Return to shop

Alderbank

sheramber said:

rewob65 said:

I wondered what your rights are to return a damaged item to a shop miles away.  My mother is being told that for shop bought purchases they can only be returned in person to the shop and not by post.  Unlike me she is all for supporting the High Street and had a twice a year trip to Cambridge, but given the shop in question is at least 50 miles away if this is the case I recommend the internet.   Clearly she can return to other shops in the chain but the Cambridde branch at 50 miles is the closest.

has she asked ,very nicely , in a local store if she could possibly return it there since the store she purchased it is so far away?

Sherambler, in your own post you quote that the branch where she bought it is the closest.

Alderbank

I see this as a practical rather than a legal issue. Most bricks-and-mortar stores have poor or non-existent systems for returning goods by post. The office junior who opens the post might just leave the item lying on a bench, someone else might pick it up and put it back into stock. Even companies with effective returns systems usually require you to complete a returns form, use a specific address, attach an RM number, etc. If the item goes astray, particularly after following a course of action which the seller has specifically advised against, the buyer might be on a lost cause.

OP, Cambridge is lovely at Christmas. Twice a year is not that often.  Why not treat mum to an extra visit for some Christmas shopping?

jonesey1985

user1977 said:

Bradden said:

user1977 said:

Bradden said:

user1977 said:

They're not entitled to insist you bring it back in person. What reason did they give for not accepting a postal return? (other than presumably the hope that it will deter her from bothering)

Are you sure this is the case?

Yes, I'm sure. Where does the legislation say you need to bring it back to the retailer in person?

If I bought a games console from a shop and then posted it back to them for a refund. If the item is damaged when received by the retailer who would be laible?

Depends on the evidence either way. But that's a different question from whether or not you're permitted to return it by post.

Thanks.. I'm sure you know more about the law than I ... what is the legislation which allows a purchaser to nominate where they wish to return a product to and under what grounds? 

I understand the OP states the item is damaged. It was purchased in person and therefore the retailer has a right to inspect goods before agreeing a refund presumably. What does the law state on a situaiton where product is purchaed in store.. posted back by the buyer as faulty. Retailer inpects goods and determines they are not faulty... or the fault is due to operator error? What does the legislatin state would happen in this situation? or even worse... retailer staes returned item is incorrect. eg... polo mints instead of a console. Who would be liable? 

The law isn't specific on any of those points.

The item needs to be returned to the retailer. The law doesn't specify what method can or can't be used to achieve that.

The retailer is liable if they sold an item which was damaged (or if the item wasn't as described). If they've got an argument that the item was actually damaged by the consumer, or isn't faulty, or the consumer is simply lying about what they received, then ultimately it's going to come down to whatever a court makes of the evidence available.

But the law doesn't state they need to accept returns by post either.

It may be the case that the retailer refuses any parcels sent to them, in which case it'll simply get returned to the OP or worse, get lost in the ether.  The company would not be liable and the OP would be out of pocket.

sheramber

sheramber said:

rewob65 said:

I wondered what your rights are to return a damaged item to a shop miles away.  My mother is being told that for shop bought purchases they can only be returned in person to the shop and not by post.  Unlike me she is all for supporting the High Street and had a twice a year trip to Cambridge, but given the shop in question is at least 50 miles away if this is the case I recommend the internet.   Clearly she can return to other shops in the chain but the Cambridde branch at 50 miles is the closest.

ailable.has she asked ,very nicely , in a local store if she could possibly return it there since the store she purchased it is so far away?

I read the bit saying she could return it to other branches in the chain and assumed there were others available.

soapygiraffe

Hi, I'm looking for a bit of advice. I recently purchased a light from an online company (stupidly didn't read their returns process). Then didn't want to keep the light. Emailed the company on how to do this which was basically post back to them at my expense and then they have finally made a partial refund. The light was returned in original condition and packaging. It's basically cost me £25 for the fun of it! Are they allowed to do this?

user1977

soapygiraffe said:

Hi, I'm looking for a bit of advice. I recently purchased a light from an online company (stupidly didn't read their returns process). Then didn't want to keep the light. Emailed the company on how to do this which was basically post back to them at my expense and then they have finally made a partial refund. The light was returned in original condition and packaging. It's basically cost me £25 for the fun of it! Are they allowed to do this?

You'd be better to start your own thread, rather than confuse matters by tagging on to a rather different question.