Hi
I bought a $200 bluetooth speaker this weekend from BingLee, but unfortunately won't have use for it anymore due to an event being cancelled due to the covid stuff recently.
I'm wondering, is there any way I can return it, because I'm pretty sure they will call this a change of mind return. It's not even unpacked or anything, exactly as I bought it.
Thanks.
And that's their problem how…?
It's like saying if Qantas cancels flights due to covid it's your change of mind.
No, it's like saying that if your wedding plans cancelled due to Covid, that you want to cancel the honeymoon flights, and that Qantas should just accept it
@Starcraftmazter: Yes it is - it's your problem. Change of mind returns are at the discretion of the retailer. Your personal circumstances are not their problem.
@Kangal: Given OP posted at ~3pm Sydney time, and the Sydney stores close at 6pm, wouldn't it have been nice if they called before, or shortly after posting?
Even at 5pm Sydney time they still couldn't make the call…
@Starcraftmazter: You bought it, you own it.
It's yours.
You can legitimately sell it on eBay, Gumtree, FB, or any other platform.
It is not the responsibility of the retailer to compensate you for a change of mind/circumstances/natural diaster/act of god or anything else that is beyond their control.
You are in control
Have you opened the box?
You might be able to if you ask. There may be a restocking fee however.
No box not opened.
@Starcraftmazter: If it is still shrink-wrapped and you have the receipt, there is a good chance they'll give you your money back.
Why cant your spouse who it was 'gifted too' does not want it and is happy for a store credit?
What you described is exactly what constitutes change of mind, your circumstances are irrelevant.
Technically garbage. It's a change of mind. You know it. Bing Lee knows it. We all know it.
Go into store and hope for the best.
False equivalence. It's actually the reverse? Binglee didn't cancel anything on their end.
Bing Lee doesn't give a crap what happens in your daily life. You bought it, you suffer the consequences with whatever happens whether that's positive or negative.
Deal with it.
Sell it yourself on Gumtree or Marketplace.
No, it's like you getting invited to a wedding on the day of your Qantas flight and going to the wedding instead then asking Qantas for a refund a week later 🙄
Just flog it on Marketplace or keep it for the next event.
Dont SPEAK to me about this.
Sell it half price on Gumtree. It's not really Bing Lee's fault so why should they cop a loss for your change of mind/plans.
If it was used then obviously has devalued and most used returns get sent to landfill or get sold in bulk as cheap random stock as they cannot simply resell it again. Amazon can afford to do this, other retailers not so much.
If it's still new then they'll have to spend time and effort sending it back to base to be looked over & checked, likely will need to be opened (many people return resealed hard drive boxes with a brick inside) and hence same story. It's now an opened used product.
They can't just take it off you and stick it back on the shelf. Maybe for some items like games or clothing but not normally electronics.
It's also lost revenue to the retailer to offer a refund for a product that's not their fault. There's costs in processing fees etc…
This is a change of mind as far as the retailer is considered.
@Starcraftmazter: Change of mind is the term used where the customer wants to return goods for a reason other that comes down to THE CUSTOMERS CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES. This is deemed to be a change of mind and not covered by consumer guarantees and rights to return. Don't know why your still picking at this point but if interested call the consumer affairs body in your state and discuss. In regards to loss, the retailer loss is present no matter what. They moved the product for you originally, that took time, possible customer service, they ordered additional stock when you collected yours and if they took it back they may not have the suitable space for the additional item. It's really annoyingly but no harm in asking the question (have you contacted them yet?) And if not, just resell it. Learn from the experience. I rarely buy anywhere that doesn't allow change of mind returns.
Lets see.. the consumption cost of e-commerce, product management and payment processing. The cost relating to person-hours for workflowing order to the correct store (if it’s an online order). The cost for someone in store to fulfil the order. The cost of sending notifications, e.g. sms or e-mail. The cost of replenishing stock. The cost of forecasting sales etc.
As a consumer, we don’t normally see these ‘hidden’ cost which is built into the service and price. Nothing is free my friend.
@Starcraftmazter: My merchant statement begs to differ.
They can sell it as new, it's not a hard drive it's a speaker, it's unopened even.
From the article I quoted for you -
A NSW Fair Trading spokesman said retailers who mislead consumers about the nature of goods and services can face fines of up to $1.1 million for each offence, while consumers could claim compensation for consequential losses. The spokesman said affected customers should contact Fair Trading on 13 32 20.
"The issue of reconditioned (or returned) goods being sold by electronics retailers is a matter which arises from time to time, and the Minister has asked that the Fair Trading Commissioner investigate this issue and consider any evidence that it may be widespread and systemic," the spokesman said.
