After a tech bargain? Do it by the book
HOW do you avoid getting snared by a tempting tech deal that then turns into a costly mistake?
As the Black Friday bargain hunting season gets into full swing and Christmas shopping makes a super early start, checking beyond just the asking price and taking a much deeper look at who you are buying from is a good place to start.
Then you should check the returns rules – both the seller’s and any marketplace you go through – and be sure to comply.
A Lenovo Chromebook is what customer Richard Douglas was looking for and found when he trawled eBay websites last summer. But that was not what turned up after he paid £220.
“It was a laptop and it would have needed me to buy extra software,” he said. Chromebooks operate on Google’s system and can offer a more budget-friendly option. Richard returned the laptop as instructed to the website flogging various electronic items but, despite sending emails, heard no more.
Unfortunately, the safety nets in place to protect his purchase could not come to his rescue either.
He had used his local Post Office to return the machine and thought he had a tracking number. But this was not recognised and after investigating Royal Mail (RM) found he had used a 2nd Class service which limited detailed inquiries.
RM did check with its delivery office however and confirmed: “All mail has been cleared, if the package had arrived the item would have been delivered or held.”
It recommends using its fully trackable guaranteed Special Delivery Service. Second class delivery does come with £20 compensation but depends on the recipient confirming delivery.
Richard’s attempts to contact his seller proved futile and wasted much valuable time, stranding him outside eBay’s 30-day Moneyback Guarantee. This ensures if a buyer does not get what they ordered they get a refund. With no confirmation of receipt either, the protection is unenforceable. A closer look at Richard’s seller might have raised warnings. Among many websites with “tech” and “deals” in their names, pinning the exact one down can be difficult.
The business whose name corresponds most closely to Richard’s one was dissolved two years ago. Another is overseas so at odds with the site saying it is in the UK.A third has minimal details and just a mobile contact number.There are also spelling mistakes on the site he believes he purchased from – another warning sign.
But while consumers should check, getting to grips with delivery requirements and protections can save them a packet, as can savings from buying from an established, transparent retailer whose prices are often just as competitive.