Could this be the end of the petek?

History was made today when the money refund law came into force. At long last, Israeli consumers can take back
goods and receive a refund rather than a credit note, which in Israel is a tiny piece of paper known as a "petek". And perversely, the higher the value of the credit note, the tinier the petek will be.

Or can they?

According to today's Globes:

"Implementation of the law is not simple. Both consumers and traders need to become expert in the small details of when the law applies, for what products, within what amount of time, and the obligations of each side, in order to implement the law properly.

"Even someone who has done their homework may find themselves in a situation in which it is not completely clear what the law intends and whether a refund is in order."

I'm sure some consumers do try to return goods which they have used, but it is galling in the extreme when an electrical item doesn't work when you try to use it on the very same day you bought it, only to be told when you take it back - still on the same day - that it will be sent away for repair. This has happened to me a couple of times.

I'm sure retailers will still try to evade their responsibilities (now where have I heard that before in Israel?) but at least here is a law that is intended, I think, to benefit the long-suffering Israeli consumer.

The full article is here:

http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000607869