Google "Trusted Stores" Purchase Protection... Should I take it?

Tunstallstoven

Hi

I've just bought something on line and have been offered Google Purchase Protection "for free".

I'm just looking into it now as I have zero experience of it...

But I always prefer to get my advice from MSE, so can anyone steer me towards a yay or nay please?

Cheers

Max

powerful_Rogue

Crazy not to take it to be honest.

Plus it looks like you're too late now.

At this time, purchase protection is offered on a per-order basis, and only at the time of purchase.

https://support.google.com/trustedstores/answer/1669901?hl=en-GB

Tunstallstoven

Hi there

I've still got the order page opened, offering me to take it. I guess there is a chance that if I say "YES" it will say that the offer has timed out.

I had to go out so have not been able to read much on it yet. I think there may be some issues around privacy and how it is a clever way for Google to gain information about you.

I'm also wondering what it offers over and beyond:

- the shop warranty
- Section 75 protection
- Statutory Rights

Will continue to read up as soon as I can.

Any further info in the meantime gratefully received.

Cheers

cono1717

I imagine it's more of an Alternative dispute resolution service than anything else and would only offer a quicker solution to the problem then having to deal with company / courts.

donnac2558

I've had it pop up a few times when buying things. I was wary of it and just clicked no.

System

The Protection Google Offers

When You buy an eligible item covered by the Program from a qualifying Merchant, and the Merchant fails to remedy any of the eligible problems listed in this section, then if you report the problem to Google through your account within 60 days from the date that you placed your order with the Merchant, Google will assist You in resolving the problem and/or provide You a full refund, equal to the original item price plus shipping and tax, subject to the refund limitations and processes described in these terms.

Eligible problems include each of the following:

You fail to receive the correct item
Your item is not received in the promised condition
You are billed an incorrect amount
Your item is not delivered in a timely manner
The Merchant does not honour their return policies

All the boring detail: https://www.google.co.uk/certifiedshops/customer/tos.html

It's free, in exchange Google get data about your shopping habits. I can't imagine why they'd want that

You don't get extra rights, but you gain an altenative and potentially easier way to enforce some of your existing ones should something go wrong. Much like ebay or paypal offer protection programs for buyers.

Tunstallstoven

Thanks for the replies...

I decided to decline it in the end. The whole internet privacy thing is something on my to do list. It's been on there some time actually. I'll get round to looking into it one day and changing my internet habits accordingly.

From what little I found, it would seem this is a way for Google to get info about you and invade privacy. Whether that matters, and whether the protection they offer is a fair trade off, is another matter.

But from what I can see, the protection only lasts 6 weeks. And you have to go through the retailer first before you can then turn to Google. I have a year warranty with the shop, 2 years with the manufacturer, Statutory Rights, and I bought on a credit card so have Section 75 protection too. So I don't feel I'm missing out really.

I was really surprised by the lack of info on the internet. I found a few pages explaining what it was, the terms, etc. But not much discussing the good and bad of it. Interesting.....

Cheers

donnac2558

Ah! Now I remember why I clicked no. I had visions of loads of emails about things I had no interest in.

DCFC79

Or you use a second gmail account for Internet purchases.