Shipped from within UK but saying return must be to China

Northernboo

Hi I purchased some clothes online (£52) and admittedly thought the company was probably based in China BUT the goods were shipped using Royal Mail with a UK return address. The clothes weren’t as described so I requested a return/refund via email using the Email address they provided with the goods but they didn’t reply. 

The purchase was made via PayPal so I asked them to step in. The company said I had to return the goods to China using one of 2 specific couriers. I responded stating that the goods were shipped from within the UK so I should only have to ship back to the UK postal address and I can use whichever postal/courier service I want.
Paypal have stepped in and stated that I have to return to China to get my refund.
Am I right that I should only have to return to the UK address and that SOGA applies in this case because it’s a delivery from within the  UK?
thanks in advance for your time/advice 

Aylesbury_Duck

SOGA doesn't exist any more, it's been replaced.

What company did you buy from?  If it's a Chinese company, UK consumer laws won't apply anyway so if you want your refund you will have to comply with the retailer's instructions.  Personally, given the likely cost of return postage plus the risk of the package not arriving or the company not refunding you, I'd consider writing off the £52 and not risking any more.

davidmcn

Where the company ships the goods from isn't relevant to your consumer rights. If you contracted with a Chinese seller then your rights are Chinese.

Undervalued

Northernboo said:

Hi I purchased some clothes online (£52) and admittedly thought the company was probably based in China BUT the goods were shipped using Royal Mail with a UK return address. The clothes weren’t as described so I requested a return/refund via email using the Email address they provided with the goods but they didn’t reply. 

The purchase was made via PayPal so I asked them to step in. The company said I had to return the goods to China using one of 2 specific couriers. I responded stating that the goods were shipped from within the UK so I should only have to ship back to the UK postal address and I can use whichever postal/courier service I want.
Paypal have stepped in and stated that I have to return to China to get my refund.
Am I right that I should only have to return to the UK address and that SOGA applies in this case because it’s a delivery from within the  UK?
thanks in advance for your time/advice 

Quite a few far east companies ship orders in bulk to the UK where they then enter the Royal Mail for the last part of their journey. The UK address may well be nothing more than a mail handling company.

soolin

I think we almost need a 'sub' sub board for buying from Far east companies on social media, there seems to be a real theme developing during this current crisis.

As above if you buy from China , or indeed any other non UK country then you are subject to their terms and conditions. I would urge anyone reading this to consider your 'rights' when buying from overseas companies . I would also ask the OP to consider the possibility that the return will not ever actually show as received back in China, and if that is the case then paypal would not refund anyway, it is not uncommon for items to be either genuinely lost en route, or take too long to arrive and the paypal case times out - or for seller just not to accept the return so tracking never shows delivered. 

bris

Aylesbury_Duck said:

SOGA doesn't exist any more, it's been replaced.

  SOGA still very much exists https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1979/54
The consumer DSR's have been replaced.

finneyb

Same here - bought a laptop battery from China - they sent the wrong one I suspect because they didn't have the correct one, they then make the sale. Now want me to return it to China at my expense   FedEx £77   Parcel post from £24, battery cost £42. Paypal helpful but not able to offer a refund until return.  Looks llke I've had £42 of experience. I have posted on Trustpilot.  This needs more publicity 

powerful_Rogue

finneyb said:

Same here - bought a laptop battery from China - they sent the wrong one I suspect because they didn't have the correct one, they then make the sale. Now want me to return it to China at my expense   FedEx £77   Parcel post from £24, battery cost £42. Paypal helpful but not able to offer a refund until return.  Looks llke I've had £42 of experience. I have posted on Trustpilot.  This needs more publicity 

Why would anyone want to buy a laptop battery from China. The mind boggles.

theonlywayisup

finneyb said:

Same here - bought a laptop battery from China - they sent the wrong one I suspect because they didn't have the correct one, they then make the sale. Now want me to return it to China at my expense   FedEx £77   Parcel post from £24, battery cost £42. Paypal helpful but not able to offer a refund until return.  Looks llke I've had £42 of experience. I have posted on Trustpilot.  This needs more publicity 

What sort of publicity?  You presumably knew you were buying from China. There are more caveats than hot dinners in that situation. 

mattyprice4004

finneyb said:

Same here - bought a laptop battery from China - they sent the wrong one I suspect because they didn't have the correct one, they then make the sale. Now want me to return it to China at my expense   FedEx £77   Parcel post from £24, battery cost £42. Paypal helpful but not able to offer a refund until return.  Looks llke I've had £42 of experience. I have posted on Trustpilot.  This needs more publicity 

Have you seen what happens to a lithium ion battery when it fails? 
Why on Earth anyone would buy a cheap knock-off battery from China is beyond me; most of the time you're far better with a good, used item from one of the laptop breakers on eBay. 

couriervanman

finneyb said:

Same here - bought a laptop battery from China - they sent the wrong one I suspect because they didn't have the correct one, they then make the sale. Now want me to return it to China at my expense   FedEx £77   Parcel post from £24, battery cost £42. Paypal helpful but not able to offer a refund until return.  Looks llke I've had £42 of experience. I have posted on Trustpilot.  This needs more publicity 

But you wont have to pay the return postage if item is the wrong one.....they are taking the p155 insist they send you a postage label. If eBay/amazon they will refund you don't be fobbed off by the seller