Has anyone inspected a delivery before signing for it?

ztkr

I've bought a secondhand car part online, and when it's delivered I need to inspect it before signing for it.

Just wondered if anyone has any experience of couriers/RM allowing this.

RFW

philc27 wrote: »

I've bought a secondhand car part online, and when it's delivered I need to inspect it before signing for it.

Just wondered if anyone has any experience of couriers/RM allowing this.

In theory they can't stop you, in practice they're usually in a hurry to get to their next job. I'd be polite and ask them to hold on while you do so, tell them if not you'd be unable to accept it.
In the past if I've needed to check something and not been able to I'll sign my name and put "unchecked" next to it. That's usually been on pallet loads just in case there's a quantity discrepancy.

forgotmyname

You need to inspect it before accepting it. But if its not right are you then going to make the delivery driver wait longer whilst you repackage it and seal it back up?

If its not the right item then take it up with the seller aftwards.

elsien

In a similar situation for car parts I added a sentence to my signature stating that I was accepting the box from the courier unchecked.

ztkr

RFW wrote: »

In theory they can't stop you, in practice they're usually in a hurry to get to their next job. I'd be polite and ask them to hold on while you do so, tell them if not you'd be unable to accept it.
In the past if I've needed to check something and not been able to I'll sign my name and put "unchecked" next to it. That's usually been on pallet loads just in case there's a quantity discrepancy.

Thank you for your reply. I'd go for the "unchecked" option too, but the seller specifically says in their T&Cs that signing as "unchecked" is not acceptable.

ztkr

forgotmyname wrote: »

You need to inspect it before accepting it. But if its not right are you then going to make the delivery driver wait longer whilst you repackage it and seal it back up?

If its not the right item then take it up with the seller aftwards.

Just to clarify, it's not so much me inisisting upon inspection as it is the seller saying customers can't return damaged items if they've signed for them.

RFW

philc27 wrote: »

Just to clarify, it's not so much me inisisting upon inspection as it is the seller saying customers can't return damaged items if they've signed for them.

That's nonsense. You have the right to return a faulty/damaged item and the seller is obliged to pay for you to return it.

ztkr

RFW wrote: »

That's nonsense. You have the right to return a faulty/damaged item and the seller is obliged to pay for you to return it.

I agree. However, several of the companies selling parts at this website had similar T&Cs. I guess they do it to stop people taking the part they bought and returning their existing part as "damaged". I very much doubt such T&Cs are compatible with the Distance Selling Regulations, but I also sense a long and fruitless argument with the seller if the part arrives damaged.

theonlywayisup

philc27 wrote: »

I agree. However, several of the companies selling parts at this website had similar T&Cs. I guess they do it to stop people taking the part they bought and returning their existing part as "damaged". I very much doubt such T&Cs are compatible with the Distance Selling Regulations, but I also sense a long and fruitless argument with the seller if the part arrives damaged.

There are checks in place to protect you, the buyer, from unlawful T&C such as this.

1. Ebay case - you can open a case up to 30 days and the seller will have to supply a prepaid label for the return of the item.

2. Paypal case - you have 180 days to open a case and there are offers of up to £15 for it's return postage cost from paypal themselves but you have to sign up for the scheme.

3. Legislation. The Distance Seller Regs no longer apply. They have been replaced by Consumer Contracts Regulations. Legislation is a last resort and you have two very good levers in place should your purchase not be what you expected.

There is no need to sign "unchecked", there is no need to inspect before you sign.

ztkr

Thanks for the above. I totally agree. As it turned out, the item arrived early this morning. It was packed in thick bubblewrap, plastic and parcel tape, and there was no way I'd be able to inspect it in a reasonable time. The courier wrote "unchecked" on his little machine and after 10 minutes fighting to get into the package, the item was fine. Case closed.