Can I return a phone a few days after using it?

King_Mustard

I bought a phone from an online retailer a few days ago.

I needed to use it to see if it was right for me (how else would I know?) but it's not ideal for me.

The retailer said I can not return it as it's been opened and used, which is fair enough I guess.

I was just wondering if they're correct.

peter_the_piper

One of the problems with buying online and not through a shop in town, at least you get the chance to try it out before buying.

neilmcl

The law stipulates you can handle the goods as you would be able to do in a shop to determine it's nature, characteristics and functioning. The seller has the right to deduct an amount for any diminished value if your handling goes beyond this. I would say in your case, "using" the phone for a couple of days does indeed go beyond this.

Who is the retailer?

charlotte1994

Which site did you buy it from? Usually you have to have a reason such as it's faulty or there's no network. They very well may be correct in saying you can't return it I'm afraid, usually they say this so people don't buy a cheap look a like, send that back and keep the real phone.
I would suggest going into a store to buy a phone so you can see how they feel before hand, that's the trouble with buying phones online ):

mattyprice4004

Would most people be happy paying full price for a phone that’s been used by someone else and had the accessories unpacked, screen film removed etc?
Unfortunately not, and as such you have no right to an automatic return.

For what it’s worth I’ve always been able to get a good handle on how a phone feels and works from a display stand, videos online and reviews - so using for a few days seems excessive.

neilmcl

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

Would most people be happy paying full price for a phone that’s been used by someone else and had the accessories unpacked, screen film removed etc?
Unfortunately not, and as such you have no right to an automatic return.

For what it’s worth I’ve always been able to get a good handle on how a phone feels and works from a display stand, videos online and reviews - so using for a few days seems excessive.

The OP does have an absolute right to cancel under the CCRs!

Those phones on display stands tend to be switched on and you're able to have a brief play with them therefore the OP is well within their rights to open up the packing and start up the phone to demo it, anything beyond this and they can be charged for.

neilmcl

charlotte1994 wrote: »

Which site did you buy it from? Usually you have to have a reason such as it's faulty or there's no network. They very well may be correct in saying you can't return it I'm afraid, usually they say this so people don't buy a cheap look a like, send that back and keep the real phone.
I would suggest going into a store to buy a phone so you can see how they feel before hand, that's the trouble with buying phones online ):

Not aware of the CCRs then?

King_Mustard

I have used it for two days in total.

I bought it from Very.co.uk.

Having a quick play in a store, to me, isn't enough to know if a phone will "work" for you but I do understand that the phone would, in its opened condition, now be classed as unsellable to the retailer.

neilmcl

I'd just do a reset on the phone, clean it up and put it back in all the packaging as it was shipped and return it. If it does show signs of use beyond what is "unnecessary" then you may have a deduction levied. The Very.co.uk T&Cs are quite explicit regarding your right to cancel.

King_Mustard

neilmcl wrote: »

I'd just do a reset on the phone, clean it up and put it back in all the packaging as it was shipped and return it. If it does show signs of use beyond what is "unnecessary" then you may have a deduction levied. The Very.co.uk T&Cs are quite explicit regarding your right to cancel.

What inspired this thread was me asking Very.co.uk, via. Messenger, if I can return it after two days as it's unsuitable for me (though I made it obvious there's nothing wrong with the phone).

They said:

"Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns of a mobile device once it's been used unless there's a manufacturing fault with it."

JJ_Egan

Has a sim card been used and logged on to a network .