Can I return a router?

Hi

Can anyone tell me what the legal position on returning goods is? I
want to buy a Netgear wireless router to set up a wireless network. My
only concern is that I have heard that in some cases, the wireless
network does not operate as intended (ie the transfer speeds are very
slow (so slow that it doesn not transfer data) and the connection
keeps breaking). If this is the case, would I be entitled to return
the goods?

If this helps - I want to have a computer on the ground floor and one
on the first floor. Its a normal UK house.

thanks!
Sam

On 26 Feb 2004 05:13:36 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) (Sam) wrote:

>Hi
>
>Can anyone tell me what the legal position on returning goods is? I
>want to buy a Netgear wireless router to set up a wireless network. My
>only concern is that I have heard that in some cases, the wireless
>network does not operate as intended (ie the transfer speeds are very
>slow (so slow that it doesn not transfer data) and the connection
>keeps breaking). If this is the case, would I be entitled to return
>the goods?
>
>If this helps - I want to have a computer on the ground floor and one
>on the first floor. Its a normal UK house.
>
>thanks!
>Sam


Wouldn't that be the policy of the store where you bought it? I
bought a number of wireless products from Staples but none of the low
end stuff worked on my Dell. I was able to return ALL of it for
refund. One of the lines was Netgear.



Kirk

"Moe, Larry, the cheese!", Curly

www.sandpoint.net/captkirk
www.stormyacres.com

Sam <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Hi
>
> Can anyone tell me what the legal position on returning goods is? I
> want to buy a Netgear wireless router to set up a wireless network. My
> only concern is that I have heard that in some cases, the wireless
> network does not operate as intended (ie the transfer speeds are very
> slow (so slow that it doesn not transfer data) and the connection
> keeps breaking). If this is the case, would I be entitled to return
> the goods?

Yes.
Consumer law has recently changed in the UK so that you have the right
to return faulty stuff, and the vendor has to prove it's faulty, for up
to 6 months after purchase.
IMO, that's gone a bit too far in the direction of the consumer, but
it's the lwa.

On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 14:39:06 GMT, Ian Stirling
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Sam <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> Hi
>>
>> Can anyone tell me what the legal position on returning goods is? I
>> want to buy a Netgear wireless router to set up a wireless network. My
>> only concern is that I have heard that in some cases, the wireless
>> network does not operate as intended (ie the transfer speeds are very
>> slow (so slow that it doesn not transfer data) and the connection
>> keeps breaking). If this is the case, would I be entitled to return
>> the goods?
>
>Yes.
>Consumer law has recently changed in the UK so that you have the right
>to return faulty stuff, and the vendor has to prove it's faulty, for up
>to 6 months after purchase.
>IMO, that's gone a bit too far in the direction of the consumer, but
>it's the lwa.

The vendor has to prove it's faulty? I would think they would have to
prove it's not faulty, if not functioning properly then accept the
return. Sounds convoluted.



Kirk

"Moe, Larry, the cheese!", Curly

www.sandpoint.net/captkirk
www.stormyacres.com

On 26/2/04 2:39 pm, in article eyn%b.11416$(E-Mail Removed),
"Ian Stirling" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Sam <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> Hi
>>
>> Can anyone tell me what the legal position on returning goods is? I
>> want to buy a Netgear wireless router to set up a wireless network. My
>> only concern is that I have heard that in some cases, the wireless
>> network does not operate as intended (ie the transfer speeds are very
>> slow (so slow that it doesn not transfer data) and the connection
>> keeps breaking). If this is the case, would I be entitled to return
>> the goods?
>
> Yes.
> Consumer law has recently changed in the UK so that you have the right
> to return faulty stuff, and the vendor has to prove it's faulty, for up
> to 6 months after purchase.
> IMO, that's gone a bit too far in the direction of the consumer, but
> it's the lwa.

Rubbish, total rubbish.

The operative word is 'faulty'. If the device is faulty, or working outside
its published parameters, you have every right for a refund as you say.

A functional wireless router will almost certainly work within the standard
specified by the 802.11x standards published - but as the standard is based
upon open air free space propagation, and the OP is talking about real usage
through buildings, wall and real life situations, then he has no legal right
to accept a return. However most suppliers, as long as you keep the box etc
in a resellable condition , will accept it back to keep its customers happy.

Your words do not make sense - the vendor has to prove its faulty ? Surely
you mean that the vendor has to prove its working ? But in either case,
anyone returning goods for replacement is not entitled to a refund - they
are entitled to a replacement, which is not the same thing, unless its DOA.

As in all things, politeness costs nothing, so asking nicely for a refund
will always work better than playing Mr Angry with someone who has no real
interest in your situation !

'Captain' Kirk DeHaan <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 14:39:06 GMT, Ian Stirling
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Sam <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> Can anyone tell me what the legal position on returning goods is? I
>>> want to buy a Netgear wireless router to set up a wireless network. My
>>> only concern is that I have heard that in some cases, the wireless
>>> network does not operate as intended (ie the transfer speeds are very
>>> slow (so slow that it doesn not transfer data) and the connection
>>> keeps breaking). If this is the case, would I be entitled to return
>>> the goods?
>>
>>Yes.
>>Consumer law has recently changed in the UK so that you have the right
>>to return faulty stuff, and the vendor has to prove it's faulty, for up
>>to 6 months after purchase.
>>IMO, that's gone a bit too far in the direction of the consumer, but
>>it's the lwa.
>
> The vendor has to prove it's faulty? I would think they would have to
> prove it's not faulty, if not functioning properly then accept the
> return. Sounds convoluted.

Err, yes.
Prove it's not faulty.
Which can be practically impossible for most retailers with technical
devices with low margins.

Sam <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Can anyone tell me what the legal position on returning goods is? I

Any return is subject to the policies of the store where you bought it.
Presumably those are in compliance with local laws.

The impediment to returns that you might have sen in this group is rebates.
If you cut off the UPC barcode and send it in for a rebate, you are almost
certainly not going to be able to return the item for a refund. I was able
to exchange a defective router for a like unit, but I couldn't return
it after I cut off the bar code and sent in for the rebate.

After several exchanges, I ran out of my 30-day policy at the store. At
that point I would have to return the unit to the manufacturer for repair.
They advance-shipped a different model, but still no refund in sight.

---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5

Sam wrote:

> Can anyone tell me what the legal position on returning goods is?

It depends entirely on where you bought it and the return policies there.

--

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

To reply to this message, replace everything to the left of "@" with
james.knott.

Ian Stirling wrote:

> Sam <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> Hi
>>
>> Can anyone tell me what the legal position on returning goods is? I
>> want to buy a Netgear wireless router to set up a wireless network. My
>> only concern is that I have heard that in some cases, the wireless
>> network does not operate as intended (ie the transfer speeds are very
>> slow (so slow that it doesn not transfer data) and the connection
>> keeps breaking). If this is the case, would I be entitled to return
>> the goods?
>
> Yes.
> Consumer law has recently changed in the UK so that you have the right
> to return faulty stuff, and the vendor has to prove it's faulty, for up
> to 6 months after purchase.
> IMO, that's gone a bit too far in the direction of the consumer, but
> it's the lwa.

Of course, the question here is whether the device is faulty or his location
is not suitable for wireless. I haven't seen any mention of what sort of
environment he's using it in.

--

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

To reply to this message, replace everything to the left of "@" with
james.knott.

If you buy anything at PC World you can return it within two weeks,
with receipt and all packaging (opened but undamaged)
then no question asked.

I did that with a Netgear router, and I will never buy anything Netgear !
(I got Draytek Vigor 2600We instead, well worth the extra money.)
Regards,
Martin