'New' laptop with factory seal broken

timmy963

We have this a lot where I work where the manufacturers black seal will be broken and then a thin silver/white one will be placed over the top. This is usually because a freebie copy of office365 of McAfee as been thrown in which was not included originally.

I think it's the manufacturer who does this, not the retailer. The manufacturer were probably paid by Microsoft/McAfee/Norton to throw their crap-ware inside the boxes after they were already sealed.

Bradden

Alderbank said:

Bradden said:

HillStreetBlues said:

Bradden said:

I would think it's fairly common due to the consumer laws on distance sales. Customers can return goods which have been opened for inspection.. retailer ships them to the next customer.

This is the issue retails have, but it is their problem not the customers.
Unsealed means you can't be certain it's new

I think this is one of those topics which I've seen discussed before without any conclusion. If box has been opened to inspect a product at the point of sale I'm not sure it's second hand. The legislation was written on this basis.. which is why consumers have the right to return opened but unused purchases. 

Which legislation is that?

Consumers have no statutory right to return opened but unused purchases unless they are faulty. If they are faulty it makes no difference whether they are opened, unused or not.

Some retailers allow limited returns but that is always in addition to your statutory rights. They can set any conditions they wish, including saying you must have till receipt and package seals must be intact.

Consumers making distance purchases have the statutory right to cancel the contract and return purchases regardless of whether they are opened or unused. The consumer can examine the goods as in a shop without penalty. Even if they have opened and used the goods excessively they can still return them for a refund but the seller can reduce the refund to allow for reduced sale value.

Nothing special in consumer law about a package being sealed, except for certain specified goods with a hygiene seal.

Sorry... I was talking about distance sales regulations and the right to inspect goods and return without penalty.