Australian shoppers who are unhappy with a product they have purchased overseas can contact the e-consumer website to find out about overseas retail protections, according to retail expert Sally Tindall.

The site is a project of International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network, a partnership of more than 65 consumer protection agencies around the world.

On Tuesday, Tindall spoke about the website and Australian shoppers’ right when buying from overseas.

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“If Australians are buying direct from overseas, (sellers have to) adhere to Australian consumer law,” Tindall began.

“The problem is that it’s very difficult to say to the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) to investigate that ... you can report it to them but they won’t investigate individual circumstances.

“Go back to the company. If you’re not getting response, you can go to the protection body in that state, in that country, see if you get an answer there.

“You can also go to an overseas body, it’s called e-consumer (and has) joined the forces of more than 35 different consumer protection agencies around the world. They can help you progress that.

“At the end of the day, do your due diligence before you’re buying overseas that’s for certain. Read some reviews.”

Canstar’s Sally Tindall appeared on Sunrise on Tuesday, speaking about consumer protections. Credit: Seven

Ahead of the Christmas shopping rush, Tindall also explained domestic consumer rights.

“Most of (our purchases) are covered by what’s known as a consumer guarantee. They’re enshrined in Australian consumer law, it’s been that way since 2011,” Tindall said.

“Those rights include it must be of an acceptable quality — (if) something arrives broken, that’s not acceptable.

“It must match the description — if you order blue sheets and you get pink ones, that’s not matching the description.

“It has to be fit for purpose. These are the key rules here. There are some other rules and some exceptions to the rules.

“But when it’s been identified there’s a problem, you have the right of repair, refund or replace. Now, it depends how big the problem is as to who gets to pick.

“If it is a minor problem, the business gets to say how they’re going to remedy the situation. If it is a major problem, something is unsafe, you get to pick.

“It is really important to know that, too.”

Tindall added it was important to keep your manners in difficult situations.

“You need to have a conversation about it. You will probably find they’re listening to you and want to please you as a customer,” Tindall said.

“If you still get stuck, there are other avenues that you progress this with ... like the NSW Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs in Victoria, Office of Fair Trading in Queensland — these are all good bodies to approach it with.

“You can also, if it is a big problem, go to a legal centre.

“Understand your legal rights because, at the end of the day, you’ve got these basic rights that are enshrined in consumer law.

“They’re designed to protect you, so use them to your advantage.”