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this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2023
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Is this some sort of American thing I'm too European to understand?
Yes, it is. That's because companies like trying unpopular policies in America first before moving them to Europe.
Yup, thats because the EU actually protects their consumers unlike the great ol' US of A
It depends. If the company dives in headfirst with anticonsumer practices in the EU, you're correct; EU institutions will regulate them out. But there's a much smarter strategy that works more often than I think you'd like to admit:
To do this in the EU would mean breaking the law, which mandates 14 days of free returns with no requirement to justify the reason whatsoever, so I'm pretty sure this wouldn't work ;-).
Yes, it would. The law says that the cost of the return can be borne by the buyer. So making customers pay for the cost of return postage would not be against the law. The company is not required to provide an absolutely free return.
In the states these laws and policies vary. 14 days is a reasonable amount of time for a return free of charge. A lot of companies in the states have offered free 30 day returns and people have (as they do) taken advantage of that. Target here has banned certain individuals from returns for up to a year because they were returning items on purpose in order to buy them cheaper in store as an open box item or what have you. Amazon used to let you return just about anything regardless of the time passed. But this has led to significant waste. They sell off returned items by the pallet load and it's basically a free for all grab bag scenario. And half of it ends up in a landfill anyway.
And to be perfectly honest what is under discussion isn't free returns. It's free shipping on returns.
All it would take to work is a change in legislation. So if I were you I'd be diligent about keeping an eye on it because there's a second side to living in a country quick to enact legislation.
Are you acquainted with the connotation of the term "American conditions"?
You guys don't drunk-order a bunch of useless shit then expect to return it for no cost once buyer's remorse sinks in?
Point is, we have laws enforcing that possibility. It's not goodwill from companies...
Nothing good for customers ever is
Five years, actually, here in Norway. Technically two years, and five if the product is meant to last appreciably longer than two years. But that is true for most things except wearable electronics like earbuds.
Most 3rd world counties have it better than the US
First world = NATO
Second world = Warsaw Pact
Third world = non-aligned
Developed world = rich countries
Developing world = poor countries
Global south = also poor countries, but with more emphasis on Africa and South America
In Australia our consumer protection laws have minimum warranty for most items (eg 3yrs or something for basic electronic products) but it scales with cost and quality.
It does not apply to everything as far as i know, but say you buy a $8,000 TV, you would likely get 5-6 years warranty because a TV of that cost should imply, to a reasonable consumer, it is of a quality that would be expected to last 5-6 years.
2 years by law everywhere in the EU.
Two, but I don't think it applies to medical procedures
War-ranty? What is this? A guarantee of war? Sounds like apple pie to me. 🇺🇸