Advice with Faulty Item from the USA

Aylesbury_Duck

Clarah_Lou wrote: »

Hiya, that quote I think refers to unwanted items, not faulty ones. I found this though which is promising!

[I]Customer Returns and Refunds Under Federal Law

Many retailers, as part of their business models, allow returns if customers change their minds or receive unwanted items as gifts. While many retailers have decided this makes for the best business practice, they aren't legally required to accept returns. Rather, retailers are required to accept returns only if the sold good is defective or if they otherwise break the sales contract.

In addition to retailers being required to accept the return of defective items, federal law provides a "Cooling-Off Rule " giving buyers three days to cancel purchases of $25 or more. [/I]

Contact them and say you want to exercise your right to return the faulty item and see what they say. I suspect they'll stick to their guns and even if they agree, I suspect you'll have to pay for shipping yourself. The problem is, even if you are correct and you have this right, you cannot enforce it. The other thing to consider is that it's your son that has the contract with them, not you, they could simply refuse to deal with you.

Personally I'd just get the zip replaced locally. You've risked buying from overseas and it's partially backfired. You've still got a bargain compared to the U.K. RRP, even once you've paid for a new zip.

Clarah_Lou

custardy wrote: »

So like anyone else who buys stuff on holiday.
you accepted the risk of no real returns/remedy

I had faith in a huge well known brand and wrongly assumed their designer high end goods would be quality!!

Clarah_Lou

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Contact them and say you want to exercise your right to return the faulty item and see what they say. I suspect they'll stick to their guns and even if they agree, I suspect you'll have to pay for shipping yourself. The problem is, even if you are correct and you have this right, you cannot enforce it. The other thing to consider is that it's your son that has the contract with them, not you, they could simply refuse to deal with you.

Personally I'd just get the zip replaced locally. You've risked buying from overseas and it's partially backfired. You've still got a bargain compared to the U.K. RRP, even once you've paid for a new zip.

Thanks. It's just so frustrating! My son is a minor so I doubt they would insist on dealing with him and technically, I bought the coat as paid on my card but I appreciate you taking the time to comment. I guess a new zip is the way to go, I doubt I am going to get anywhere online with customer services and I am not back in the States for another 2 weeks, he needs his coat now.

Aylesbury_Duck

If you paid then the contract is yours. If he needs the coat now, just get the zip done. It would take weeks to sort even if the retailer was prepared to help.

Clarah_Lou

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

If you paid then the contract is yours. If he needs the coat now, just get the zip done. It would take weeks to sort even if the retailer was prepared to help.

Yes, thanks for clarifying, that's what I thought about the 'contract'.

I am also aware that I can get the zip replaced and I am sure that is what I will probably end up doing, it has been mentioned a few times before! My question on the forum was whether anyone had any knowledge/experience of the US consumer rights!

baza52

Clarah_Lou wrote: »

Yes, thanks for clarifying, that's what I thought about the 'contract'.

I am also aware that I can get the zip replaced and I am sure that is what I will probably end up doing, it has been mentioned a few times before! My question on the forum was whether anyone had any knowledge/experience of the US consumer rights!

whatever the rights are you will still need to return the coat by either sending it and paying for shipping of the return (plus import fees) or physically take it to the store.

Paul_DNAP

Clarah_Lou wrote: »

Do you mean 'where' you purchased? If so, do they not have consumer laws in the States?

No, there is no federal law that forces retailers to even have a refund & replace policy, let alone give the consumer any basic rights. Some states have a state law that outlines the requirement to tell you if the store has a policy, but don't mandate much detail on what the policy should be. Even so, Nevada is not one of those states and so you are only bound by the store's own policy on the matter which forms part of your contract.

KeithP

Try The Better Business Bureau - www.bbb.org.

POPPYOSCAR

Have you asked them for a partial refund in order for you to get the zip replaced?

shaun_from_Africa

Clarah_Lou wrote: »

I had faith in a huge well known brand and wrongly assumed their designer high end goods would be quality!!

One faulty item doesn't mean that in general, the brand of clothing isn't of good quality as any manufacturer of any goods will always have the occasional item that slips through their quality controls checks.

I wouldn't call a coat that cost $130 (about £100) to be a "high end" item of clothing.
Yes, the label on it might have stated $360 but the prices shown on goods in outlet stores are a bit like the "Manufacturers recommended prices" shown on some things in the UK in that they don't really have much basis in reality and are only there to make people think that they are getting a great bargain.