Packaging for repair under Sale of Goods Act

Optimist

vaio wrote: »

depends...

if it's a warranty issue then you have to abide by whatever the warranty terms are and if that means you need to pack & return to them then so be it.

If it's a Sale of Goods issue then repairs must be done without "significant inconvenience or cost to the consumer" which I'd say means the retailer has to collect or provide packing.

As you have only had it less than three months I'd say it's Sale of Goods rather than warranty and I'd be inclined to write to the retailer and state this.

Personally I've had two warranty issues with 21" monitors.....

CTX CRT about 10 years ago, CTX sent a new one and the courier waited and took the old one away in the box the new one came in.

Acer LCD about 4 weeks ago, they repaired rather than swapped out and sent an empty box with a courier who returned the next day to take it back to Acer once we'd packed it up.

I would agree with the above.

The seller must bear the costs associated in returning a item which are deemed to be faulty or not as described under the Sale of Goods Act.

S48B (2)

(2)If the buyer requires the seller to repair or replace the goods, the seller must—
(a)repair or, as the case may be, replace the goods within a reasonable time but without causing significant inconvenience to the buyer;
(b)bear any necessary costs incurred in doing so (including in particular the cost of any labour, materials or postage).

arcon5

They could of course argue packaging is not a necessary cost as had been supplied at time of purchase.

There isn't anything specific in SOGA covering exactly this, so you won't get the responses you're hoping for. It mostly revolves around what is 'reasonable' and this is what a judge will look at.

Valli

Nothing I have ever trusted to Royal Mail, well-layered in bubble wrap, and outer-wrapped in cardboard has arrived damaged.

And I sell fragile items.

But you go off on one. Your choice.

fred7777

qabalist wrote: »

So... does anyone know enough about the Sale of Goods Act and its provisions or have direct experience of this situation to actually say anything definitive about the responsibility of the vendor in this matter?

There is a section in the sale of goods act on consequential loss i.e. losses you incurred as a consequence of the faulty goods. This should cover the costs of postage and packaging. Every time I have sent things back as faulty I have had return postage refunded, although I have often had to chase the seller for the extra postage refund after they have made the refund of the purchasing price

Unfortunately you are on your own with sourcing packaging, couriers and packing the TV. There is nothing in law which says you have to be provided with that.

DCFC79

You've had various options OP, if you want it sorted then source a box from somewhere eg back of currys and source some bubble wrap and parcel from tesco or elsewhere.

Whenever ive sent stuff to be repaired ive had to source a box myself and package it up.

OlliesDad

You can buy suitable boxes online such as here for £11.99

However as above, your local electrical shops may be able to help.

custardy

qabalist wrote: »

I was rather hoping for something more than opinion and dodgy packaging advice

quite the charmer

Looksguywalker

The seller has supplied suitable packaging...the buyer choose to dispose of it.

OlliesDad

Looksguywalker wrote: »

The seller has supplied suitable packaging...the buyer choose to dispose of it.

Is it reasonable however to expect a consumer to keep every box for up to 6 years in the event of a fault occurring?

A 30" monitor box will take up a lot of space (particularly in a small environment such as a 1 bed room flat.. although this may not be the case with the OP)

societys_child

There's certainly nothing that I've read that states a consumer has to keep the original packaging

I've bought televisions which advised this on the packaging.


"Please retain this packaging for future use. Always use this packaging to transport this equipment securely"

(or words to that effect)

I usually put any polystyrene in a bin liner, flatten the box and bung it all in the loft. Simple to reassemble the box if needed later.