Anyone got another idea - broken item

**Funky Mum** · 30-05-2012, 12:20pm

Originally Posted by Dr Spouse

I was thinking about the whole item versus postage refund issue and I tend to think that if you take back a damaged item to a shop, you expect a refund for the item itself, but you wouldn't ask for your bus fare to go back to the shop?

I work in a shop and we have refunded bus fare or parking money before, if someone's made a special trip and it's our fault that the item is faulty.

I've also had petrol money refunded from a supermarket when I found the dress I bought had a hole in it and I had to take another trip straight back to exchange it.

**Dr Spouse** · 30-05-2012, 12:57pm

I surely can't be the only person who's had to pay the postage if returning an item?
I have to say it would never occur to me to ask for my fare back to the shop. I do remember posting an item back to Bravissimo once rather than go there on the train (£15) and they didn't offer to pay my fare (I probably would have gone, free shopping trip!)

**Samba** · 30-05-2012, 01:32pm

On faulty goods - no. I cannot think of any shop which won't refund p&p on faulty items.

**Queenie** · 30-05-2012, 04:52pm

I'd ask for a photo of the damage, refund and tell the buyer to keep it/chuck it in a skip/give it away. That way nobody is out the return postage and you stand a chance of avoiding a dispute.

**Dr Spouse** · 30-05-2012, 05:26pm

Well, the point is moot now anyway as we have found another way round it.

But I have definitely had to pay to send items back to ebay sellers in the past and I can't think I have been the only one, and it has been in a "not as described" situation (not obviously broken, but not what I thought I'd paid for). And I've paid to send things back to internet shops before when, for example, the sizing has been completely bananas - so again, not as described.

Queenie, the cost of the item was considerably more than the postage, so if she just chucked it away I'd be out a fair bit for the item itself.

Can I just ask, did anyone else know about the limitation on Royal Mail paying damages on ceramics, that you have to send them Special Delivery? And how did you find out - the hard way by not getting a refund, or did anyone tell you before you posted an item?

**Queenie** · 30-05-2012, 08:08pm

I knew, because I used to work in a post office. It's one of those things you have to ask about, because counter staff don't have the time or inclination to check the contents of every parcel (plus most people would tell them to mind their own business!).

**Dr Spouse** · 30-05-2012, 08:36pm

It's funny though because they always ask if it's urgent or valuable, and completely irrelevant things like whether you want to top up your phone or change your credit card, but the never ask if you are sending something breakable, which would actually be helpful.

**lazymummy** · 30-05-2012, 09:29pm

Originally Posted by Dr Spouse

Can I just ask, did anyone else know about the limitation on Royal Mail paying damages on ceramics, that you have to send them Special Delivery? And how did you find out - the hard way by not getting a refund, or did anyone tell you before you posted an item?

I knew about this-but only because I posted some collectable plates and they broke in transit-so I couldn't claim because they weren't sent Special Delivery

**bubblewrap** · 30-05-2012, 10:14pm

I thought it would be common sense to insure something that was easily breakable?

**Dr Spouse** · 30-05-2012, 10:22pm

Originally Posted by bubblewrap

I thought it would be common sense to insure something that was easily breakable?

But the value was lower than the amount of insurance you get with regular post. I don't see how I could think to insure something for more than it's worth - often that's illegal anyway.
I always ask the PO person what the insured value is when I'm not sure.