@Starcraftmazter: It may have already be replenished, is what they mean. Replenishment generally occurs through pre set up min maxes that mean your stock may be an additional. But it sounds like in your circumstances, minimal loss. Doesn't change the fact of no returns for change of mind tho. Now imagine that every person that bought this, had a change of mind circumstance and wanted to return it? Would it still not be a loss? Or different items from different customers? They've drawn their line and as a consumer, it's our responsibility to educate and decide what is best for us when purchasing.
They lose the sale. Can't believe what I'm reading about you justifying it's not a change of mind because of events beyond your control.
Wait till after Xmas, go back in and say "I didn't need it but was gifted this"
Seriously though you gain 3 scummy points if you do. ;)
don't forget about any commissions they may have paid on the sale.
All the teleport fairies who magicked it from the shelf to your mailbox are demanding hazelnuts for the privilege, and they're in short supply due to seasonal demand.
If I bought that speaker from you and then some time later changed my mind and wanted a refund from you, what would you say to me?
I think we all know the answer and would reply alike
OP would say "Sure no problem, It costs me no time effort or resources to refund you. Plus your neighbour's uncle's brother's mum's best friend cat died and since the situation is beyond control its not a change of mind.
Sell it half price on Gumtree Get scammed on Gumtree.
I need to see JV's comments 1st
But do you need to?
just put it on marketplace for $20 less and wear the cost.
Advertise it at the HN price and take the profit!
Please let this be a lesson to not treat electronics as disposable purchases. If you only buy things that you have an ongoing need for, you wouldn't be in this position.
If the event had run, what were you going to do with it afterwards?
Whatever that was (assuming it wasn't trying to return it as new), that's what you're left with now unfortunately.
The best you can probably hope for from Bing Lee is in-store credit.
Yes, this!
Not 95% yet
Maybe you should have gotten one on loan from a "friend" or lease, if your whole point was to use it for an once off event.
You are being are being entitled expecting a refund when BL policy saids no.
Keep it for when you are able to run the next event.
I'm just asking a question dude, how is that being entitled?
I'm wondering, is there any way I can return it
without the aggression that some of the 'other' are showing …
bing lee is notorious for charging a 20% restocking fee and i believe they'll also ask you to pay postage, so you'll likely have to argue with them for hours to get a refund which will still be a 30-40$ loss on your part
from their perspective, they've paid people an hourly rate to receive and process your order, picking, packing, labels, getting it ready for courier collection, sales commission and that sort of stuff … which will have to be duplicated in reverse to take the stock back (4 employee's at an hourly rate of 35$ / hour spend ~5 minutes each to get it out to you, that's 20 minutes @ 35$ / hour is around 12$ in processing labour costs)
This is an in-store purchase though and I'd be happy to take it back in store, so no need for delivery or anything.
I just don't want to make the effort to go over there for no reason, I guess I'll call them tomorrow.
Anyway thanks for your help my dude.
@Starcraftmazter: Why go in store and deal with it yourself when you can keep arguing with people that you haven't changed your mind?
I just don't want to make the effort to go over there for no reason
Oh so your time is worth something aye? Well what about the retailer’s time and effort? Bit hypocritical if you ask me.
@Starcraftmazter: You sound really entitled.
Perhaps you are young and haven't experienced running a business or working in retail. That I could understand.
Wowzer, I didn't know pick packers make $35/hr.
@buckethat: rough estimates and generalising to make things easier, rather than trying to quantify how much an accounts receivable person makes, how much the picker makes, the logistics coordinator, the admin support, the delivery driver …
35$ seemed like a rough ball park as a guestimate …
maybe their pay packet says 25$ / hour, but there's usually a 17% admin & costs & super on top of that for full time … if they're agency contractors, the agency takes a fair cut and would push it even higher …
the $'s in your pocket is a lot less than the $'s your employer is paying
@weezlebub: Fair enough! Thought you were straight up saying pick packers are making $35/hr, that would be a very sought after job.
@buckethat: It can be if you include O/T and I'm pretty sure the big DCs of Woolies and Coles pay that much
No, you’re performing mental gymnastics in an effort to justify why you, above all other people changing their minds, should get a refund you aren’t entitled to. That’s, literally, entitlement. Take the L and sell it yourself on Gumtree or Marketplace.
Member Since
23/08/2012
Your Ozbargain membership needs to be revoked.
And the T&Cs are pretty straight forward.
And you're a member since 2017. Congratulations on exercising your stalking skills.
C'mon dude were you born yesterday or something?
Talk to them (should've been the first step). Sometimes retailers are a bit more sympathetic, even if you dont have that right under your contractual terms.
If they aren't to receptive to the idea, try and butter them up, by offering to buy something in equal value or something (assuming you bought it in person)
If they aren't willing to, then sell it off yourself on ebay/gumtree.
