied warranty of quality (i.e., free from defects).
- CT cannot ignore this law, no matter what their policy or the manufacturer’s warranty says.
If you wish to learn more about what these laws mean in layman’s terms, please see the links I’ve provided to various consumers’ rights advocates, lawyers and legislators have already placed on the internet, located here:
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https://www.canadiantiresucks.net/g...plaints-chat/707-sale-goods-act.html#post2553" (post #35).
If you would like to read my walk-through of how the CPA provides for a refund for a defective item, please see this link:
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https://www.canadiantiresucks.net/g...aints-chat/707-sale-goods-act-2.html#post2581" (post #43).
Please note that I am not a lawyer, and neither are any of the other people who have posted on this thread (obviously).
As I’ve written many times in the past few months, do not take my word for things. Do not take the word of people who can’t even quote from the legislation. If you really do need sound advice, you should consult a lawyer who had the appropriate training. At the very least, contact the Ministry.