When you buy a juicer in Malaysia for home use, the Consumer Protection Act 1999 gives you guarantees by law. The juicer must be of acceptable quality and fit for its purpose. Repairs and spare parts must be reasonably available. If it fails, you can ask the seller to fix the problem, and for a serious fault you can reject it. A contract cannot remove these rules.

This page covers Part V and Part VI of the Act, which apply to goods. Each rule links to its source. It explains the Act in plain words and is not legal advice for a specific case.

These guarantees come with every purchase

You do not need a warranty card to have these rights. The Act calls them implied guarantees, which means the law adds them to every sale to a consumer. A consumer here means someone buying for personal, home or household use.

Section 6 of the Act says its provisions "shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any agreement". It also says that a supplier or manufacturer who tries to contract out of any provision "commits an offence". So a sign saying "no refunds, no exchanges" does not take away the rights below.

Source: Consumer Protection Act 1999 (Act 599), as at 1 November 2019, KPDN. The Attorney General's Chambers also publishes the official reprint.

The guarantees, section by section

Section 32: acceptable quality

This is the guarantee most buyers need. Under section 32, goods must be fit for all the purposes they are commonly sold for. They must also be acceptable in appearance and finish, "free from minor defects", safe and durable.

The test is what a reasonable consumer would accept. Section 32 lists what counts. It includes the nature of the goods, the price, the packaging and label, and what the seller or maker said. So the price you paid, and any claims made about how long the juicer lasts, are part of the test.

There are limits. For example, if the seller pointed out a defect before you bought, you cannot later complain about that same defect.

Section 33: fitness for a particular purpose

If you tell the seller what you need, and rely on their advice, the juicer must be reasonably fit for that purpose. Say you tell a shop you want to juice celery every day, and they recommend a model. That model should be able to do the job.

This guarantee does not apply if you did not rely on the seller's skill or judgement.

Section 37: repairs and spare parts

Section 37 covers repairs and spare parts. The manufacturer and the supplier must "take reasonable action" so that repairs and spare parts are "reasonably available for a reasonable period".

There is an exception. The seller may tell you, at or before the sale, that parts and repairs will not be available. They may also say parts are only available for a set period. If so, the guarantee is limited to what you were told. So ask about parts before you buy, and keep any written answer.

Section 38: the maker's written warranty

A maker's written warranty is called an express guarantee in the Act. Section 38 says an express guarantee given by a manufacturer "shall bind the manufacturer". A warranty document that appears to come from the maker is presumed to come from the maker unless shown otherwise.

This is where juicers differ most. The law sets the floor. A written warranty can go well beyond it, for example by covering the motor for many years longer than the other parts.

What you can ask for when a guarantee fails

A replacement juicer is treated as newly supplied, so the same guarantees apply to it.

Section 41 sets out what you can ask the supplier for.

1. If the fault can be fixed, you can ask the supplier to fix it within a reasonable time.
2. Under section 42, the supplier chooses how: repair the juicer, replace it with one of the same type, or refund you where it cannot reasonably repair or replace it.
3. If the fault cannot be fixed, or is of what the Act calls a "substantial character", you can reject the juicer, or claim compensation for the drop in its value.
4. If the supplier does not fix a fault within a reasonable time, the Act gives you further options, including rejecting the goods.
5. You can also claim damages for other loss caused by the fault, if you can prove it.

One exception: section 40

You cannot claim against the supplier on acceptable quality if the juicer would have been acceptable except for a promise the manufacturer made outside the packaging or label. The Act has separate rules for claims against the manufacturer.

If the seller will not help

You can bring a claim to the Tribunal for Consumer Claims. Under section 98, the tribunal can hear claims where the total amount sought "does not exceed fifty thousand ringgit". A juicer claim falls well inside that limit.

Before you file, collect your records: the receipt, the listing or box, any warranty card and any messages with the seller.

How to use these rules when you buy

Before you choose, you can browse slow juicers and their warranties. Then use these four steps.

1. Keep the receipt and the warranty card together. After you buy, register the warranty so a claim is simple later.
2. Ask the seller, in writing, whether spare parts are sold locally and for how long. Check that parts for the model are listed.
3. Compare written warranties, not just prices. Our guide on what the best juicer in Malaysia really costs shows how to weigh warranty length against price.
4. Buy from an authorised seller. A warranty is often valid only with proof of purchase from one. Our guide on spotting a real 11.11 deal explains how to check.

Frequently asked questions

Can a shop refuse a refund for a faulty juicer?

A sign cannot remove the Act's guarantees. Section 6 says the Act applies despite any agreement, and a supplier who tries to contract out commits an offence. But a guarantee failure does not always mean a refund. If the fault can be fixed, the supplier may repair or replace first. A refund comes where it cannot reasonably do either, or where you reject goods with a serious fault.

Do I need a warranty card to claim?

No. The implied guarantees in Part V apply to every sale to a consumer. A warranty card adds the maker's own promise on top of them.

How long must spare parts be available for a juicer?

The Act says "a reasonable period" and does not set a number of years. If you were properly told, at or before the sale, that parts would only be available for a set period, the guarantee is limited to that period.

Where do I complain if the seller ignores me?

You can file a claim with the Tribunal for Consumer Claims. It hears consumer claims of up to RM50,000.

Does the Act cover juicers bought online?

The guarantees apply to goods supplied to a consumer, whether you buy in a shop or online. Keep screenshots of the listing and your messages with the seller as proof.