Lawyer and entrepreneur, Vicky Bright has criticised the absence of product warranties at furniture retailer Orca, describing the practice as unfair to Ghanaian consumers.
Speaking on Joy News, the former Minister recounted a recent visit to the store, where she said she was informed that the company does not provide warranties on its products.
“I was a little bit upset because I realized that they don’t give warranties for anything,” she said.
According to Ms. Bright, she questioned staff about the policy and was told that while the company does not offer warranties, it provides after-sales care instead.
“She said, ‘We don’t give warranties, but we give after sales care.’ So I said, ‘What does that mean?'” she recounted.
Ms. Bright said she was dissatisfied with the explanation, arguing that consumers should not have to bear additional costs if newly purchased items develop faults.
“I said, where in the world is this done? You are touting yourselves as this international whatever, whatever. So you have to provide a service to match that,” she stated.
She further expressed concern that Ghanaian consumers often accept standards they would not tolerate elsewhere.
“We are just too accepting of certain things. It’s basic. Give a warranty,” she said.
Calling for greater consumer protection, Ms. Bright stressed that customers who spend their hard-earned money deserve assurance that products purchased will be backed by warranties.
“You can’t have Ghanaians working hard, going to spend their money, and then if the thing breaks down the next day, they have to look for new money to go and buy the same thing again. That’s not acceptable,” she added.
