In your reply to problems with this private purchase you stated that there are no consumer rights (I assume you meant under specific consumer legislation) against a vendor. However, law of contract does apply. If the item is 'not as described' and this could not be discovered by inspection at the time of purchase, there is a breach of contract and the purchaser has a right to seek damages for the breach under law of contract, or to have the contract set aside. I recently used this argument successfully with a private vendor and if taken to a small claims court, a judge would usually take the same view.