Online shopping is a fun and convenient way to shop without ever having to leave the comfort of your home. But imagine the frustration when you discover an item you were patiently waiting for arrives and it is damaged or defective. This is a rare problem but it does exist. However, dealing with the problem could prove to be a mission, especially if the online retailer is unresponsive or downright impossible. But do not fret; if this happens to you, there are steps you can take to ensure you get a replacement product or your money back.
Test your items immediately after they arrive
One very important tip for online shoppers is to check your product the minute it arrives. This means you should open and test the item as soon as possible after delivery. The main reason for testing the item immediately after delivery is that is will help ensure that the online shopper can return the item within the limitations of the retailer’s return policy. Online retailers, much like normal retailers, often have return policies, some more strict than others. Failure to adhere top these policies may result in the online shopper not eligible for a return, refund or exchange.
Another important reason to test the item on arrival is that the online shopper is less likely to lose the original packaging or receipt after they have immediately discovered that the item is defective. This is important as most online retailers require the item to be returned in its original packaging and with a receipt.
Contacting the online retailer
Once you have found that your item is defective, the first thing you should do is contact the online shopping retailer. This should be done immediately because in this way the online retailer will likely document the claim of defectiveness during the call which will serve as evidence. This evidence will come in handy if the online retailer gives the customer problems with returning the item. In this case you may need to pursue legal action.
Most receipts should list a contact number which will put the consumer in contact with a customer service representative. If the receipt does not have this number, the website you ordered your item from should. Once you have found this customer service number you should contact the representative and explain your problem and inquire about an exchange or refund.
If the online shopping retailer is unresponsive to your claims or you are not satisfied by their response, you may have to pursue other methods of obtaining a response from the online retailer. You may take your complaint further by speaking to the supervisor. If you are still not satisfied you will then have to approach an agency who can take the matter further for you.
Author bio
This article was written by Deals Direct and offers tips and advice on dealing with defective items when shopping online.