What does "acceptable quality" actually mean?
21 quoted answers, each with its source
The short answer
Under the current Australian Consumer Law, the acceptable quality guarantee requires goods to be fit for all the purposes for which goods of that kind are commonly supplied, acceptable in appearance and finish, free from defects, safe, and durable. There are no set rules for deciding whether a product is of acceptable quality or how long it should last; fair wear and tear alone is not a problem that makes a product faulty, and goods do not fail the guarantee where the consumer examined them before agreeing to the supply and that examination ought reasonably to have revealed the problem. Products and services bought before 1 January 2011 are not covered by the current Australian Consumer Law, and Consumer Affairs Victoria states that products bought before that date are covered by statutory implied conditions and warranties under the Trade Practices Act 1974 and state and territory legislation in force before 1 January 2011.
Every part of this comes from the quotes below. How we write these.
What the rules actually say19
Quoted straight from the ACCC, the Australian Consumer Law or a state consumer regulator.
The ACCC states that there are no set rules for…
- deciding whether a product is of acceptable quality.
- how long a product should last in relation to acceptable quality.
1 quote from 1 source
There are no set rules for deciding whether a product is of acceptable quality, or how long a product should last for.
- Consumer rights and guarantees | ACCC accc.gov.au
The ACCC paraphrases acceptable quality for consumers as a product that is safe, durable and free from defects, has an acceptable appearance and finish, and does everything that similar products are commonly used for.
5 quotes from 1 source
A product sold to a consumer must be of acceptable quality.
Acceptable quality means the product:
is safe, durable and free from defects
has an acceptable appearance and finish
does everything that similar products are commonly used for.
- Consumer rights and guarantees | ACCC accc.gov.au
The Australian Consumer Law section 54(2) requires goods to be…
- fit for all the purposes for which goods of that kind are commonly supplied.
- acceptable in appearance and finish.
- free from defects.
- safe.
- durable.
1 quote from 1 source
(2) Goods are of acceptable quality if they are as: (a) fit for all the purposes for which goods of that kind are commonly supplied; and (b) acceptable in appearance and finish; and (c) free from defects; and (d) safe; and (e) durable;
The Australian Consumer Law section 54(7) provides that goods do not fail the acceptable quality guarantee where the consumer examined them before agreeing to the supply and that examination ought reasonably to have revealed that they were not of acceptable quality.
3 quotes from 1 source
(7) Goods do not fail to be of acceptable quality if:
(a) the consumer acquiring the goods examines them before the consumer agrees to the supply of the goods; and
(b) the examination ought reasonably to have revealed that the goods were not of acceptable quality.
Consumer Affairs Victoria states that the acceptable quality guarantee means a product is…
- fit for the purpose for which it is commonly used.
- safe.
- durable.
- free from defects.
- acceptable in appearance and finish.
4 quotes from 1 source
including that a product must be of acceptable quality - it is:
fit for the purpose for which it is commonly used
safe, durable and free from defects
acceptable in appearance and finish.
- Faulty product - Consumer Affairs Victoria consumer.vic.gov.au
Consumer Affairs Victoria states that fair wear and tear alone is not a problem that makes a product faulty.
2 quotes from 1 source
Issues that are neither minor nor major problems include:
fair wear and tear alone
- Faulty product - Consumer Affairs Victoria consumer.vic.gov.au
Consumer Affairs Victoria states that for products or services purchased before 1 July 2021 the monetary amount defining a consumer is $40,000.
1 quote from 1 source
* For products or services purchased before 1 July 2021 the amount is $40,000
- Consumer guarantees that apply automatically - Consumer Affairs Victoria consumer.vic.gov.au
Products and services bought before 1 January 2011 are not covered by the current Australian Consumer Law.
1 quote from 1 source
Products and services bought before 1 January 2011 aren't covered by the current Australian Consumer Law. They may be covered by older laws.
- Consumer rights and guarantees | ACCC accc.gov.au
Consumer Affairs Victoria states that products bought before 1 January 2011 are covered by statutory implied conditions and warranties under…
- the Trade Practices Act 1974.
- state and territory legislation in force before 1 January 2011.
1 quote from 1 source
bought before 1 January 2011. These are covered by statutory implied conditions and warranties under the Trade Practices Act 1974 and state and territory legislation in force before 1 January 2011
- Consumer guarantees that apply automatically - Consumer Affairs Victoria consumer.vic.gov.au
Often said, but we could not find it in the rules2
Lots of people say this. We went looking for an official source that backs it up and could not find one, so treat it as something people repeat rather than something settled.
Kmart states that it will accept product returns under consumer guarantees where the product is faulty or is not of acceptable quality.
2 quotes from 1 source
Kmart will accept product returns under consumer guarantees where:
The product is faulty or is not of acceptable quality;
Regarding replacement, Kmart states that it reserves the right to assess the condition and age of returned goods before providing a repair, exchange or refund.
1 quote from 1 source
Kmart reserves the right to assess the condition and age of returned goods prior to providing a repair, exchange or refund.