Replacement or repair instead of refund - Amazon Warehouse

sh1202

Good afternoon,

I bought something from Amazon Warehouse sale for £50.  About a month later the product has stopped working properly, and Amazon want to refund me rather than replace or repair the product.  That would ordinarily be fine but I was actually really pleased with it up until it stopped working properly and I would rather have the item replaced or repaired. 

There are lots of the same items in stock in the warehouse, but the cost is now £80.

Can I force Amazon to repair or replace the item, rather than issuing a refund?

Thanks very much for any thoughts.

Manxman_in_exile

You can ask nicely but you can't force them.

Amazon won't want to pfaff around repairing it when it would be easier for them to give you a refund - which they're entitled to do.

And they won't want to replace it when they could just sell the replacement for £30 more than they will refund you.

One of the problems buying goods "on sale" is that although you are buying cheap, if it goes wrong and you are entitled to a refund, all you are entitled to (in almost all cases) is what you paid, not necessarily what it will cost you to replace.

sh1202

Thanks, appreciate your comment.  I do see why they wouldn't want to replace it.

Sandtree

sh1202 said:

Can I force Amazon to repair or replace the item, rather than issuing a refund?

No, you are entitled to express a preference and the vendor should consider your preference however they are entitled to reject your preference if the cost of your preference is more than another resolution... ie you cannot make them spend £100 repairing a £50 item.

What is the item? Have you approached the manufacturer/uk distributor? Have you any idea the cost of repair?

Manufacturers are more likely to repair or replace than refund but you have no statutory rights with them and so they can also tell you to go away. Any warranty may have been invalidated because its an Amazon Warehouse sale.

If its not expensive to repair you could ask Amazon to give a partial refund and you keep the item then pay for its repair yourself. If you do this however you effectively accept this fault and wouldnt be able to approach Amazon in the future if the same fault reoccurred.

Flight3287462

Op you bought a second hand item so they couldn't replace it.  Amazon have already had it back once before a really won't want any further hassle with the item.

MarvinDay

Flight3287462 said:

Op you bought a second hand item so they couldn't replace it.  Amazon have already had it back once before a really won't want any further hassle with the item.

Where did the OP state that they purchased a second hand item? and where did they say that it has already been sent back once before?

porkisnotmeat

MarvinDay said:

Flight3287462 said:

Op you bought a second hand item so they couldn't replace it.  Amazon have already had it back once before a really won't want any further hassle with the item.

Where did the OP state that they purchased a second hand item? and where did they say that it has already been sent back once before?

Warehouse offers are returns.

By definition they're second hand and have been returned at least once before.

oldagetraveller1

"Warehouse offers are returns."

Probably most are, I have bought Warehouse items that have been new and unused but the packaging they were in was damaged.

cx6

All the warehouse items I have bought in the past have arrived brand new and unopened, but with eg packaging damage.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Amazon will also sell stuff that gets damaged in the fulfilment centres through their warehouse profile, this happens more often than people might expect.  

There will also likely be customers returning unopened items where they were either damaged (i.e outer packing but product is fine) in transit to the customer or poorly looked after before being sent back.

Answer to the OP is the consumer has the right to a repair or replacement, if the trader fails to do so within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience then the consumer has the final right to reject or the right to a price reduction. 

The consumer can't force the trader to repair or replace if it's impossible or disproportionately expensive which goes back to final right/price reduction.   

Amazon's prices jump all over the place so the £30 extra in price now doesn't necessarily mean it's more expensive for them to the replace (the item could end up being £40 next week and £120 the week after) plus there is the option of a repair.

It's simply easier for Amazon to wash their hands of it and only offer refund.