Restocking fees

techmaverick85

Wow, thanks for the replies. What a great forum.

@paddyrg - Yes, ordered as consumer...I could try this. I thought I had been 'had' as the restocking fee WAS in their Ts & Cs, which they gleefully quoted when I initiated contact. A slight problem though, is that I've since opened the item so I could list the contents of the box - prior to trying to sell it (emphasis on 'trying')

@goater78 - Yep, in the UK - it was these guys (link to their website, not the amazon storefront: aprmedia.com

@wealdroam - No....It's not there anymore, not the exact one anyway...

@sjbrun - Hmmm, The box is about 40cm x 20cm x 40cm, and weighs less than 10KG...even if it was opened, I would deem £450 unreasonable. Would you agree?

@koothrappali - Yeah, I think if I reopened the case I wouldn't get anywhere. They weren't exactly responsive last time. They quoted their Ts and Cs at me, then cut all contact - they wouldn't even engage in conversation, which is the most frustrating part.

I would have been willing to pay a restocking fee (a 'reasonable' restocking fee) and taken a slight hit as it was a lot of money. Although I do feel the item was mis-sold in the first place.


So, I think I've probably missed the boat on this...As I say, they stopped responding to me after quoting their restocking fee terms, and now it's probably outside of the time frame to do anything about it. I'm just frustrated with myself that I didn't know my rights...

Live and Learn, as 'they' say...

Thanks for everyone's responses.

sjbrun

With amazon you can return something for any reason - if your getting no where with the seller you could ring up amazon directly and ask them, they will prob tell you to send it back tracked and give them the tracking code and they will force a refund. I've been told by amazon when I signed up to sell that you have to accept returns for 30days for any reason if you are a business seller.

derrick

techmaverick85 wrote: »

Wow, thanks for the replies. What a great forum.

@paddyrg - Yes, ordered as consumer...I could try this. I thought I had been 'had' as the restocking fee WAS in their Ts & Cs, which they gleefully quoted when I initiated contact. A slight problem though, is that I've since opened the item so I could list the contents of the box - prior to trying to sell it (emphasis on 'trying')

@goater78 - Yep, in the UK - it was these guys (link to their website, not the amazon storefront: aprmedia.com

@wealdroam - No....It's not there anymore, not the exact one anyway...

@sjbrun - Hmmm, The box is about 40cm x 20cm x 40cm, and weighs less than 10KG...even if it was opened, I would deem £450 unreasonable. Would you agree?

@koothrappali - Yeah, I think if I reopened the case I wouldn't get anywhere. They weren't exactly responsive last time. They quoted their Ts and Cs at me, then cut all contact - they wouldn't even engage in conversation, which is the most frustrating part.

I would have been willing to pay a restocking fee (a 'reasonable' restocking fee) and taken a slight hit as it was a lot of money. Although I do feel the item was mis-sold in the first place.


So, I think I've probably missed the boat on this...As I say, they stopped responding to me after quoting their restocking fee terms, and now it's probably outside of the time frame to do anything about it. I'm just frustrated with myself that I didn't know my rights...

Live and Learn, as 'they' say...

Thanks for everyone's responses.

Did they inform you of your DSR rights before receiving the item? If not then you have a lot longer to enforce those rights,(3 months ?), have a read through THIS, in particular pages 11-14.

Also :-
From page 27; -
Who pays for returning the goods if the consumer cancels an order?
3.55 If you want the consumer to return the goods and to pay for that return, you must make it clear in the contract and as part of the required written information – see paragraph 3.10. If the consumer then fails to return the goods, or sends them at your expense, you can charge them the direct cost to you of the return, even if you have already refunded the consumer’s money. You are not allowed to make any further charges, such as a restocking charge or an administration charge.



Report them to Trading Standards for denying you your statutory rights.

.

tomwakefield

Is the marketplace seller definitely considered a business? If not, DSRs are irrelevant.

arcon5

koothrappali wrote: »

Is that true given the circumstances the OP describes? DSR do not apply as it's 'a few weeks' according to the OP?

You're only supposed to inform them of your intent to cancel in durable form, not physically return the goods within the 7 working days.

System

Looking at the T & C's on the website they only charge the restocking fee if the goods are returned after the 7 working days(outside DSR). If you returned straight away then you shouldn't have paid anything.

