timsewell

That's not how it works - they only have to replace/refund if the product isn't working as it should, or is damaged. It's not an attempt at consumer protection - it's been the law at least since I bought my first item from a UK shop (I'm 53 and born and bred here). After the 30 days you revert to the manufacturer's warranty and/or the Sale of Goods Act, which covers you for up to 2 years and requires the retailer (not the manufacturer) to provide a remedy if the item is 'not fit for purpose' - for instance if your new TV breaks down after 18 months the manufacturer may not be interested, but on the basis that 'any reasonable person' would expect a £1000 or whatever TV set to last longer than 18 months, the retailer has to suck it up (although they twist harder than a shark on a fishing line to avoid doing so a lot of the time). I have, on a couple of occasions, prevailed successfully on one of our larger supermarket chains to replace kettles that conked out after 18 months or so using the SOGA.