Electronics bought online

Polterry

My understanding of consumer law is that any item bought on line can be returned if found to be unsuitable when received. Ignore the question of who pays postage.

I am intereted in buying a mobile phone and both Currys PC World and Argos both state that once I open the box I cannot return the item unless there is a fault with it. I note that with Amazon there is no problem in making a return.

If I buy a phone online from say Argos what are my rights if I decide it is not right for me and want to return it within a few days of receipt

Regards

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Hello OP

You are correct about returning items, typically within 14 days beginning the day after delivery and a mobile phone isn't excluded from this right.

There is often a difference between policy and rights and you may be reading policy from the company, on the right to cancel Currys says:

https://www.currys.co.uk/terms-conditions.html

Following The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations, we will accept items back even if you have opened the goods to inspect them. You are entitled to a refund as long as you inform us of your decision to cancel within 14 calendar days from the day after delivery of the goods. You can examine the goods as you would in a shop but to obtain a full refund you must not start using them, install them or input any data/software. The goods must be in an ‘as new’ condition and returned in the original, undamaged packaging, along with any accessories and free gifts received with them. DVDs, CDs, memory cards and software packaging discs must still be sealed. If you want to return a Software Product Activation Key card which is not faulty, the silver strip on the back of the card must be fully intact as new.

We may make a deduction from the refund for any loss in value of the goods if the loss is a result of any unnecessary handling by you.

Apart from the part in bold they are correct in that if you handle the goods beyond what may typically be available in store they can reduce the refund to account for any loss in value.

What's available in store might be subjective as might the amount. 

If you take care of the phone and packing Currys will likely comply with their policy but you do risk a reduced refund.

Argos says

https://www.argos.co.uk/help/terms-and-conditions

5.3 Where applicable, you may cancel your order in accordance with your rights under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation & Additional Charges Regulations (see the Returns and refunds page for further details.

Their returns page then says nothing about your right to cancel and in my view they are deliberately misleading the consumer and there is the possibility of facing issues with the return. 

Worth a note Amazon may reduce the refund also depending upon whether the warehouse flag it when dealing with the return. 

If you can having look in store might not be a bad idea and as it's MSE places like Music Magpie sell refurbished phones which if you pick their top grade it will probably be as good as brand new at a cheaper price