94 lines
4.2 KiB
Plaintext
94 lines
4.2 KiB
Plaintext
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How to Successfully Buy Through Mail Order and Protect Your Rights
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Mail Order sales are governed by rules of the Federal Trade
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Commission (FTC) and various state laws.
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FTC rules say:
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1) The Seller must ship your order within 30 days of receiving
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it, unless the advertisement clearly states that it'll take longer.
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2) If it appears that your order will not be shipped when
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promised, the Seller must notify you in writing in advance of the
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promised date, giving a definite new date, if known, and offering
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you the opportunity to cancel the order with a refund or consent to
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a definite delayed shipping date or an indefinite delay.
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3) The Seller's notice must contain a stamped self-addressed
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card or envelope with which you can indicate your preference. If
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you don't respond to this notice, the Seller may assume you agree to
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the delay, but must either ship or cancel your order within 30 days
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after the original shipping date promised or required. A prompt
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refund must be made when an order is cancelled.
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4) Even if you've consented to an indefinite delay, you retain
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the right to cancel the order at any time before the item has been
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shipped.
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5) If you chose to cancel and order, that has been paid for by
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check or money order, the Seller must mail you a refund within seven
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business days. If you cancel an order for which you paid by credit
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card, the seller must credit your account within one billing cycle
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following receipt of your request. Store credits or vouchers in
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place of a refund are not acceptable.
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6) In the event that the item you ordered is unavailable, the
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Seller may not send you substitute merchandise without your express
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consent.
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Tips When Ordering
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State precisely what merchandise you want, specifying details
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such as model, make, size, component parts, etc.;
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Confirm the price and expected delivery date as stated in the ad;
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Indicate whether you will accept a substitute product if the
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item you ordered is unavailable, and, if not, that your payment
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should be returned;
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Don't send cash, you will have no record of payment if a problem
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arises, and;
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Keep a copy of your order and all other correspondence with the
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seller. Your records should indicate the company's name, address
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and phone number; a description of the item ordered; your cancelled
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check or a copy of the money order; record the date you mailed the
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order or the time and date of your conversation, and the name of the
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person you talked with; and any sales slips and shipping receipts.
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Ask about servicing and refund/return policies and with whom you
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should correspond if there is a problem.
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If You Have Problems
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1) If you have not received your order as promised or if the
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item is defective, immediately notify the Seller in writing
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referring to your order by description, price, date, as well as by
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account number and order number, if available. Make sure you keep a
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copy of the letter.
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2) If you complain by phone, send a follow-up letter to confirm
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what was said.
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3) If you think the merchandise is defective, reread your
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product instructions and product warranty carefully to be sure you
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don't expect features or performance the product isn't designed to
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give. Then contact the Seller for instructions. Don't return it to
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the Seller until you have been instructed to do so.
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4) When returning merchandise make sure you keep the shipper's
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receipt or packing slip; your right to be reimbursed for postal cost
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is determined by store policy.
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5) If you have completely discussed your problem with the
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Seller and are still not satisfied, write to the consumer complaint
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agency in the Seller's state, If you paid for the merchandise by
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credit card, you may have rights to withhold payment under a Federal
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law called the Fair Credit Billing Act.
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