Returns policy
I like happy customers. Happy customers come back for more. Happy customers tell their freinds. Happy customers are most effective marketing tool I know. (And by far the cheapest, I don't know of any advertising company that I don't have to pay for, and customers pay me!)
In fact happy customers are my most valuable asset!
I also know from experience that most people really do like being honest. (Despite what some economic theorists might say!) In fact while I suspect that once or twice I have had a 'customer' pick my pockets, it's so rare that it would have cost me many times more then I ever lost to prevent it. (In fact I have had a lot more trouble from sellers!)
Because of this I don't see any point in having a whole lot of ridiculous terms and conditions which treat the customer with suspicion. That just insults people and makes potential customers suspicious in their turn!
So I like to keep it simple. In esscence......
If You Don't Like What You Bought, You Can Send It Back! *
You have fourteen days from the date that you get your item to decide if you want to keep it. In fact for many item sold at a fixed price on the internet or via a catalogue this is essentially UK law. See eBay's summary of UK law as it currently stands.
Please note that the law does not apply this to auction sales but at Alchemic Photography we like to apply this to auctions too. (Although in some cases we may occasionally exclude a particular item. Eg, a camera auctioned strictly for it's parts value may not me returned if a particular part is not useable. See below for details of auctions of such items.)
If you don't want to keep it, let me know immediately so that I know that you have decided to send it back. (Please make it clear in your mail that you want to return the item as 'unwanted'.)
The item must be returned in 'Good Order' (That is in any packaging it came with, and with all it's accessories, and of course undamaged.), and I will ask you to return it using a signed for service with sufficient insurance for the return trip. (In case it get's lost or is damaged.)
Please make sure that the item for return is packed exactly as it arrived. Items are packed in order to ensure safe delivery, and in such a way to enable you to open the package without significant damage to the package. Items damaged during return may be billed.
Even if the item is returned as faulty, incorrect packaging may cause further damage, or make it impossible to confirm that the fault was present before dispatch. In which case again, the item may not be refunded.
You may be expected to pay for return postage yourself if the reason for return is that you have changed you mind, or bought the item by mistake. If of course the reason is that I made a significant mistake in the description, or the item has a significant fault, the return postage will be refunded.
If the package is not returned in good order, and in reasonable time you may still be expected to pay for the item. Make sure you use a reliable method of return.
Please note: According to new laws recently introduced it is now illegal to pretend that you are offering a special service when you are simply complying with the law. Eg, It is a legal requirement that goods sold at a fixed price can be returned within seven days for a refund. Pretending that this is a 'special', or 'unique' service that you offer to your customers as an 'extra' is now illegal. Beware sellers who do this!
What if it is broken when I get it?
If the packaging is damaged do not accept delivery, and let me know immediately. (I will get the package back and claim against the carrier for the damage. If you accept a damaged package then the postal record will show that it was delivered in good order, and I may not be able to claim.) Meanwhile I will offer you a replacement, or if one is not available, I will refund the amount paid in full.
In the unlikely even that the item is damaged or faulty when you open the package, let me know immediately. You will be entitled to a replacement or a refund. (Or I may offer to correct the fault at no cost to you.)
(Note: That defects specifically mentioned in the listing are specifically excluded.)
What if the item never reaches me?
Sometimes an item becomes 'lost' in the post. If you have not had the item delivered within a reasonable limit, please contact me, and I will make arrangements for a cliam against the postal service. (Please note, UK postal services do not consider mail lost until 15 working days have elapsed for first class mail delivered to a UK address. For EU destinations this is 21 working days.)
In order to receive a refund for the lost item you may be required to fill-out a claim form. This is because the Postal Service may demand written confirmation of non-delivery from the recipient (You) before they will process the claim. If asked to do so the refund may not be made until the completed form is returned to me.
Please note most items are now dispatched with tracking. This may not be apparent, and we do not automatically issue tracking numbers unless you specifically request, and pay for particular tracked service.
This is due to the increase in fraudulent 'lost mail' claims made against the UK Post Office in respect of items bought on eBay. Please help stamp out this kind of fraud by co-operating with this policy, and make eBay a safer place to trade.
Guarantees.
New items
New items are guaranteed for at least twelve months from the date of purchase. You are entitled by law to a remedy for any defect which appears or becomes apparrent within an unreasonably short period of time. So do not hesitate to contact me even after the nominal twelve months has elapsed.
Used items
Used items will normally be guaranteed for six or three months to allow you time to discover any defects which may not have been noticed or properly dealt with before sale. This may be extended if it is reasonable to assume that the fault is due to a pre-existing defect. Longer guarantees may apply to some items but the miniumum is usually three months.
Items sold for parts are excluded, and we cannot guarantee the condition or prescence of a particular part unless you enquire before purchase!
(The duration of the guarantee should not be taken as an indication of the expected useful lifetime of a used item, but rather as a 'testing period' during which any latent defect may reveal itself. )
Where possibe a repair will be effected, and the item returned to you. If a repair cannot be done, then a suitable replacement may be offered if available, or a refund.
Defects noted in the listing are excluded from the used item guarantee.
It should be understood that it is not possible to anticipate every possible fault in a used item. Some latent faults will not be detectable by the normal service or examination. This is because the time taken to do this would make the item too expensive.
However, all major defects are checked for and corrected, and an examination is conducted to find evidence of the development of known common faults for the model. Where found these are also corrected. This still leaves room for the possiblilty that some potential faults may remain undetected and may manifest a short period after putting them back into use.
In the case of such faults developing I will repair (If possible) those faults free of charge. If it is clear that the fault should have been detected prior to shipping, then shipping both ways will be paid by me.
(Please note that if you have damaged the item you may also return it for repair at any time. You may be charged for this repair.)
Your statutory rights are not affected.
Items Sold as Not Working
Items sold at auction which are specifically described as not working, or faulty and not sold as repairable, should be considered only as a source of spare parts.
Items sold like that have already been considered for repair and judged irreperable. This is usually because there are parts damaged which can not be economically obtained, and it would cost more to re-build them than they could possibly be worth.
It is very unlikey that no usable spares will be contained in the item, but some parts may be missing, or damged. If I know that there are certain parts which will be usable, it will be noted in the listing. As it is impractical to describe the condidtion of every part, please enquire if you want a specific part not mentioned.
If in the case that I have described the particular part as usable, or I have confirmed that the part is usable in response to a query then you may return the item. The returned item must be complete, (or as complete as it was shipped) and in the same condition that it was shipped. (I may waive that if it is unreasonable to expect you to re-assmble the item before shipping, but I will still want all the bit's back!)
(Also it may be worth checking my 'spare parts' listings. These parts have been salvaged from cameras which were not even worth listing as scrap, and disposed of.)
Thank you, for reading all of this, and I hope it helps you to buy from Alchemic Photography, confident that you won't be diassapointed with your purchase.
G. I. Stalker BSc
* Some items may be excluded as permitted by law. This applies to perishable items, and similar goods such as CD's. Also you may not return an item because you disagree with what constitutes normal wear and tear for an item supplied as used.
If for any reason you made a bid unintentionally, please let me know as soon as you realise your mistake. I can then open a dispute immediately, so that the matter can be resolved amicably, and quickly. This gives me the oppurtunity to make a second chance offer before the losing bidder has placed bids elsewhere. You will not get an unpaid item strike if you do this.
You should not use the returns policy as a way of trying to avoid a non-payment dispute. Once a refund has been made, it is necesary to open a dispute to clear the the unpaid item message. If an item has been impropery returned, this may result in an unpaid item strike in any case.
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