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A hamper usually includes food or household goods. It might require payment upfront or small payments over time.
What a hamper can really cost
Buying a hamper might require you to pay upfront or make payments over time.
Some people choose hampers with time-to-pay arrangements because they can spread the cost over time.
But a hamper can cost much more than buying the same items from a shop or supermarket. There may also be delivery fees and other charges.
Before you buy a hamper:
- compare the price of the same items at local shops
- check delivery fees
- check the total amount you'll pay
- understand cancellation fees and policies
- for time-to-pay arrangements, make sure repayments fit your budget.
For example, a hamper of chips, chocolates and soft drinks might cost $18 a week for five months. Over a five-month contract, you would pay around $360. If you bought the same things from a supermarket, you might only pay around $180.
Even if you pay upfront, a hamper can still cost more than buying these items from your local shop.
If someone comes to your door
You may have someone approach you at your house to try to sell a hamper. Be wary of pressure sales tactics and salespeople trying to sell you something that you may not need or want.
See our tips for dealing with door-to-door sales.
How to manage hamper payments
If you're paying in instalments, make sure you know what all the payments are and when they are due.
If the payments are due every fortnight, make sure you have enough money in your bank account to cover them.
If you don't have enough money in your account and you miss a payment, you may be charged fees. Future payments may also increase to make sure the hamper is paid off before delivery.
If you're having trouble making payments, contact the company to find out what options are available.
Instead of making regular payments for a hamper, put the money into a savings account. Once you've saved enough money you can buy the items yourself.
Your rights if you cancel a hamper
If you pay for a hamper upfront, cancelling and getting a refund will depend on the company's policy. Some companies might let you cancel before the hamper is packed and shipped. Check with the hamper company on what their cancellation policy is.
For time-to-pay arrangements, there are no fees if you cancel your hamper within the cooling-off period. This is usually 21 days from the date of the original order.
If you cancel the hamper outside of the cooling-off period, you may have to pay a cancellation fee. Cancellation fees can be up to 50% of what you have already paid.
If you buy a hamper under a lay-by agreement, you can cancel at any time before it's delivered. If you cancel your lay-by, the seller must refund your payments, minus a reasonable cancellation fee.
Get help with a hamper problem
If you have a problem with a hamper, contact the company first and explain the issue.
If the problem is not resolved, you can contact:
- your state or territory consumer affairs agency, or
- the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) First Nations Information line on 1300 303 143.
You can also contact ASIC's Indigenous Helpline on 1300 365 957 or email [email protected].
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