Offering warranty on goods I sell

[DeanR32]

Morning PH

I've been offering goods for sale when I find stick clearances of new products being offered, but of late, I've had a couple items returned as the items have been said to have faults (which happened to be fault free on inspection!).

Now I'm thinking of applying a warranty to the bits I'm selling (which aren't big money items as such) so I don't have to start giving money back left, right and centre, but I'm not sure if there are independent warranty companies that offer warranties on items such as Vacuum cleaners and car stereos.

Anyone know of companies that offer such services, and how it works?

Cheers

[Ziplobb]

You cannot avoid 'giving money back right left right and centre' if there is an underlying problem with what you sell . Before you consider offering a warranty familiarise yourself with the relevant consumer legislation and if you are selling on the net the relevant distance selling rules. In some cases you cannot avoid giving money back.

Secondly you dont mention if the goods you are selling are new but surely if they are then there is a manufacturers warranty anyway to protect you ?

Thirdly I have been in retail a long time selling face to face and over the net - the times when I give money back are less than 10 a year - its much much easier to avoid a load of wasted time, arguments with customers, etc etc etc than try and do what you have suggested - if they are not happy give them their money back and carry on selling to other prople who want your stuff. You are in business to make money surely and in many cases its simply not worth the effort buggering about.

Just one thing though - if this is happening more and more perhaps the quality of what you are selling is poor in the first place ? in my trade I dont sell certain things in the first instance as through experience have leaned they can be problematic.

[DeanR32]

Cheers for the reply

The products are new (old stock items) and are market leading brands, so very good quality items. I trust the product, but I sent an item to Scotland which apparently has a fault. I can just imagine I'll get it back, test it and there's no fault and it's his phone playing up (a Bluetooth problem on a car radio).

I'm wondering if it'd be worthwhile to offer a warranty for a set price for cover for the customer and myself.

If I remember correctly, you can register the product with the manufacturer for their warranty. Maybe I'll have to prompt the buyer to make sure they do just that

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

DeanR32 said:

Cheers for the reply

The products are new (old stock items) and are market leading brands, so very good quality items. I trust the product, but I sent an item to Scotland which apparently has a fault. I can just imagine I'll get it back, test it and there's no fault and it's his phone playing up (a Bluetooth problem on a car radio).

I'm wondering if it'd be worthwhile to offer a warranty for a set price for cover for the customer and myself.

If I remember correctly, you can register the product with the manufacturer for their warranty. Maybe I'll have to prompt the buyer to make sure they do just that

Add a few quid to the selling price of each item & build up your own warranty pot?

[silentbrown]

Not sure exactly what you're proposing here...? Selling "extended warranties" to your customers, or somehow paying for insurance yourself to cover folk returning defective products.

Ziplobb has it pretty much right. Read up on consumer rights.

[Fastdruid]

DeanR32 said:

If I remember correctly, you can register the product with the manufacturer for their warranty. Maybe I'll have to prompt the buyer to make sure they do just that

You really need to read up on what your customers rights are. They do *not* have to register the product with the manufacturer.

Their rights are with you and you then have to take it up with the manufacturer.

[DeanR32]

Cheers for the replies.

I understand it falls with me to sort defective items, but thought there was an independent company that offered extended warranties. I see AO.com offer a 3 year warranty for a tenner (saw it on their eBay items).

I'll just chase up the manufacturer when I get goods returned.

[daemon]

DeanR32 said:

Cheers for the replies.

I understand it falls with me to sort defective items, but thought there was an independent company that offered extended warranties. I see AO.com offer a 3 year warranty for a tenner (saw it on their eBay items).

I'll just chase up the manufacturer when I get goods returned.

I've seen some companies say that items returned faulty will be tested upon return and a restocking charge applied if found to be non faulty (or similar wording).

People order items, get buyers remorse then return it, sadly. You will need to look at ways of protecting yourself by minimising returns and also factoring it in to your prices.

[Ziplobb]

You can buy a warranty for electrical goods through a third party - a good place to start will be with a trade organisation that supports retailers selling your type of product.

I just dont get why you think this is the solution though ? Its your responsibility to sort it - if you sell another warranty you still have your responsibilities legally to your customer and in addition you have the time and cost of administering a warranty for a product that already has a warranty and that a customer can still ask you to replace or refund if they are dissatisfied. Seriously just give them their money back and move on - spend your time on making money not trying to avoid problems that you will will always get because you have chosen to go in to retail.

You say it went to Scotland so the item is covered by distance selling rules - look these up - they are very important because they pretty much side with the purchaser. I can buy an item from you and within 7 days send it back to you for a refund - thats pretty much it - a third party warranty does not change that !