Warranty postage - who pays?

Russinating · 10 Mar 2011 at 10:32

Short story: Just returned an item under warranty to the manufacturer for replacement. Am I liable for this cost or can I invoice them for it?

I'm guessing I am but I just thought I'd check

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MikeHunt79 · 10 Mar 2011 at 10:40

It depends on the manufacturer.

For example Dell will send a courier to pick up a bad screen free of charge, while many other manufacturers will not...

Russinating · 10 Mar 2011 at 10:51

I've already posted it via RM Recorded. Manufacturer is Hagen - pet product stuff.

V4NT0M · 10 Mar 2011 at 10:54

From experience the cost is usually picked up by the consumer.

russ0r · 10 Mar 2011 at 10:56

Legally you have to pay it, some manufacturers/sellers will offer to pay it though.

MikeHunt79 · 10 Mar 2011 at 10:59

I guess it may be worth asking them, the worst they can say is 'no' afterall...

I'm surprised that there aren't some official guidelines for warranty replacement costs, after all, it's not your fault their product was faulty, so why should you have to foot the bill to help fix it?

russ0r · 10 Mar 2011 at 11:20

MikeHunt79 said:
I'm surprised that there aren't some official guidelines for warranty replacement costs, after all, it's not your fault their product was faulty, so why should you have to foot the bill to help fix it?

There are, in the sale of goods act!
Return to base warranty is at your expense, unfortunately. When I worked for a certain mail-order PC manufacturer we used to use this trick to sell extended warranties. Bit of a con tbh.

TwsT · 10 Mar 2011 at 11:22

people often get this law confused in this issue as far as i am aware the onus is on the customer

3.68 If goods develop a fault within the first six months of being sold,
the law presumes that the fault was there when you sold the goods –
unless you can show otherwise. You should not charge return costs
for goods that have been rejected because they are faulty.

But that doesn't mean the company has to pay but it does mean the company can't charge you to send you a replacement.

The law does state that the company within 6 months can not inconvienice you with costs if the item is faulty. but not that all costs have to be paid.

[TW]Fox · 10 Mar 2011 at 12:19

Remember your only contract with the manufacturer is what they've chosen to offer as part of the product. Your legal rights under SOGA are with the retailer.

C.R.A.Z.Y · 10 Mar 2011 at 12:30

If the product is DOA then the retailer is legally liable for the return postage.
Decent e-tailers will actually come and collect it free of charge, also different retailers state different time scales for what is deemed DOA, however ALL are obligated to pay the return cost if it's faulty or not as described when it arrives.