Return policy after Christmas: Financial experts explain the rights and responsibilities of buyers and retailers

Return policy after Christmas: Financial experts explain the rights and responsibilities of buyers and retailers

According to a report by www.tagesschau.de,

Giving and receiving gifts is a joy – most of the time, anyway. If you don't like the gift at all, it's time to exchange and return it after the holidays. However, buyers do not automatically have a right to this.

Customers who want to exchange a Christmas present because they didn't like it, for example, rely on the retailer's goodwill. The Saarland Consumer Center draws attention to this. If you didn't get a written promise when purchasing that the gift could be exchanged, you'll have a bad chance if the retailer doesn't want to take the goods back.

When making an exchange, the retailer may also offer a voucher instead of money. The customer has to accept that. If you give away items of clothing that don't fit, it depends on why. If you ordered the pajamas in the right size but were delivered in the wrong size, then the retailer is responsible - he has to deliver the pajamas in the right size.

If the gift was purchased online, returning it is easier. Almost every contract concluded online or over the telephone can be canceled within 14 days, even if you don't like the item. The goods must then be returned accordingly. Important: The cancellation period must not have expired by the Christmas holidays.

Things are different if there is something wrong with the gift. If the video game console breaks down or the zipper on the new jacket gets stuck, the buyer has clear rights against the retailer. For new purchases, you have the opportunity to make claims to the seller for two years.

If a legal dispute arises because of the defect, the dealer must prove within twelve months of the date of purchase that the goods were flawless when sold. This also applies to latent defects, i.e. defects that are not immediately visible. The seller is also liable for assembly and operating instructions that are difficult to understand or incorrect.

Anyone who has received a voucher as a gift should definitely pay attention to when it has to be redeemed. Unless otherwise agreed, according to the consumer advice center, a period of three years usually applies. “A time limit of less than one year is not legally permissible,” says Ludwig.

Vouchers can also be redeemed gradually if this is reasonable for the retailer and does not result in a loss.