Who pays for return postage
19 established claims - 8 refused by the grounding gate
Documented position9
What the body that runs or defines the thing says in its own documentation.
The ACCC states that consumers are responsible for returning products that can be posted or easily returned.
1 quote from 1 source
Consumers are responsible for returning products that can be posted or easily returned.
- Repair, replace, refund, cancel | ACCC accc.gov.au
the ACCC states that businesses are responsible for…
- paying the shipping costs of faulty products that are large, heavy or hard to remove.
- collecting faulty products that are large, heavy or hard to remove.
1 quote from 1 source
Businesses are responsible for paying for the shipping costs or collecting faulty products that are large, heavy or hard to remove, such as:
- Repair, replace, refund, cancel | ACCC accc.gov.au
The ACCC states that if a business confirms the product does have a problem, it must reimburse the consumer for any reasonable return costs they have already paid.
1 quote from 1 source
If the business confirms that the product does have a problem, it must reimburse the consumer for any reasonable return costs they have already paid.
- Repair, replace, refund, cancel | ACCC accc.gov.au
The ACCC advises consumers to keep receipts for postage or transport costs so they can be repaid by the business.
1 quote from 1 source
Consumers should keep receipts for postage or transport costs so that they can be repaid by the business.
- Repair, replace, refund, cancel | ACCC accc.gov.au
the consumer must return the goods to the supplier unless the cost of returning, removing or transporting is significant.
1 quote from 1 source
The consumer must return the goods to the supplier unless the cost of returning, removing or transporting is significant
On the subject of who pays for return postage, the ACCC states in its guide for businesses and legal practitioners that if the cost to the consumer would be significant, the supplier must collect the goods…
- at their own expense.
- within a reasonable time.
1 quote from 1 source
If the cost to the consumer would be significant, the supplier must collect the goods at their own expense and within a reasonable time.
The ACCC states in its guide for businesses and legal practitioners that the supplier is responsible for returning goods to the manufacturer for repair.
1 quote from 1 source
It is the supplier’s responsibility to return goods to the manufacturer for repair.
Disputed between sources2
Sources that do not agree, presented without picking a winner.
- CHOICE records Kogan as saying that, regarding who pays for return postage, Kogan will not refund delivery costs in the case of a store credit or refund.
- CHOICE says that, regarding who pays for return postage, a consumer should not be out of pocket for delivery costs when returning faulty goods.
2 quotes from 1 source
Kogan says: They won’t refund delivery costs in the case of a store credit or refund.
Australian consumer law says: Though not specifically referenced in the ACL, we don’t think you should be out of pocket for delivery costs if you have to return faulty goods.
Repeated, with no primary source in reach8
Widely repeated in the field. Within the documents this sweep read, it traces only to other repetitions - which is a fact about our reading as well as about the idea, until each one has been searched for on its own.
Amazon AU states that return shipping fees apply to most change of mind returns.
Amazon AU states that a customer whose item is not eligible for Free Returns is responsible for any return shipping costs.
1 quote from 1 source
If your item is not eligible for Free Returns, you are responsible for any return shipping costs.
Kmart states that for change of mind returns the delivery fee is non-refundable.
CHOICE states that, regarding who pays for return postage, if a consumer has paid for the shipping and the retailer finds the product does have a problem, the retailer must reimburse the consumer for posting it to them.
1 quote from 1 source
If you’ve paid for the shipping and the retailer finds that the product does have a problem, then they must reimburse you for posting it to them, so keep any receipts.
- Refunds and returns in Australia – your rights choice.com.au
On the question of who pays for return postage, CHOICE states that if the retailer finds no issue and the retailer paid for the shipping, the consumer may have to reimburse the retailer for transporting and inspecting the item.
1 quote from 1 source
If the retailer finds no issue and they paid for the shipping, then you may have to reimburse them for transporting and inspecting the item.
- Refunds and returns in Australia – your rights choice.com.au
CHOICE states that, as to who pays for return postage…
- a consumer is responsible for returning a small, easy-to-post faulty item.
