I picked up a DVD player at a thrift store near my place for 80 reais, took it home and it wouldn't turn on properly. The seller said he sells things as-is, no warranty. Is that valid? Do I have the right to return it and get my money back?
The thing is, even at a secondhand store, if the product has a defect that makes it completely unusable (like a DVD player that won't turn on), you can file a complaint based on the Consumer Protection Code - the "sold as is" disclaimer doesn't cover hidden defects, only normal wear and tear. The seller may have said that, but the law doesn't let them off the hook for a broken product. It's worth going back there, showing them it doesn't work, and trying to negotiate; if you can't get anywhere, you can take the case to Procon - it's free in any city - and they'll investigate whether it was really a manufacturing defect or if you damaged it after leaving the store.
Unfortunately at a thrift store the seller can indeed sell "as is," without warranty, because it's not a conventional shop - consumer protection law is more flexible in those cases. But here's the thing: if the product has a defect that makes it completely unusable (like not turning on), some argue there's a hidden flaw, and then you could try to negotiate or complain. The best move really is to go back there and talk to the owner, explain the problem and see if they'll accept swapping it for another device or at least refunding part of the money - thrift stores often do that to keep their reputation, even though they're not legally required to.
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