Consumer rights with internet / eBay trades

theonlywayisup

Telegraph_Sam wrote: »

Agreed. eBay and PayPal are no substitute for the law and consumer rights.

My point is that it seems (to me) that many eBay traders regard themselves as outwith the law as far as consumer rights are concerned, however incorrectly. I was wondering if - in practice - there is some unwritten rule that reinforces this, recognizing that enforcement of ones rights in cyberspace is something different from bringing a complaint in physical premises in the High Street.

But yes, there are differing rules for "cyberspace" as you call it (apropos the High Street)

Shaka_Zulu

Most manufacturers (of expensive items) have official stockists. If warranty is you over riding concern then you should buy via one of the official stockists.

If price is important and you don't mind an element of risk then you can always buy from a retailer of grey items.

RoonilWazlib_2

Telegraph_Sam wrote: »

"I still don't know what you are asking"

If it is your / readers' view or experience that with eBay traders the attempts to wiggle out of their responsibilities (with some success) are significantly greater when comparing like for like than with High Street retailers.

In my personal experience High Street significantly greater.

(If by high street you mean 'not online')

Telegraph_Sam

High Street in this instance I interpret as not online and as not cyberspace.
I feel that the risks with the latter are significantly greater in practice..

" there are differing rules for "cyberspace" as you call it (apropos the High Street)"
Is this a general observation or do you have something specific in mind?

theonlywayisup

Telegraph_Sam wrote: »

" there are differing rules for "cyberspace" as you call it (apropos the High Street)"
Is this a general observation or do you have something specific in mind?

You have greater returns rights when buying online (in cyberspace) than instore.

I do have something specific, but it's not "in mind" it is in fact legislation, you may want to google it - buying online versus buying instore.

I still cannot see your question. So I will bow out as imho you are nothing more than a troll, or worse.

theonlywayisup

BTW, do you troll only my posts?:D Sad. Or is it just purchases in general you have issues with? More sad.

Telegraph_Sam

I assure you and others that my question / observation is totally genuine and it is unfortunate that you have interpreted this as trolling.

unholyangel

Telegraph_Sam wrote: »

Agreed. eBay and PayPal are no substitute for the law and consumer rights.

My point is that it seems (to me) that many eBay traders regard themselves as outwith the law as far as consumer rights are concerned, however incorrectly. I was wondering if - in practice - there is some unwritten rule that reinforces this, recognizing that enforcement of ones rights in cyberspace is something different from bringing a complaint in physical premises in the High Street.

I think perhaps you're just looking at it the wrong way.

Some retailers (whether online or in a physical store) don't know what their legal obligations are, some don't care what their legal obligations are.

The only difference really (imo) is that online its a lot easier to deceive customers. Deceive them into thinking that you're a large retailer with professional standards with a fancy website when really, you're a one man band operating out of your spare room/garage. In some circumstances, they even deceive consumers into thinking they operate from the UK when its really china - no chance of that happening with a physical store! Easier to deceive them to buy fake goods by having pictures of the real mccoy & they dont realise until they receive the goods where a physical store, they'd see the goods before entering into a contract.

takman

Telegraph_Sam wrote: »

"I still don't know what you are asking"

If it is your / readers' view or experience that with eBay traders the attempts to wiggle out of their responsibilities (with some success) are significantly greater when comparing like for like than with High Street retailers.

In my experience eBay traders have gone above and beyond what they are required to do. Once I've had a faulty product refunded without having to send it back and have had other products replaced also without needing to send them back. One of them were a pair of £6 drop links for my car which wore out after 10 months (14,000 miles). They sent me a new pair without quibble after I sent them a picture they requested without even having to remove them from the car.

On the other hand high street retailers are stricter and returning items to bigger chain stores has resulted in lengthy debates before the problem is resolved.

That's why I'm not surprised high street shops are loosing more and more customers. Why would someond want to go to the trouble of visiting a shop to buy an item to be faced with less choice, higher prices and poorer consumer rights?.

Telegraph_Sam

It would be wrong to tar all eBay traders with the same brush and no doubt there are many very ethical ones amongst them who act as you have described. My point was no more than to say that, in my experience, a large proportion seem (very) reluctant to offer the kind of come-back support that we would expect from the better class of high street retailer because they can see their customers being faced with difficulties in enforcing their consumers rights if the item does not give reasonable service. In effect a de facto unwritten rule, understandable in cases where it is a man in a bedroom with a warehouse containing job lots that he has bought and is selling off on low margins.
The distinction does I accept get fuzzy when you have high street retailers trading from their own web sites, but this is different from "eBay traders".