Illegal sellers of dodgy electronics from the back of a white van are capitalising on pre-Christmas shopping with reports indicating that they are now active in Perth.

Consumer Protection has received three reports of projectors, screens and speakers being sold from a white Hyundai van in the Belmont Shopping Centre car park and at service stations in Bentley and Kewdale. One consumer purchased speakers for $1,000 in Belmont and another consumer bought speakers in Bentley for $540.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said the ‘back of van’ salespeople are flouting consumer law by not offering a cooling off period.

“All unsolicited sales more than $100 must come with a ten business day cooling off period so these back of van sellers are engaging in illegal activity by carrying out instant transactions,” Mr Hillyard said.

“The sellers are also misrepresenting the true quality of the goods which are promoted as high-end bargains but are actually cheap imports and, in some cases, they are counterfeit goods with fake packaging of well-known brands.

“Consumers who buy these goods and then have problems afterwards are giving away their consumer rights to a remedy as it’s impossible to track down these itinerant traders after the sale.”

Consumers approached by these salespeople can contact Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54 to report their location and licence plate number, but our advice is “say no and walk away”.

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Media Contact: Alan Hynd, (08) 6552 9248 / 0429 078 791 / alan.hynd@dmirs.wa.gov.au