‘Money-Back’ Policy

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30900, 5 November 1965, Page 1

‘Money-Back ’ Policy

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 4.

“Money-back guarantees” were governed by the policies of individual retailers, not manufacturers as implied in recent criticism by textile and garment manufacturers, said the president of the Retailers’ Federation (Mr H. C. Harford), of Dunedin, today.

A remit of the Textile and Garment Manufacturers' Federation conference criticising the guarantees was viewed with concern by the Retailers’

Federation council, Mr Harford said. “The Federation, speaking with the full authority of those retail firms offering a ‘money-back guarantee,' would like to make it quite clear that this policy is one determined by individual retailers, who are prepared to honour the guarantee with the public regardless of whether some manufacturers are prepared to accept responsibility for any faulty merchandise supplied by them,” said Mr Harford.

“The refund is made by the retailer to the customer, and then it becomes the retailer’s problem to obtain a credit from the manufacturer if the goods are in fact faulty.” Mr Harford said the policy of “money-back guarantees” where offered by any store would continue, and the public would in no way be dis-

advantaged by any change in any manufacturer’s policy.

He commented also on criticism at the textile and garment manufacturers’ conference that garments were washed by some customers without regard to manufacturer's laundering instructions.

“Such criticism, while in some cases quite justified, is in many cases the manufacturer’s own fault,” Mr Harford sail.

“The Retailers’ Federation believes that washing or cleaning instructions should be incorporated in a label sewn on the garment. But in many cases these instructions are included on a loose ticket, either attached by string to the garment or loose in the package.

“This is quite unsatisfactory from everyone's point of view," he said.