With prices of everything going up, Black Friday seems like a great way to snag some bargains. But what if you decide that amazing deal wasn’t so great after all? Can you get a refund?
You simply changed your mind
You just bought a huge flat-screen TV but, after hauling it home, you changed your mind and regret buying it. In this situation, the seller has no legal obligation to take it back or refund you.
However, many stores do have a policy allowing returns, often for a limited time. You can consult the store’s policy on this. Even if the store has no such policy, they could still allow you to return the item or exchange it for something else.
The item is defective
If your purchase is defective, the store must refund you. “Defective” means you can’t use the item for the purpose it was intended. For example, if your new snow blower does not remove snow, it is defective, and you have the right to a refund.
You may also be entitled to a refund if the item stops working some time after you purchased it. It all depends on the type of item, the price paid, and how long it should reasonably be expected to work. For example, in a case involving an expensive cellphone that stopped working after 22 months, a court found that it should have worked for longer and ordered the company to issue a refund.
You never even received the item
If you ordered something online but never received it, you are entitled to cancel the sale and receive a refund.
You can cancel the sale if you have not received the item:
- 30 days after the delivery date mentioned in the contract, or
- 30 days after the purchase, if no delivery date was mentioned
You must inform the seller in writing that you want to cancel the contract and receive a refund.