- the business is responsible for taking back something bigger such as a bed or television.
1 quote from 1 source
If your faulty item is small and easy to post or transport, you are responsible for returning it to the retailer. But if it’s something bigger, such as a bed or television, the business is responsible for taking it back, but they should still keep you in the loop with how much that process will cost.
- Refunds and returns in Australia – your rights choice.com.au
CHOICE states that return delivery costs are not specifically referenced in the Australian Consumer Law.
1 quote from 1 source
Though not specifically referenced in the ACL, we don’t think you should be out of pocket for delivery costs if you have to return faulty goods.
Refused8
Claims the research produced that the grounding gate would not accept, with its reason. They are here because a site that only shows what passed gives you no way to judge whether the gate does anything.
Show what was refused
The ACCC's documented position on who pays for return postage is that a business which finds the product does not have a problem can make the consumer pay the collection and inspection costs.
Refused: The quote states the business can make the consumer pay collection and inspection costs but does not state that this applies when the product has no problem.
Unsupported: which finds the product does not have a problem
What it rested on
it can make the consumer pay the collection and inspection costs. To do this, the business must give the consumer a reasonable estimate of these costs
The ACCC's documented position on who pays for return postage is that a business which finds the product does not have a problem must first give the consumer a reasonable estimate of the collection and inspection costs.
Refused: The quote only addresses collection and inspection costs, not return postage, so it does not establish the ACCC's position on who pays return postage.
Unsupported: return postage
What it rested on
it can make the consumer pay the collection and inspection costs. To do this, the business must give the consumer a reasonable estimate of these costs
Section 263(2) of the Australian Consumer Law requires the consumer to return rejected goods to the supplier, subject to stated exceptions.
Refused: The quotes support a return obligation under s 263, but do not identify subsection (2).
Unsupported: Section 263(2)
What it rested on
263 Consequences of rejecting goods
The consumer must return the goods to the supplier unless:
Section 263(2)(b) of the Australian Consumer Law excuses the consumer from returning rejected goods that cannot be returned, removed or transported without significant cost to the consumer because of the nature of the failure or the size, height or method of attachment of the goods.
Refused: The quotes support the size/height/method-of-attachment basis but do not mention the alternative 'nature of the failure' or the cited section.
Unsupported: nature of the failure
What it rested on
the goods cannot be returned, removed or transported without significant cost to the consumer because of:
the size or height, or method of attachment, of the goods.
Section 263(3) of the Australian Consumer Law requires the supplier to collect the goods at the supplier's expense, within a reasonable time, where the consumer is excused from returning them.
Refused: The quote states the supplier's collection duty but does not identify it as Section 263(3) of the Australian Consumer Law.
Unsupported: Section 263(3) of the Australian Consumer Law
What it rested on
If subsection (2)(b) applies, the supplier must, within a reasonable time, collect the goods at the supplier’s expense.
The ACCC's guide for businesses and legal practitioners states who pays for return postage.
Refused: The quote says the consumer must return the goods unless return cost is significant, but it does not explicitly state who pays for return postage.
Unsupported: who pays for return postage
What it rested on
The consumer must return the goods to the supplier unless the cost of returning, removing or transporting is significant
Amazon AU states that a $50 return shipping fee will be charged for change of mind returns of Large items.
Refused: The quote states a $50 fee for change of mind returns but does not specify that this applies to Large items.
Unsupported: of Large items
Among the representations for which Hewlett-Packard was penalised was that products purchased online could only be returned at the business's discretion.
Refused: The quotes show HP was penalised for false/misleading representations and separately quote the return statement, but no cited quote ties that statement to HP or the penalty.
Unsupported: Among the representations for which Hewlett-Packard was penalised was that products purchased online could only be returned at the business's discretion.
What it rested on
In July 2013, the Federal Court ordered that Hewlett-Packard, a manufacturer and retailer of computer hardware, pay a $3 million civil pecuniary penalty for making false or misleading representations to consumers and retailers regarding consumer guarantee rights.
products purchased online could only be returned at the business’ discretion.