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George_Michael wrote: »Realistically, how would they vet customers who are buying over the internet?
They could ask to see professional qualification or membership of a trade body but using Photoshop, I could easily knock these up and if I was willing to fill in a form incorrectly, I might not have any qualms about doing that.
I suppose that they could ask you to send in the original documents but who would have to pay for the sending and checking of these? and would a business buy from them if it was going to take an extra day to get verified?
In my situation, they wouldn't need to do any of this to make me aware they are a B2B only website. They just need to tell me clearly!
It may be true that writing my name in the Company Box was not the correct thing to do, but the company are making it a very easy thing to do for consumers who find themselves at this stage of the checkout process. A consumer won't start thinking about business law and CCRs, they'll think about how to get the form filled in, and writing their name seem quite easy, and doesn't seem dishonest.
There's a clear advantage for the company not to tell me at this stage that its B2B only. That, is, they get my sale. It would be the easiest thing to have a box to check saying "I understand that I am making this purchase as a business". I have no doubt that Canford sell to many consumers, and it's within their interest to make it easy for consumers to fill out the form. If they didn't want me as a consumer, they could make any number of very simple changes to stop me from buying, or making me aware of the B2B situation.0 -
Supersonos wrote: »I'm a sole trader, so I would buy from Canford and just put my name in the box.
If the product is what I wanted, I'd claim back the VAT, but the cost through my books as a tax deductable expense.
But if the product wasn't what I wanted I could switch and say I was actually buying it as a consumer and get a full refund.
Win win!
Good point. But I'm not VAT registered, so no win for me there. I bought with a supermarket store credit card, and with a gmail email account. I think buying as a business, you would normally buy through the business?0 -
BrightonSake wrote: »In my situation, they wouldn't need to do any of this to make me aware they are a B2B only website. They just need to tell me clearly!2 Formation of Contract
2.3 All orders are accepted on the basis that they are from a bona fide trading entity or professional end-user. The Buyer acknowledges that the Seller’s products are unsuitable for domestic or retail applications and the Buyer accordingly undertakes to the Seller that it is a bona fide trading entity or professional end-user. The Buyer further acknowledges that the laws governing the Contract shall be those relating to business to business (rather than business to consumer) transactions unless judged otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction.0 -
Hermione_Granger wrote: »Something like this you mean?
“2 Formation of Contract
2.3 All orders are accepted on the basis that they are from a bona fide trading entity or professional end-user. The Buyer acknowledges that the Seller’s products are unsuitable for domestic or retail applications and the Buyer accordingly undertakes to the Seller that it is a bona fide trading entity or professional end-user. The Buyer further acknowledges that the laws governing the Contract shall be those relating to business to business (rather than business to consumer) transactions unless judged otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction."
Yes, something like that, or just one line of that would've been great if shown at the checkout process, or prominently on the website, such as on the homepage0 -
Are you going to tell us what you bought?0
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BrightonSake wrote: »Yes, something like that, or just one line of that would've been great if shown at the checkout process, or prominently on the website, such as on the homepage
Or maybe in their terms and conditions, something that any sensible person would read before entering into a financial contract.
Would it really have made any difference even if it was shown on the checkout page?
After all, there was a section that clearly asked for a business name or if you were a sole trader and you ignored that!0 -
Hermione_Granger wrote: »Or maybe in their terms and conditions, something that any sensible person would read before entering into a financial contract.
Maybe I'm just not sensible enough!
But am I the only person who doesn't read through every company's terms and conditions before buying online?0 -
BrightonSake wrote: »But am I the only person who doesn't read through every company's terms and conditions before buying online?
I certainly wouldn't put the company at a loss because of my inaction.0 -
Hermione_Granger wrote: »No. I admit that I don't always read the full T&C's when buying online but I do this is the knowledge that if something happens because of what I chose not to do, it will be my fault and mine alone and I will live with the consequences.
I certainly wouldn't put the company at a loss because of my inaction.
I don't have the power to put the company at a loss unless they are on the wrong side of the law. Whether they are or not is the subject of most of this discussion.0
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