Amazon.

In a competitive environment nobody can afford to have human beings sitting around waiting to make decisions on such things. Quite possibly they only attend to their web based orders once a day if that.

The more little known the seller is, the more likely it is that they don't carry the stock themselves but order it from a wholesaler/importer. It might be that they don't carry *any* stock themselves, but that all orders are relayed more or less automatically to the wholesaler.

And then maybe a similar semi-automatic process is enacted between the wholesaler/importer and the manufacturer.

And then the likes of you come along, and decide to change your mind.

michael adams

...

As I posted upthread, you shouldn't be charged a restocking fee unless you're outside the returns window, which you clearly aren't if you've just received the thing. So you should complain.

Restocking fees have also been banned on Amazon US apart from out-of-policy returns or used items.

That's your dilemma - depends on the cost of the item versus the return postage. How much was the item?

And it isn't second hand, unless you opened/used it.

Theo

The last time I returned something to Amazon, a while ago, I said that it was faulty, it wasn't, and Amazon stood the return postage. Another time, recently, I wanted to return something because I'd duplicated the order and was told to keep it and was refunded immediately. (Cost was less than £10 though.)

I thought you had to opt-in to things nowadays, not opt-out?

OK.

Are you saying any warranty is transferrable? Most new things have one.

Manufacturers warrenty and registration cards are usually contained in the sealed box.

Just so long as you don't open the box and register the product online before changing your mind again, you should be o.k.

As a private seller your only obigation is to describe the goods accurately. Which doesn't mean that an unscrupulous buyer might not claim that the contents of the sealed box were slightly damaged but still serviceable, and ask for a discount. But that can happen in any situation.

michael adams

...

But Amazon are cunning. When you go to the checkout the link for "Yes I want Amazon Prime and free delivery" is a big conspicuous yellow button and the "No thanks" link is just plain inconspicuous text. So many people end up opting in to Prime without realizing it.

I think I'm pretty savvy, but (even!) I was hoodwinked into a Prime trial a couple of years ago. I think I clicked on a tiny bit of text that said "Yes, I don't not want free shipping" or some such ;)

Amazon customer service being second-to-none, though, they cancelled it immediately when I rang them up. I still use them a lot, to the extent that I now have chosen to pay for Prime! The free next day delivery on even trivial items is something I actually enjoy. I'm pretty sure I'm actually costing them money...

Yes, you're just a reseller of the product like say your family-owned corner shop would be. They buy things from their supplier and resell them. They don't become secondhand by doing so. The manufacturer's warranty applies however you bought the product, as long as it was new when doing so (you can check the T&C with them).

Now, a buyer who buys from you has fewer statutory rights than they do if they buy online from a business (right to return within 14 days, fitness for purpose, etc). But you can optionally offer those rights to make yourself level with businesses.

The difference that remains, however, is that the buyer may have difficulty enforcing those rights against the seller compared with a larger outfit with more money, a customer service department and a reputation to defend. But in principle the way to do it (small claims court) would be the same.

Theo

Yup. ^^^^ That. Exactly.

I have a "eternal novice" PC friend that thinks Amazon is magic, things arrive next day - that's the norm. Doesn't realise he is paying for it and he could actually make more use of the other features of the subscription. Got scammed into it from the above.

Then, he soesn't read the emails.

Doesn't know the difference between

- sold by Amazon

- Amazon marketplace seller

- Fulfilled by Amazon

He randomly bought a PC for a friend as a gift. Had no idea it was second hand before it was delivered, thought it was new.

Someone gave him an Amazon gift card, so he chose an item, entered the gift card code. Changed his mind on the purchase and closed the browser.

On the next attempt, his gift card code was seemingly rejected? Actually, I'm a bit confused on that and he may have spent it somehow, but he doesn't know, and there is no track on the account I could see about this gift card use.

And yet, I'm on Prime - but awake ...

Dave, no need rush out of the door. Just take care shopping (like everywhere else).

Neither of the two came in a sealed box. Or any paperwork. Just a URL and serial number on the outside of the box.

You might be happy paying a new price from a private buyer on Ebay. Rather than from an establisged retailer. As I said before, you're odd.

I did that in December 2019. I let the 2 week trial run in the end, while I ordered Christmas stuff!

I just cancelled it online.

It was costing them too much, hence the charge. But I wasn't interested in the increased charge for streaming, so I cancelled it anyway.

Younger son has Prime so we piggyback off his.

The fact remains that if I sell it on Ebay, and the buyer claims any problems at all, I'll be liable in the first place. Not the maker. I'd also ask you if you've ever used the manufacturer for any warranty claims on anything, and not who you bought it from first.

BTW, US warrenties are often very different from the norm in the UK.

When I get a free Prime offer I use it for the free period and then cancel it. There's even an Amazon link to send you a reminder E-mail three days before the free trial expires so one doesn't forget to cancel.

I use Prime and get very good service.

Warranties are separate from statutory rights and manufacturers can decide whether or not to make them transferable. Many large manufacturers don't. Which is not to say they won't honour a claim in practice, especially if you have the original receipt.

The analogy with a corner shop re-selling is false as they are a buying as a business, not a consumer.

AOL:-)

Mind, I can't use them at the moment because their two factor identity check doesn't work with my phone.

I doubt they have missed me.

My wife has had prime for some time, as she orders a lot online (particularly convenient as she is disabled). I used her account until recently, for the prime delivery, but shortly before Christmas, I discovered that they offer Household Prime, where she could add my account to her prime, so there is no extra charge, but I can order things (for birthdays and suchlike) without her seeing.

Of course, if you have prime, you can also buy a firestick and get Prime TV included if you want it.

Oh, the service is good. But the 60%-odd increase in price, when I didn't need or want streaming, killed it for me.