Does satisfactory quality apply to sale items?
Yes. Sale goods must still be of satisfactory quality. The exception is a defect that was pointed out to you before you bought, such as a marked "seconds" item.
Be Wise › Consumer Wise guides › Faulty goods
What "satisfactory quality" means
Goods bought from a business must meet the standard a reasonable person would consider satisfactory, taking into account the description, the price and other relevant circumstances. That includes durability: goods must last a reasonable length of time.
What the law looks at
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 lists the aspects of quality that can matter:
- fitness for all the purposes that goods of that kind are usually supplied for
- appearance and finish
- freedom from minor defects
- safety
- durability
Fit for purpose and as described
Goods must also be fit for any particular purpose you made known to the seller before buying (for example, "I need a tent that sleeps six"), and they must match their description. If you bought from a sample or a display model, the goods must match that too. If the seller installs the goods and does it badly, the goods are treated as not meeting the contract.
What is not covered
You cannot rely on a defect that was specifically pointed out to you before you bought, such as an item sold as "shop-soiled with a scratch". If you examined the goods before buying, you cannot rely on a defect that the examination ought to have revealed. Normal wear and tear, misuse, accidental damage and simply changing your mind are not faults.
Price and age matter
The standard depends on the circumstances. A budget item is not expected to perform like a premium one, and second-hand goods are judged against their age and condition. See used goods and used cars from a dealer.
Quick answers
Is a small scratch or blemish a fault?
It can be. Freedom from minor defects and appearance and finish are both part of satisfactory quality, so a noticeable defect on a new item may count, depending on the price and what you were told.
Does it apply to second-hand goods from a shop?
Yes. Used goods from a business must be of satisfactory quality, but the standard takes account of their age, condition and price.
Does satisfactory quality include how long something lasts?
Yes. Durability is part of the test, so goods that fail sooner than a reasonable person would expect may not have been of satisfactory quality.
Official sources
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9: satisfactory quality
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 10: fit for a particular purpose
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 11: goods to be as described
- Consumer Rights Act 2015 (legislation.gov.uk)
Check your own situation
The Be Consumer Wise app walks you through what you bought, how you paid and what went wrong, shows the right helpline for your part of the UK, and lets you ask ConsumerBot follow-up questions.
Open Be Consumer WiseBrowse all guidesReviewed 2026-09-23. General legal information about UK consumer rights, not legal advice.