My year of complaining

Well six months is up. I've
taken soy sauce back Woolworths
complained about tasteless watermelon and took it back Woolworths
got a refund on a video camera Harvey Norman
brought a galvinizer to task and asked them to do it properly this time Australian Professional Galvinizers
put my foot down and didn't pay for a shonky job North woodwork
vented my anger at Centrelink and their recalcitrant behaviour
written to Tiger airways and Jetstar with my complaint
written to Sleepmaster with a whinge about misrepresentation.
Asked for a second copy of a book as Australia post lost the first one.
rang Continental about no croutons in my cup a soup (got a $5.oo voucher)
and I have ongoing legal action against a certain retail group who sell boating, fishing and camping gear.

I learned:
The ACCC has no teeth when it comes to the man or woman in the street
The Tribunal of consumer affairs or some other inflated title will do nothing to help the consumer if they want justice.
One has to be dogged in the world of complaining. Jumping through hoops helps too!

It is time consuming, frustrating and rarely satisfying. I have 5 months to go.

the League gets in the Townsville Bulletin.

This is an article written about my year of complaining which was published in the Townsville Bulletin today.
it says;
It's a bit rough when you can't even fly an Aussie made flag on Australia Day. Or that the stubby cooler you are holding and the Aussie thongs you are wearing bear the tag "Made in China."
so reckoned Townsville blogger Kerry Ashwin who is up in arms that there are so few Australian made products available in today's market...
it goes on to quote me;
When Townsville consumers go to buy something, I want them to say to the retailer: "I want one of these, but one made in Australia, and for the same price."
"Im not jingoistic, but we have to hold manufacturers and retailers to account. Maybe we should make Australia Day the one day of the year that we only buy Australian made goods, nothing imported from overseas... (re printed from Andy Toulson Townsville Bulletin Jan 29 2011)
Thanks Bulletin for trying to get the message out there.