Testing and returning headphones during Covid

Cwm2g

Hi all,

 I’ve seen similar questions to this in the past, but still don’t seem to answer my question, but apologies if I’m repeating stuff that’s been answered elsewhere.

Basically, I work from home right now, in a job (academia) where being able to concentrate for long periods is essential. I’ve found my old noise cancelling headphones, now long discontinued, were a lifesaver in a small household where my partner is often on calls/in meetings. Problem is, they have now died, so I urgently need new ones.

For me, the comfort/fit is paramount. Normally, I’d go to John Lewis/Curry’s, try them on first, but clearly I can’t. I’ve researched this to death, and so much of it is subjective: X is comfortable, but not if you have a large head, then get Y, but not if you wear glasses (I do), while someone else says the opposite, so on. 

Returns policies say things should be unopened - I completely understand why - but right now this is very impractical, and I can’t risk £2-300 if it isn’t right.

My question: are there new policies that are more lenient in light of lockdowns? If so, where? Is anyone particularly good to buy from? Amazon seem to have ‘no questions’ returns, while anecdotally John Lewis seems to have the best customer service, while Curry’s talk vaguely of you being allowed to inspect the item at home.

I don’t want to take the mickey and test them for a month and return or anything, just carefully try the ones I’m interested in on and then decide. I don’t even mind if it’s exchange only, because I’m sure I’ll buy something, I just can’t live with it if the fit isn’t right, and can’t wait two months to get back into stores. 

Any help you could provide (short of ‘stuff cotton wool into your ears until April’) would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

neilmcl

Try Amazon. Be aware though that a store's returns policies are in addition to your consumer rights and most items purchased online will be covered by distance selling law under the terms of The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation & Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, or CCRs for short.

Are these in ear or on/over ear headphones you're interested in? You may find difficulties in returning in ear headphones due to hygiene reasons, although I managed to send back a pair of in ear headphones to Amazon without issue.

Cwm2g

Thanks! Sorry should have clarified, these are over ear headphones.

neilmcl

Depending on your budget you can still get the much praised Sony WH-1000XM3 noise cancelling headphones and I'd recommend getting them from here

Arguably they are better than their replacement XM4.

Cwm2g

My choices are in that price range (though they’re £30 cheaper on JL and Amazon) / either those or the mk4s, Sennheiser PXC550, or Bose 700/QC35s. My last pair were Bose, but wired and powered by a AA battery. 

While the fit still rules everything (and being able to return if it doesn’t fit my head/ear shape with glasses), the Bose 700s connect to two devices simultaneously and pipes sound to your phone or laptop automatically which seems very convenient, while the Sony mk4s do that (3’s don’t) but are £100 more (350 is stretching the budget). The older QCs seem to get rave reviews in terms of comfort but isolate noise less well and sound poorer. I’m sure all will be a step up on what I had, but I guess if I’m going to invest, I don’t want to do it without the subjective bit of actually putting them on and exchanging if they aren’t right and JL in particular aren’t clear on where that line is drawn.

neilmcl

Cwm2g said:

My choices are in that price range (though they’re £30 cheaper on JL and Amazon) / either those or the mk4s, Sennheiser PXC550, or Bose 700/QC35s. My last pair were Bose, but wired and powered by a AA battery. 

While the fit still rules everything (and being able to return if it doesn’t fit my head/ear shape with glasses), the Bose 700s connect to two devices simultaneously and pipes sound to your phone or laptop automatically which seems very convenient, while the Sony mk4s do that (3’s don’t) but are £100 more (350 is stretching the budget). The older QCs seem to get rave reviews in terms of comfort but isolate noise less well and sound poorer. I’m sure all will be a step up on what I had, but I guess if I’m going to invest, I don’t want to do it without the subjective bit of actually putting them on and exchanging if they aren’t right and JL in particular aren’t clear on where that line is drawn.

The law is very clear on where the line is drawn. Under the CCRs you will have 14 days to cancel and return the headphones for a full refund. It allows you to handle them in a way that does not go beyond "what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods", in other words it allows you to handle in the same way you could do in a physical shop. Anything more than that the retailer can deduct an amount to take this into account.

Personally I don't se you having any issues with JL even though they seemed to have toughened up their returns stance of late.

I  would definitely give the likes of Currys a wide berth for purchases like this.

alan_d

Another to consider are the Bose 'Noise Cancelling Headphones 700', which I've found to be comfortable for wearing for long periods, and they have a good returns policy in this regard if you don't get on with them.

JamoLew

neilmcl said:

Depending on your budget you can still get the much praised Sony WH-1000XM3 noise cancelling headphones and I'd recommend getting them from here

Arguably they are better than their replacement XM4.

Agree - these things are amazing BUT - I find them very uncomfortable when wearing my glasses

RumRat

I'd go for the Sony WH-1000XM4 if that's where your budget is.  The ear pads are 10% bigger than the M3 so are really comfortable.  I had a pair until someone (Nameless.. ) managed to drive over them (Don't ask..). Even with glasses they were extremely comfortable. 

Zandoni

I really think that you shouldn't order any headphones and expect to send them back, especially in the middle of a Pandemic.

Cwm2g

Well, each to their own - but I respectfully disagree in this case. I *do* agree it’s not something we should take the proverbial with, and no one (rightly) wants to deal with open box returns, but this is pretty much the only time I think I’d have a valid reason to open the packaging and not buy a product. It’s a product that is necessary for work, it’s currently not available to test, it’s expensive, and literally doesn’t have a one size fits all approach - it’s incredibly subjective and very important it doesn’t cause headaches. I should also note I don’t *intend* to return anything - I’ve done as much research as is possible, but if the first pair aren’t suitable then I’d like the option to exchange, is all.

Would it be ok to do the same with a new TV because I then decided the old one was actually still fine? Almost certainly not. Or, would I have asked this if I could have tested them in a store, or if it could wait two months? On both counts, no. It’s because of the specific circumstances of the pandemic that this need has arisen, not because I want to cause anyone unnecessary hassle.