Consumers in India have accepted for too long, certain unreasonable and unjust practices adopted by trade and industry. The condition printed on cash receipts stating that ?goods once sold will not be taken back or exchanged? is one of those.

Even if the product turns out to be sub-standard or defective, the consumer is expected to pick up some other product from the shop in lieu of the returned goods. If the consumer fails to do that, then the shopkeeper will issue an ?IOU? for the amount so that the consumer can make use of it at a later date!

A few years ago, the Union ministry of consumer affairs took up this issue. Saying that such terms printed on cash receipts were illegal, it asked the state governments to ensure that such terms and conditions were not printed on cash receipts. Unfortunately, most state governments ignored the matter. The few who did respond expressed their inability to do anything in the matter. The ministry also requested consumer groups to educate their members about this. It also tried creating consumer awareness through advertisements, but that has really not had much of an impact.

Even though cash receipts also state that no exchanges are permitted, retailers do allow exchange of goods bought, but on their terms. And even this is done as a favour! Try exchanging goods soon after a shop opens in the morning. You are asked to come again later in the day, after the retailer has transacted some business!. Traders apparently believe that exchanging goods first thing in the morning brings them bad luck. Well, behaviour such as this should, if nothing else. Then there are also days when an exchange is taboo, never mind the convenience of the customer. Now why should consumers take this kind of treatment?

The festival season also brings with it certain unfair conditions. Some shopkeepers, for example, refuse to exchange goods during the ?festival rush? and insist that exchanges will be permitted only after the festival season. Now, if you have bought say, a sari or even a household appliance for the festival, which turns out to be defective or for any other reason you would like to exchange the product, it does not make sense to keep it till after the festival so that the retailer can change it at his convenience!

So, as you shop this festival season, ponder over these issues. Bring together consumers in your area, form an association and build up resistance against such stipulations. Demand a fair deal vis-?-vis the sale of goods. Remember, you have a right to quality goods at reasonable prices and the shopkeeper cannot take that away.