No refunds signs are illegal

[syncretic]

@passerbye123

I cannot understand how they make the footwear anymore some brands fit easy others ate dreadful

Perhaps buying things like shoes, where fit is critical, should not be done without first trying them on.

[passerbye123]

They surely want to make it complicated to understand the returns. More so if one purchase through a third party provider. I think i would not bother buying through third party. I have noticed that rivers have totally changed what they sell to many years ago. Previously it was just clothes and footwear but now sell everything and anything. I was looking at specials a robotic vacuum cleaner heavily reduced from $1200 to $199. That is a huge discount. I would be very careful if buying that item if i eas wanting to return for change mind. Seems more hassle than buying .

[Glenn61]

@phb

It isn’t inconsistent with the Australian Consumer Law and are entitled to nominate their own policy in relation to change of minds.

I consider the content on your linked page to be misleading. The first section of that page lists conditions relating to change of mind returns (see below).

Whilst the conditions exclude “Final Sale Items” from the policy, they make no mention of excluding “Sale items” and do no state that further conditions might apply.

However, close to the bottom of the page, the following statement appears “All Sale items are non-refundable for change of mind, instore or online.”

There is a contradiction between these two references on that page.

As most, if not all, non-third party seller items have a crossed out higher price displayed next to the lower selling prices. Customers might not know if the item is actually a sale item. However, the conditions state "Sale items are identified on the product page and your invoice with the statement “All Sale items are non-refundable for change of mind, instore or online”.

This means that some people might actually have better refund options that previously thought for online purchases if the item is not specifically identified as a “sale item” or a “final sale item”.

[phb]

@Glenn61

Whilst the conditions exclude “Final Sale Items” from the policy, they make no mention of excluding “Sale items” and do no state that further conditions might apply.

I think you are playing with semantics. If one believes there is a difference, it could argued that All Sale Items includes Final Sale Items as the word all is all encompassing.

Even if ‘Final Sale Items’ and ‘All Sale Items’ are different (which they possibly won’t be), both are still excluded from refunds under the Rivers Change of Mind Policy under the two different parts of the Terms and Conditions. The refund conditions aren’t illegal and can be set by the business.

[Glenn61]

@phb

I think you are playing with semantics.

The below links give details of two different pairs of reduced price thongs. Whilst most people would judge both to be sale items, only the second includes the statement “All Final Sale items are non-refundable for change of mind, instore or online” directly underneath the “ADD TO CART” box. It seems that Rivers does not consider the first item to be a “Final Sale item”.

https://www.rivers.com.au/Product/Detail?CategoryId=74992&ProductId=1392788&Colour=black

https://www.rivers.com.au/Product/Detail?CategoryId=75059&ProductId=685335&Colour=khaki-camo

[Gregr]

Drifting off topic posters. Already established that businesses can set any terms and conditions they like for change of mind refunds and that is completely legal under the ACL.

[mark_m]

@Gregr

Drifting off topic posters…… businesses can set any terms and conditions they like for change of mind refunds …

Yes and no. To drifting and also what T&C’s say.

There’s a useful discussion concerning what defines change of mind, especially when it comes to fit/sizing. It’s germaine looking to prior posts.

@PhilT

I personally would never agree to accept ‘it does not fit’ is a change of mind unless the seller had an accurate size chart, and for footwear even then multiple shoes of the same size that technically fit might not each be wearable by any particular individual. Arch, width, toe style, etc.

Another observation concerns the exclusion, (recognised by ACL) of sale items. It’s a fine line between a retailers regular price and sale pricing, considering some retailers are always promoting products as ‘on sale’. That the on sale price might be closer to the competitive price elsewhere, suggests the regular price is a fiction. Although the ACCC also has a view if this is factual.

[Gregr]

Well I don’t mind a change of direction in topics if they invoke discussion.

Just pointing out that usually when that happens the discussion splits off to a new topic, in this case about the T&Cs around change of mind policies of various companies, rather than continue under the starting topic.

Which is “no refunds signs are illegal”.

[mark_m]

@Gregr

Which is “no refunds signs are illegal”.

What’s in a topic heading?
Hopefully the opening lines can clarify.

@BrendanMays

“No Refunds” at the store at some point, but in what scenarios are they legal?
When is a refund allowed, and when can the store turn you away?

ACL exempts stores from providing refunds or exchanging goods for “change of mind”.
Refunds for “Change of Mind” are permitted when the store T&C’s allow for it.

No judgement intended on whether “change of mind” conditions and no refunds are relatable.