Section 399-M. Disclosures in advertisement and sale of unassembled goods  


Latest version.
  • 1. For the purposes of this section, unassembled merchandise shall  mean
      goods,  wares  or  other merchandise which is comprised of more than six
      separate parts or units other than nuts, bolts, screws or other  similar
      devices  used to connect or fasten, which is sold unassembled, and which
      is manufactured on or after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-six.
        2. No person, firm, partnership, association or corporation  or  agent
      or  employee  thereof  shall sell or offer for sale merchandise which is
      unassembled unless a sign placed in close proximity to the  merchandise,
      or  the  box  or other container in which the merchandise is offered for
      sale has thereon a notice in English, which sets forth (a)  a  statement
      that  the  merchandise  must be assembled prior to use; (b) a listing of
      tools necessary for assembly or use; and (c) a listing of any additional
      parts not supplied by the seller or manufacturer, necessary for assembly
      or use; and the box  or  other  container  contains  simple,  clear  and
      accurate  instructions for assembly and use in English. For the purposes
      of the foregoing, a sign placed in close proximity  to  the  merchandise
      should  be clear and conspicuous and a notice indicated on or affixed to
      a box or other container in which the merchandise is  offered  for  sale
      shall be printed in not less than twelve-point bold face type.
        Where  notice  required  by  this section is given by a sign placed in
      close proximity to the  merchandise,  as  provided  herein,  the  retail
      purchaser  shall  have  the  right  to  return  the merchandise within a
      reasonable period of time and not unduly worn  or  damaged  for  a  full
      refund.
        3.  No  person, firm, partnership, association or corporation or agent
      or employee thereof shall sell or offer for sale at retail,  merchandise
      which  is unassembled but is on display in an assembled condition unless
      a sign indicating that the product  must  be  assembled  is  prominently
      placed in close proximity to the display.
        4.  No  person, firm, partnership, association or corporation or agent
      or employee thereof shall advertise for sale at retail  any  merchandise
      which  is  unassembled  unless said advertisement prominently sets forth
      the fact that the merchandise is unassembled and must be assembled prior
      to use.
        5. A violation of this section shall entitle the buyer  to  cancel  or
      rescind  the  purchase  and obtain a refund of the entire amount paid by
      him.
        6. Whenever there shall be a violation of this section, an application
      may also be made by the attorney general in the name of  the  people  of
      the state of New York to a court or justice having jurisdiction to issue
      an  injunction,  and  upon notice to the defendant of not less than five
      days, to enjoin and restrain the continuance of such violation;  and  if
      it  shall  appear  to  the satisfaction of the court or justice that the
      defendant has, in fact, violated this  section,  an  injunction  may  be
      issued  by  such court or justice, enjoining and restraining any further
      violation, without requiring proof that any person has,  in  fact,  been
      injured  or  damaged  thereby. In any such proceeding the court may make
      allowances to the attorney general  as  provided  in  paragraph  six  of
      subdivision  (a)  of  section  eighty-three  hundred  three of the civil
      practice law and rules, and direct restitution. In connection  with  any
      such  proposed  application,  the attorney general is authorized to take
      proof and make a determination  of  the  relevant  facts  and  to  issue
      subpoenas in accordance with the civil practice law and rules.
        7. The provisions of this section shall not apply to unassembled model
      kits  and  toy  and  hobby  products,  the  primary  purpose of which is
      assembly by the consumer as a recreational activity.
    
        8. The requirement of this section to provide notice, on  the  package
      in  which  merchandise  is  offered  for  sale,  or  by  a sign in close
      proximity to the merchandise, that such merchandise is unassembled shall
      not apply to merchandise which is purchased for  the  purpose  of  being
      connected  to  or  installed in conjunction with other property, real or
      personal.