Q: A few days ago I purchased a hair-dryer from a local establishment and after I paid for it, I was told the shop ran out of three-pin plug connectors which are normally given out with the two-pin items. I was told to call by another time to collect it.

Is this what should be done? What are my legal rights?

A: Legally, all electric goods sold locally should be fitted with a three-pin configuration. Thus, consumers who buy electric goods that come from abroad fitted with a two-pin plug should not leave the shop without a three-pin configuration.

Furthermore, the retailer cannot supply an adaptor and tell the consumer to fit it himself.

The adaptor or three-pin plug has to be fitted before the product is handed over to the consumer.

Moreover, retailers should be aware that if they do not have adaptors and/or three-pin plugs available, the solution is to refrain from selling the products until they have them and not tell consumers to pick up the adaptor some other time.

This is the law, and all retail outlets selling electric goods have to abide by it, regardless of quality and price of the goods sold. When consumers find themselves in a situation similar to yours, we can, first of all, insist on having the adaptor or three-pin fitted before leaving the shop.

If this is not possible, we should not continue with the purchase.

We can also report the shop to the Market Surveillance Directorate within the Malta Standards Authority by calling 2395 2000 so that necessary action may be taken to ensure that only safe products are sold to consumers.