Re: RE:Dabs "not exactly helpful"

["the_home_automator <db@xxxxxxx>" <db@xxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Ian Lowe" <ian@w...> wrote:
> >Distance selling is going to make e-tailing more risky, and 
therefore
> >more expensive.
> 
> No, distance selling is going to make e-tailing SAFER for the vast
majority
> of people within the country, who are currently being ripped off by
sharks.
> 

The Distance Selling directive has vey little to say on shoddy goods 
and rip-offs.

In principle, Ian, we should all already be protected from shoddy or 
mis-described goods already, both by Sale of Goods act, and credit 
card companies being jointly and severally liable for the goods.

I do agree in pactice (and in several specific cases of folks in this 
very dscussion group) this doesnt always work as it should.

What distance selling regulations adds, which is new, is the "right
to cancel".  The net effect of this provision is to (from the
consumers perspective) turn the clock back as though the transaction 
had never occured.

>From a retailes perspective, this means that you can to return goods 
just because you want to.  Furthermore, you may return the goods at
no cost to yourself.  Thus retailers have to pick up postage costs
both ways, as well as repacking issues etc.

Now in terms of bad goods(or bad retailers) I'm not certain that 
there will be any change from the current position  Supplying shoddy
goods was unacceptabe before the new directive came into force, and 
sometimes getting satisfaction was problematic. The new directive 
will not alter that situation in any material manner.  A bad retailer
is a bad retailer, and will still seek to rip you off.

In terms of honourable businesses, they now have a extra cost to be 
absorbed.  There is no doubt that some people will now be usng 
internet shopping as an "on approval" type of
"purchase", as (if they 
use reputable merchants) it is both risk and cost free.  

You could try it.  You could tootle along to letsautomate and order a
homevision or two.  letsautomate dont appear to have a section in 
their policies or returns section advising you have a seven day 
cooling off period once the goods arrive so (regulation 11.3) you 
have three months to cool off, and then return the HV for a full 
refund,including postage.  Unless they advise you in writing with the
goods you only have seven days.....  But of course, if this is the
case you could return the HV at the end of the seven day cooling off 
period.  Only a week to cool off rather than three months, but long
enough for an evaluation  Free of charge and risk.

In my opinion the Distance Selling directive goes too far in one 
direction, and results in an imbalance of cost under some 
crcumstances, yet does nothing to help consumers who get ripped off 
at the other extreme.

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