The investigation was opened in November 2017 after the Commission received a number of complaints from consumers.

Liquidation sales

In advertising for its 30 September and 1 October 2017 sales, 2 Cheap Cars made statements including:

  • “2 Cheap Cars is in hot water, it must liquidate immediately”
  • “A massive price drop this weekend!”

The Commission alleges this advertising was misleading as to the price of the cars because it suggested that many vehicles would be significantly discounted, and there would be no further opportunity to purchase from 2 Cheap Cars. Most of the 710 vehicles then for sale nationwide were not discounted at all or had discounts of as little as $5, and 2 Cheap Cars was not in, or going into, liquidation.

“84% off” claims

In January 2017 2 Cheap Cars’ newspaper advertising included the phrase “84% off”.

The Commission alleges this was misleading because the “84% off” claim, together with the phrase “Massive Stock Liquidation: This Weekend Only” created the impression that the discount was off the price of the cars. In fact, the discount was off the price of a $300 GrabOne voucher that could be used towards purchasing a vehicle.

Warranty waivers

These charges apply to conduct between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2017. During that time 2 Cheap Cars frequently asked car buyers to sign a “warranty waiver” document if they chose not to purchase an extended warranty. The “waiver” included terms such as:

  • “the vehicle you are purchasing does not include a warranty of any kind.”
  • “[If] you choose not to purchase the indicated warranty at this time, you must sign this waiver.”
  • “I do understand that 2 Cheap Cars will comply with the Consumer Guarantees Act. I also understand that I am, and would prefer to be, solely responsible for any repair bills.”
  • “if any repairs are carried out it will be done by 2 Cheap Cars [L]imited at a time of their convenience and that there are no courtesy cars provided.”
  • “Consumable items such as but not limited to tires and batteries … are not covered by the [Consumer Guarantees Act].”

The Commission alleges the waiver documents misrepresented consumers’ rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (CGA) because:

  • under the CGA consumers have rights of remedy against suppliers whether or not the goods are covered by any other warranty
  • a consumer does not lose the CGA protections by declining to purchase an extended warranty
  • remedies under the CGA must be done within a “reasonable time”, not at the convenience of the supplier, and consumers can recover from the supplier costs which are reasonably foreseeable as a result of the failure. They may include the cost of hiring a rental car while a repair is being undertaken
  • the CGA applies to the goods purchased which in this case includes the tyres and batteries.

The Commission estimates that consumers signed in excess of 20,000 warranty waivers during the charge period and 2 Cheap Cars stopped using them in December 2017, after being notified of the Commission investigation.

As this matter is now before the Court the Commission will make no further comment at this time.

Background

2 Cheap Cars operates 14 car yards across New Zealand.

If you can’t back it up, don’t say it

Consumers need to be able to rely on the accuracy of claims. This page of the Commission website has information about making accurate claims and includes our video If you can’t back it up, don’t say it.

Extended warranties

Retailers must comply with the disclosure rules around selling extended warranties such as mechanical warranties offered by motor vehicle dealers. Extended warranties feature in episode 10 of our animated series It’s All Good.

Media are welcome to include links to these videos in online versions of stories but must attribute them to the Commerce Commission.