"Carla bought a hairdryer with a 6-month seller's guarantee. When it broke after 8 months, she took it back to the shop. The shop assistant told her that her guarantee had run out and that she was not entitled to a refund.
Carla rightly pointed out that she had a full 2-year guarantee free of charge under EU consumer protection law, and that the seller's 6-month guarantee only offered additional services. The shop agreed to replace the hairdryer."
So it broke down after 8 months, meaning it was not faulty from the purchase time and it was over the 6 month period you are referring to. Either that is wrong or they are not interpreting the law correctly themselves either.
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/gua...
"I bought a phone just over a year ago, and it has stopped working. The trader refuses to fix it for free. Do I have a two-year legal guarantee?"
"The legal guarantee covers any defects presumed to have existed at the time of delivery and which become apparent within a period of two years."
Read the first sample story, exactly the opposite of what you described.
I agree with your second point even though in the case the store it received the product from a European distributor then the store has a 2 year guarantee from the distributor.