Unfortunately you cannot force them to take it back by force or otherwise, if that's the answer you were hoping for. You might not have realised it, but by buying it you've essentially entered a contract
I like your name… and your thoughts.
because I'm pretty sure they will call this a change of mind return.
Not pretty sure, it 100% is a change of mind.
Just ask Bing Lee, OP. Not sure why you need to ask on here.
I know right. Worst they can say is no.
OP needed us to hold his/her hand.
Needs Confirmation bias opinions to build OzCourage /fail.
I think post was intended for inside knowledge for guaranteed refund.
If only they had some sort of…I don't know, "telecommunications device" whereby you could contact them and have a 30 second conversation
Be sure to say "ahoy hoy" as a friendly greeting
Another person who is too lazy to read the site's T & C or contact them by phone to ask, so they ask on a forum, and when they don't get the answer they want they start to argue with everyone.
what model is it?
Whenever I buy something I regret from OZB, I'll put it on sale for RRP on the usual websites and negotiate down to the price I paid for it.
The trick is to only buy stuff on sale.
Everyone's a winner, baby.
ITT: OP changes mind then plays dumb. /t
Put it in the microwave short it out, return as a major defect.
Problem sorted.
/s
If you use AMEX pay for it, you might able to return to AMEX.
lol this has to be the silliest post or is the OP trolling?
You spend $200 on a one time event and now complaining that you cant use it at that event
Who buys a $200 speaker for one-time use? If you can afford 200 bucks on a speaker for a one time event you can afford to keep it.
Surely you have other uses for it? Perhaps use it in the bathroom while you shower? Play some relaxing sounds before you sleep..
More like who buys anything from bing lee / good guys / harvey norman.
Truth be told David Jones, Myer, Amazon, Bose, Sonos will all accept change of mind returns no questions asked.
Hell, you could have even bought an apple speaker and returned that.
Just poor common sense.
Yep the level of entitlement is disturbing…
True, us indecisive people need to be protected from ourselves
Change of mind would not only cover just that, but a variety of scenarios - like a reduction in price shortly after purchase, situations where gifts were bought twice, when clothes/shoes are not the right size, item is not as expected etc etc. Reduced to clear items can be excluded from that…cynical little ozbargainers at it again 😂
How does that justify forcing all retailers to expend extra resources to provide extra services to you, especially when it is not their fault/problem? Which will no doubt disproportionately affect smaller retailers.
A purchase is literally a contract, you agreed to purchase this product, at this price, under these terms. Otherwise you wouldn't have given them the money
I certainly enjoy having that option when buying something, but is a consideration i make BEFORE I make the purchase decision. Cause you know, only you know why you are buying it and under what circumstances
I suppose you could just brush it off as me being a "cynical little ozbargainer" for disagreeing with you
@Butt Scratcher: Don't have to explain contracts to me - completely besides the point. A different consumer law would alter these. Plenty of retailers who allow change of mind returns because they understand that people do change their minds. Weak consumer law gives you scammers like kogan.
I also am not advocating for unconditional exchanges - I agree it's got to be fair. I'm Australia the consumer is at a disadvantage and needs better protection from merchants (who are professionals in their field and have figured this out in Australia and all over the world).
Don't have to explain contracts to me - completely besides the point.
Yet you still don't seem to see how having a forced clause which unilaterally allows you to void any contract at your behest, is unfair.
It's starting to become clear to me that we aren't getting anywhere, you keep mentioning it but you don't seem to understand the purpose of "consumer law" in australia
real of cynicism and sarcasm.
I'm glad you were able to at least pick something up from it
Contracts are literally all forced clauses.
You don't understand what I'm saying. I'm not going to explain to you the basis of it either, because
Don't have to explain contracts to me
I'm sorry but that's just a silly thought.
What happens when people start buying things and then the store decides to put things on sale to clear out stock.
Do you expect all the stores to start refunding people the difference?
That would be impossible to run a business.
Don't buy if you don't know if you're going to use it. How hard is that?
It's a bit like those lanes they force you into on the road when you're not really sure which way you need to go in a strange town. Surely there should be somewhere to wait in the intersections while you decide, rather than being charged large fines for crossing over what is, at the end of the day, just a little bit of paint.
That would be shit if covered under consumer laws, nothing is free and this would just be another cost imposed on businesses for absolutely no reason.
Companies are generous for allowing change of mind returns…..
In saying that, go get store credit, hopefully they let you
They're also reaping the benefits from their 'generosity'.
Seriously dude, just call them and ask and if they can’t help just use the thing…. Or gift it to someone for Xmas
Store credit or ask for a return.
Let’s hope in 2022 people grow some balls and ask the shop for refund/credit rather than hiding behind a computer & coming on Ozb for advice.
Well yes, as you're having a change of mind
Did you even search?
Seems pretty clear cut…