The T&C's of the website are actually quite good and have the links to citizens advice and consumer direct

I would query the seller and ask why they are not obeying their own T & C's?

"If You Have Simply Changed Your Mind
Your right of cancellation; 7 working days.
If you have ordered goods from us, but then simply decided that you wish to cancel your order, then you are entitled to do so and have any money that you have paid to us refunded, provided that (a) the goods have not been in your possession for more than 7 Working Days after the day on which you received the goods ('Working Day' means all days other than Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays); and (b) you tell us in writing (preferably using our on-line returns tool) that you wish to cancel your order.

Can I return an item after 7 working days?
Yes you can. You have up to 30 days (which includes weekends and public holidays) to return an item to us. Any returned item must be in a re-saleable condition therefore it must be unused and unopened. We will refund the cost of the goods, less the initial delivery charge and less a 20% restocking fee (£1.50 min)."

agrinnall

goater78 wrote: »

Looking at the T & C's on the website they only charge the restocking fee if the goods are returned after the 7 working days(outside DSR). If you returned straight away then you shouldn't have paid anything.

The T&C's of the website are actually quite good and have the links to citizens advice and consumer direct

I would query the seller and ask why they are not obeying their own T & C's?

"If You Have Simply Changed Your Mind
Your right of cancellation; 7 working days.
If you have ordered goods from us, but then simply decided that you wish to cancel your order, then you are entitled to do so and have any money that you have paid to us refunded, provided that (a) the goods have not been in your possession for more than 7 Working Days after the day on which you received the goods ('Working Day' means all days other than Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays); and (b) you tell us in writing (preferably using our on-line returns tool) that you wish to cancel your order.

Can I return an item after 7 working days?
Yes you can. You have up to 30 days (which includes weekends and public holidays) to return an item to us. Any returned item must be in a re-saleable condition therefore it must be unused and unopened. We will refund the cost of the goods, less the initial delivery charge and less a 20% restocking fee (£1.50 min)."

I would say their T&Cs are unclear, and possibly misleading. The DSRs say you only have to inform the seller that you are returning the item within the 7 days, and you then have up to 30 days to actually return it - they cannot charge a restocking fee if these deadlines are adhered to, whatever their T&Cs say.

Hintza

But did the OP clearly inform of their desire to return goods? Or has the OP got written proof that they were demanding a restocking fee from day 1. There are a few things that might not have been done correctly.

But start of speaking to Amazon they are normally pretty good.

unholyangel

agrinnall wrote: »

I would say their T&Cs are unclear, and possibly misleading. The DSRs say you only have to inform the seller that you are returning the item within the 7 days, and you then have up to 30 days to actually return it - they cannot charge a restocking fee if these deadlines are adhered to, whatever their T&Cs say.

Source please? AFAIK, DSRs make no mention of a time limit for returning goods. Your right to cancel is unconditional. If you do not return the goods or return them damaged, they still technically need to refund you and then claim against you separately for the breach.

The only thing you need to do is inform them of your intent to cancel within 7 working days (providing they have told you of this cancellation right - if not, it is extended up to a maximum of 3 months and 7 working days) starting the day after you receive the goods.


Now OP, did it match its description or was the description misleading?

techmaverick85

Thanks everyone.

OK, I placed the order on the 26th of the month, it was dispatched 3 days later (29th).

I received the item the day after dispatch - 30th (last day of the month)

I started the conversation with them on the 1st of the month, and have an email in reply on the 2nd stating:

---

Thankyou for contacting APR MEDIA LTD on Amazon

As per our terms and conditions on Amazon, there is a 30% restock fee. We can arrange a collection by courier if required which is £22 which includes full insurance on the parcel that would be deducted from the refund.

kind regards

---

So, I would guess there are different terms for their amazon shop than there are for their normal web site. But even 20% would have been far too much.

I did dispute the high restocking fee. But they didn't respond. I did try calling too on numerous occasions, but they always needed to call me back, or whoever I needed to speak to wasn't available.

Due to the expense of the item, the £22 courier was fair.

It's been over 30 days, and I'm stuck with this item (and I've just seen the order again and it was £1650 :eek:)

Technically there was no intent shown for returning it as I was not going to with THAT extortionate restocking fee. I did make a query about the costs of returning it, but I don't have a record of that email, only their reply (pasted above)

Ah well, It's not that I need that money or anything.............................................

PS, @unholyangel - which description do you mean?