posted on May 24, 2002 05:44:35 PM new
I work in a retail store, and if this happened at our store, we would replace the camera (or card), certainly not refer our customer to the manufacturer. I agree with CT's reasoning, the ad said such and such and the item was not as described. Let the seller deal with the manufacturer.
posted on May 26, 2002 08:01:21 AM new
Interesting thread.
I find it interesting that you would rather buy another card at Walmart than contact the manafacturer??
I agree with Dman completely on this one.
Many buyers simply don't understand that you PAY for the priviledge of being able to bring back an item to the store.
The store pays for it's retail space, it's staff, and the cost of processing a return.
Most sellers online don't have those costs.
That's why they can sell for less.
You can't have it all. In this case what would you have proposed? There's more to this story than appears?
I'm not suggesting in anyway that you have done anything wrong so please don't misunderstand me.
But like Rich said, today many B&M's have changed their refund policy because of fraud and abuse.
Perhaps this seller could've explained things better but the results would be the same.
If you purchased something new or refurbished then the warranty is the Manafacturers as the seller had fulfilled their end of the contract via the auction.
I sell videos and dvd's. If I ripped the shrinkwrap off and investigated the contents it could not be sold as new anymore. Same in this situation.
Also, you claim the item is refurbished, was this in the listing?
I think you should invite the seller to this thread so we can hear their side of the story too.
The fact is that you purchased a high end item on line because you thought you were getting a better price than in a store.
Lesson learned, no?
I bought my camera online too, a super Sony Mavica which has worked perfectly. No memory cards needed!
My advice is to contact the Manafacturer and be more carefull with your next big ticket purchase.
Perhaps you should've started a thread here asking about buying a camera online instead of this one?
posted on May 26, 2002 08:27:34 AM new
it was clear to me from the author first thread that he bot from an individual seller who found the merchandise somewhere somehow and could know in advance the memory card is not there(by the way,if this were one time shop item and someone ripped open the box and shoplifted the memory card,would this then become an item sold to liquidators??).
author said the box was resealed twice ??so,unless the seller has a brick and mortar store or he is a regular seller of such goods on ebay,one can assume his seller is a chance seller of such goods,and just happen by chance has this type of merchandise on hand.
this is really no longer considered a new item,new as in mint in box.
the buyer bot a used item missing a memory card from an individual who is glad to unload it.
this is pretty much the case when you buy from individual in an auction such as ebay,yahoo or amzn.
posted on May 26, 2002 12:43:44 PM new
Ok,
But honestly you should get your card. I'm assuming it's a smart media if it's a polaroid?
But on a better note go get a card with more capacity! Just make sure you know how much your camera will support. Some polaroid cameras have a meg limit.
posted on May 26, 2002 04:52:25 PM new
You didn't indicate whether the camera arrived still factory sealed. If it did, then going to Polaroid with your complaint would be the correct step. If it was opened, than going to your seller is the correct step. Whichever, your seller should have been, at the very leaset, more polite and cooperative in his reply and in giving you further instruction.
posted on May 26, 2002 05:53:37 PM new
If your seller wants to be in business then he needs to take a course in business law. ALL products come with an implied warranty of merchantability.
The item must be fit for the purpose it was sold for and match the description given by the sell, otherwise the retailer MUST take the item back and issue a refund or a replacement.
Just because some big chains are trying to skirt the law doesn't mean the law doesn't exist.
It just means that big business will get away with anything they can. The reason they can is because no one complains, so nothing is enforced.
posted on May 26, 2002 10:51:56 PM new
dman3,
You are wrong. If this seller is buying these items wholesale, then they have a working relationship with them. If there is a problem with any item they sell, it is their responsibility to contact that wholesaler with the problem. 99.9% of the time, the wholesaler is going to make things right with their retailer because they want then to continue to buy from them as well. This is clearly a person who wants to make all the sales, but no accept the responsibility of customer service that goes along with making the sales.
Another reason this seller needs to be involved is that the wholesaler probably doesn't even know that there is a problem with the item. Who knows, there may be many of these camera's without the card included. If this seller doesn't do their part, many of these camera will be sold. If the seller contacts the wholesaler, you can bet they will check stock to make sure everything is in the box as described. Should this seller be negged. You betcha. Sellers need to back up the products they are selling. If they don't, the whole online auction industry will fall as there will be no one willing to take the risk of receiving worthless merchandise.
posted on May 26, 2002 11:01:29 PM newThis is clearly a person who wants to make all the sales, but no accept the responsibility of customer service that goes along with making the sales.
It's worse than that. The item wasn't new and wasn't sold as factory refurbished, since it was clear the box had been opened several times and then resealed. The most plausible explanation was that the seller pilferred the memory card.
"You buy cheap online, so expect to get ripped off" may work for sellers, but it does not work for buyers. Buyers bid and send payment in good faith, they should receive the item as described.
Even though the manufacturer *might* send a replacement card, the manufacturer's warranty is intended to cover manufacturing defects, not to supplement thieving sellers.
