It makes a difference where you bought the gift
Especially during the Christmas season, customers often ask themselves whether and for how long they can still exchange gifts. Because what happens if you don’t like the gift this year? The exchange of gifts is not treated differently by law than any other exchange of goods. Here, however, the law distinguishes between online orders and purchases directly on site, because in Germany it is generally the case that a shop no longer has to take goods back if they were already seen by the customer at the time of purchase. Therefore, the shops are in no way obliged to take back the products or allow an exchange, unless the goods are defective. Nevertheless, many shops offer this service as a gesture of goodwill in order to increase customer satisfaction.
However, different guidelines apply to online shops. Since it is impossible for the customer to personally inspect the product when ordering online, a so-called right of withdrawal applies to online shops. Accordingly, buyers can return the goods during a certain period of time without giving any reason. Unlike exchanges, where the exchanged items can either be refunded, offset or exchanged for a voucher, the money is always returned to the customer in the case of cancellation. However, the shipping costs for the return must be borne by the customer himself, but some online services also generously cover these.
These deadlines apply
Since shops are not legally obliged to exchange goods, return and exchange periods can be set individually by the respective shop. These often range from two weeks to a month. The situation is different with online shops, which are required by law to comply with a cancellation period. This 14-day cancellation period begins from the moment the customer receives the package. Therefore, when buying a gift from an online retailer, you should make sure not to buy the gift too early, otherwise the deadline will have expired by the time the gift is given. The good news here: Especially over the Christmas period, some shops also offer longer deadlines.
These exchange conditions must be met
Some conditions must be met for the exchange or return of gifts. This includes proof that the item was also purchased there in the shop. But does it absolutely have to be the receipt? The consumer researcher Oliver Gansser, professor at the FOM University in Munich, explained to web.de: “You don’t have to keep the bill, you just have to prove that you bought the goods there – that can also be done with a bank statement or credit card receipt”. However, a receipt can simplify the exchange.
Original packaging is not absolutely necessary for an exchange, although some dealers prefer to take back the goods in the original packaging. Even if the packaging is rather irrelevant, the product itself must be returned in perfect condition, because if defects are found that arose after purchase, the retailer does not have to take the products back.
These products are non-returnable
There are items that are excluded from exchange and right of withdrawal from the outset. This includes made-to-order items, toiletries, event tickets such as concert tickets, and sealed data carriers such as CDs, DVDs and video games where the seal has already been broken when opened.
However, a complaint may be made at any time about articles that already showed defects when purchased. The buyer has two years to lodge a complaint, and he can also ask the seller for a free repair.
Editorial office finanzen.net
Image Sources: Kenishirotie / Shutterstock.com