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NEWS
FROM CUBA
Product
warranties meaningless in Cuba
SANTA CLARA, Cuba, October 12 (Cubanacán Press / www.cubanet.org) -
Product warranties are meaningless in Cuba, as attested by the myriad
complaints of consumers; appliances seem to top the list.
People complaining about one or another difficulty with a malfunctioning
product and running into a wall when attempting to have the store make
good on its warranty are heard everywhere. Recently, even the government
press took notice. Authorities have created an investigative committee
within the Ministry of Internal Commerce.
Many here say the basic problem is the government buys cheap products
abroad to sell at high prices in its dollar stores. When the products
malfunction, as they often do, there is no one either empowered to
remedy the consumer's plight or even interested in doing so.
Customers who thought they would be able to have cold water around their
homes back in August, 2001 are still waiting for their refrigerators to
be repaired or replaced. Some who bought a color TV hoping to watch the
Sydney Olympics were not even able to watch those in Athens four years
later.
Recently my 84-year-old grandmother stated at dinner she wanted to buy a
washing machine with some dollars one of her grandsons had sent her from
abroad. We just looked up and said: "Let us eat in peace, granma."
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