Manufacturers and contractors can set an expiration date for all manufactured goods and work performed, as well as indicate their warranty period. During the indicated periods, the seller bears full responsibility for the goods and the buyer has the right to make claims on quality for him, as well as demand compensation for losses incurred.
There is a list of goods for which the expiration date is mandatory. Otherwise, if their storage period or expiration date is not specified, the terms are provided for during which you can make a claim.
The concepts of shelf life and shelf life, as well as service life, have different meanings and therefore the buyer needs to know them. It is important for you to know these terms because during the indicated periods you can present the seller or contractor with the claims that have arisen, and you can also claim damages.
The service life is the period during which, according to the Law "On Protection of Consumer Rights", the manufacturer assumes responsibility for the operation of the goods, and is also responsible for all identified shortcomings.
Throughout your service life you are entitled to:
- to carry out repairs and maintenance of the purchased goods;
- to make demands regarding the identified deficiencies;
- for compensation for damage.
When the service life is not set, you can present your requirements for 10 years from the time of purchase of the goods, and if it is not specified, then from the time of its release, which should be documented. The manufacturer is not obliged to establish the service life of the goods, this is his right. Only on goods that, after the expiration of the specified period, may constitute a danger to humans, the manufacturer without fail establishes the service life.
Shelf life is the period after which the product is deemed unsuitable for further use.
During the specified period, you can:
- make demands on all identified shortcomings of the goods;
- claim compensation for losses incurred.
Shelf life must be established on the following products:
- for all food products;
- on the goods of the perfumery-cosmetic line;
- on manufactured drugs;
- for manufactured household chemicals and other similar products.
If the product you purchased does not have a residual shelf life, the consumer can make claims arising within a reasonable time, which will differ for different products, but not more than 2 years from the date the purchase is made.
The warranty period is the period during which the manufacturer is obliged to satisfy the requirements of the buyer when defects are found in the product. During this period, you have the most rights to bring claims to identified shortcomings in the purchased product or work performed.
Indication of the warranty period is also a right, and not a direct obligation of the manufacturer. If it is not installed, then you have the right to submit all requirements within a reasonable time, which cannot exceed 2 years from the date of purchase of the goods.
If the warranty period for the performed work or service has not been established for you, then you can also present claims arising from 2 to 5 years from the time they were received.
After the end of the service life of the goods, the seller or manufacturer is not responsible for the malfunctions that arise, except in cases where the consumer has been harmed.
Compensation for harm occurs in the following cases:
- neither the service life nor the expiration date has been established for the goods, although their establishment is prescribed by law;
- the consumer was not provided with full information about the service life of this product;
- the buyer was not informed of certain actions that must be performed after the specified period;
- goods that, after the expiration date, pose a danger to humans.