Should they have sold them?

I bought solar panels from this shop and, unfortunately, left them at the shop because of transport logistics.

We had planned on collecting same day but when we got there our car was too small. I went to Gaborone to collect only to be told the panels have been sold and I was told to wait a week for the shipment that was expected a week later. Today I went back to collect and I was told they do not have the panels still. Now am offered back the money with 12% cut or am offered better panels and I have to top up the money to get an extra 2 panels.

Is that how it is supposed to happen when I didn’t cancel my order? Are they not supposed to fully refund me if they can’t provide the goods? I have collected all the other things. I just thought if they wanted to sell they could have communicated. Why didn’t they communicate when selling?

When I first read your message I was shocked. Shocked by how unreasonable these people are. You spent a lot of money with them and they sold a major part of your purchase before you could return with suitable transport? That’s wrong in so many ways. I was ready to contact them and tell them how terribly they’ve treated you.

Until I asked a question. I asked how long it was between you buying the goods and returning to collect them. You told me “about 3 months”.

I had assumed it was a matter of hours, perhaps even a day or two. Now I think the problem is more complicated. I still think the store was wrong to sell the solar panels without calling you. That was rude of them. I’ve seen your receipt and it has your cell number on it. There’s no reason for them not to call and ask what you were planning to do.

However, I also think you put them in a difficult position, too. You bought an item and then disappeared. For three months you didn’t contact them. They stored your goods for you for much longer than was reasonable to expect and, like most companies, they’ll expect to be paid for that, certainly if it was for so long and wasn’t agreed in advance. I suspect, given the situation, that their offer to refund you minus a fee, or to sell you newer, better equipment, is reasonable.