High Street Shopping

You usually have a statutory 30 days period in which to return the item, unless stated differently by the company in question. It is usually made clear by the trader in question, receipt or email. Make sure you know your consumer rights before you buy!

Are their any instances when you cannot cancel?

Having bought an item online, there are certain instances when you can’t return an item.

• If you have ordered specific items which have been custom-made to your specifications.
• Fresh food or flowers which could possibly go off quite quickly.
• Printed items such as newspapers and magazines as they are bound by a date.
• Sealed items which have been opened such as CDs, DVDs, computer software etc.
• Items which have not been returned within the given statutory period.
• Items which have been used or noticeably worn.

If you have bought something which you are not satisfied with you are entitled to 7 working days cooling off period.

If you wish to complain about items you bought or a service you experienced, you need to inform them straight away. You should then put your dealings with them in writing and address it to the manager or customer services and await a reply.

Unless the goods are damaged or not as specified on your order acknowledgement, you are responsible for the cost of returning goods to the merchant if you decide you no longer have need for them. If, however, the goods are faulty then the postage costs will be refunded and you will receive a replacement item or a full refund for your purchase. It’s recommended that you keep relevant documentation to prove you have returned the item, as proof of shipping is not proof of receipt.

All items ordered online should have a guarantee in case you are unhappy with the item that you have purchased, as they do when bought in store, guarantees are only valid for a certain amount of time. It’s a good idea if, as soon as you receive a faulty item, contact the retailer. Always check your delivery before signing for it. Once signed for, in effect, means you are happy with your purchase. Some companies won’t replace your item if it has been signed for.

You will receive a full refund and the retailer will contact you by email when your item is made available again. If you have paid by cheque, the company will probably send you a cheque with the relevant cost to your address if you require a full refund rather than a replacement. If you paid by credit or debit card, the payment will be made directly into your account, although it may take a few days to appear on your statement.

Providing you supply a valid email address you will receive an email a minute or so later confirming your online order including what you have purchased, the amount being charged to your credit/debit card plus the quantity of your order. Once this email has been received, there is usually a link, which you need to click on to be taken to the checkout page of the website. You are then asked to enter your payment details if paying by credit or debit card.

According to a recent report, more and more customers are relying on the World Wide Web instead of doing their shopping on the high street when it comes to buying their Christmas gifts. The report confirms that as high street businesses feel the after math of diminishing footfall, customers are staying in the comfort of their own home and taking advantage of less costly online products and services. A recent government study which was carried out by United Kingdom internet centres, shows that customers could actually save up to 2/3 off their Christmas shopping by buying their presents on line. The assessment that was carried out was done by purchasing ten items on the high street. These items totalled a cost of £1,128. The same ten items were bought via the internet and the price totalled just £761. However you decide to do your shopping, do it with meticulous care and attention and please note that your rights when doing your shopping on the high street are just the same as when you buy goods on line.