Guide · Clothes, shoes and bags
How long should sunglasses last in Australia?
Sunglasses bought for around $200 should last about 18 months or more.
Sunglasses that peel, lose a lens or snap at the hinge early are covered like anything else you buy.
That’s our guide, and plenty last longer.
The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid. If it fails sooner through no fault of yours, the shop that sold it has to put it right, even when the maker’s warranty has run out.
Takes a minute. It works out where you stand and what to say.
Is mine still covered?
Our guide to how long sunglasses should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $80 | 6 months |
| $80 to $300 | 18 months |
| Over $300 | 3 years |
For one bought around $200:
- Under 11 months: very likely covered.
- 11 months to 18 months: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 18 months: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- The lens coating peels or a lens pops out
- The hinge snaps or an arm loosens
- The frame cracks without a knock
What usually isn’t covered
- Scratches from being tossed loose in a bag
- Breakage from being sat on or dropped
- A change of mind, misuse, or a fault you knew about when you bought it.
What to do
- Find your proof of purchase. The receipt is best. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration also works.
- Go back to the shop you bought it from. Not the maker. The shop is responsible, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
- Say what’s wrong and what you want. For a minor problem, the shop can choose to repair it first. For a major one (it’s unsafe, or you wouldn’t have bought it if you’d known), you choose a refund or a replacement.
- If they say no, go up a step. Ask again politely, in writing if you can, and keep copies. Then contact your state or territory consumer protection agency. If you need to, your state tribunal is the next step.
What to say at the counter
“I bought sunglasses here on [date]. [What’s wrong.] It hasn’t lasted as long as I’d reasonably expect for what I paid, so it isn’t of acceptable quality under the Australian Consumer Law. I’d like it repaired, replaced or refunded.”
A tip for sunglasses
Sunglasses usually fail at the hinge or the coating. Take a clear photo of the fault before you return them.
Check yours
It's Stuffed works out where you stand, helps you find your proof of purchase and writes what to say. It also keeps your receipts and warranties in one place, so you’re not hunting for them next time.
Common questions
How long should sunglasses last?
By our guide, sunglasses bought for around $200 should last about 18 months or more, and plenty last longer. The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid.
Does the consumer guarantee still apply to sunglasses after the warranty ends?
Yes. They’re separate from the maker’s warranty and from any extended warranty, and they don’t have an end date. What matters is whether it lasted as long as a reasonable person would expect for what it was and what it cost.
Who do I go to if sunglasses fails, the shop or the maker?
The shop that sold it. The shop is responsible for putting it right under the consumer guarantees, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
Do I need the receipt to take sunglasses back?
You need proof of purchase, but not the original receipt. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration can do the job.
More guides
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- How long should school shoes last?
- How long should jeans or everyday clothes last?
- How long should shoes or boots last?
- See all guides