Amazon market place warning

struth5424

I bought a laptop bag using an Amazon market place seller (chervi-lane) The bag strap broke after 3 weeks of use but, as I didn't use it straight away, this put me out of the 30day returns window. Chervi-lane kept repeating this in response to my emails complaining that the bag was not fit for purpose - I didn't even carry anything as heavy as a laptop in it! I was not eligible to file an Amazon A-z claim as I didn't return it within 14 days - it hadn't broken by then. The seller eventually offered a replacement bag but by then I had already bought a replacement so I asked for a refund. They are now ignoring my emails. Buyers on the market place beware when buying goods - it seems that unless any defect shows within 30 days of purchase you will not get a refund. My bag was comparitively cheap but I could have bought something way more expensive and be caught in the same dilemma. Any advice?

Valli

Where goods are faulty a retailer has the right to select the remedy; this can be repair, refund or replacement.

They offered to replace.

You ask for advice. I suggest you check goods are suitable for your needs because you have the automatic right to reject goods purchased online under DSRs BUT there is a limited timeframe in which to do so. If the goods are faulty, the remedy is under SOGA but, as I said, the vendor/retailer can select the remedy.

yangptangkipperbang

1. The retailer was entirely correct in his offer.

2. You bought a lap top bag but you say you "didn't even carry anything as heavy as a laptop in it". How can you claim that it wasn't fit for purpose when you weren't even using it for the purpose that it was intended for ????

struth5424

Hmmm Basic Physics - if the bag broke with its contents being lighter than a lap-top then the strap clearly couldn't have supported a heavier weight so it was not fit for purpose.
With people buying early for Christmas, I wrote this message as a warning. If a product fails after the 30 day returns window has expired (from the date of delivery) then don't expect a refund. It took several increasingly frustrating emails before I received the offer of a replacement. I'm concerned that there will be many unhappy and dissatisfied customers, including children, who will find themselves in the same situation with no help from Amazon unless the product is returned within 14 days of receipt.

Valli

struth5424 wrote: »

Hmmm Basic Physics - if the bag broke with its contents being lighter than a lap-top then the strap clearly couldn't have supported a heavier weight so it was not fit for purpose.
With people buying early for Christmas, I wrote this message as a warning. If a product fails after the 30 day returns window has expired (from the date of delivery) then don't expect a refund. It took several increasingly frustrating emails before I received the offer of a replacement. I'm concerned that there will be many unhappy and dissatisfied customers, including children, who will find themselves in the same situation with no help from Amazon unless the product is returned within 14 days of receipt.

And a whole new slant on 'think of the children'.:rotfl:

You were offered a replacement. Hardly the retailer's fault if you buy something then don't use it and then it develops a fault.

wealdroam

struth5424 wrote: »

With people buying early for Christmas, I wrote this message as a warning.

Then you posted on the wrong board.

There is a board specifically for warnings:

The Praise, Vent & Warnings Board

unholyangel

struth5424 wrote: »

Hmmm Basic Physics - if the bag broke with its contents being lighter than a lap-top then the strap clearly couldn't have supported a heavier weight so it was not fit for purpose.
With people buying early for Christmas, I wrote this message as a warning. If a product fails after the 30 day returns window has expired (from the date of delivery) then don't expect a refund. It took several increasingly frustrating emails before I received the offer of a replacement. I'm concerned that there will be many unhappy and dissatisfied customers, including children, who will find themselves in the same situation with no help from Amazon unless the product is returned within 14 days of receipt.

Basic physics? I suggest we have different views about whats basic physics because my physics knowledge tells me there is more than one variable (weight) which could effect the reliability of a strap. Size, shape, placement in the bag (ie if its a smaller lighter item then most of its weight may be on one side as opposed to spread out over 2). And then of course you have accidental damage (snagging or catching or perhaps even the way its being worn).


As for buying for xmas etc.....unless you specify at the time of sale that you're buying as a gift, the recipient will have no rights if anything goes wrong anyway - whether its 1 day or 30 days after purchase.

Plus your acceptance period does take into account circumstances. So if you buy winter gear in summer for example, a reasonable time (for you to inspect the goods to see whether they conform to contract) would likely be extended up until winter. If acceptance hasn't occurred, then you can insist on a refund instead of a repair or replacement.

yangptangkipperbang

struth5424 wrote: »

Hmmm Basic Physics - if the bag broke with its contents being lighter than a lap-top then the strap clearly couldn't have supported a heavier weight so it was not fit for purpose.

I must assume that you didn't do Physics at school then !

The weight carried in a bag is only one factor to be taken into account. You could have jammed a large piece of expanded polystyrene (weighs next to nothing) into the bag - the weight may not have broken the strap but you could have strained/ damaged the strap's securings.
You could have carried your sandwiches in it - mayonnaise may be extremely corrosive to the strap material, etc, etc, etc....

BUT the bottom line is still:- You did not use it for the purpose for which it was intended (by your own admission !!) therefore you cannot claim that it was not fit for purpose - if you don't believe me take it to the Small Claims Court !!

Valli

struth5424 wrote: »

With people buying early for Christmas, I wrote this message as a warning. If a product fails after the 30 day returns window has expired (from the date of delivery) then don't expect a refund. It took several increasingly frustrating emails before I received the offer of a replacement. I'm concerned that there will be many unhappy and dissatisfied customers, including children, who will find themselves in the same situation with no help from Amazon unless the product is returned within 14 days of receipt.

This could be put much more succinctly :

If a product fails don't expect a refund.

Doesn't matter what you bought or where from. You MAY get a refund. Equally the vendor MAY replace OR offer to repair.

frugal_mike

Valli wrote: »

This could be put much more succinctly :

If a product fails don't expect a refund.

That may be a little too succinct. If a product fails before I have accepted it then I definitely will be expecting a refund.

agrinnall

frugal_mike wrote: »

That may be a little too succinct. If a product fails before I have accepted it then I definitely will be expecting a refund.

Please let us know when your expectation fails to be met, because it's pretty easy to envisage a situation where that might happen.