Ecig RMA trend??

[Sentinal]

Figured I would post this here versus in merchants forum area.. I have made several purchases not only for me but for others; over the past several months. Everytime I get a shipment in; before I pass it to my friends and family, I make sure everything works; if it doesn't, I go thru the whole RMA process. Trend is YOU pay more postage to send a product back that should be in full working order when you get it. When I pay XX dollars for a started kit and a part doesnt wrk, I shouldn't have to pay a extra penny for shipping. The vendor should send you a return postage sticker for the rma; after all most vendors only warranty their products for 14 days...if that long. So you pay postage, wait a week for the new or fixed product...then pray everything works upon return; or you'll end up paying postage again. Is this good business practice? Heck if I buy a computer online and its DOA on arrival; said computer company is sending me a new computer with a return postage sticker OR they give me a number to schedule a home pickup.

So, give me your take on this policy that seems to be the norm for this industry.


To be fair: Vapornine is the only vendor that I have dealt with that doesn't always do this. If their batts were cheaper and their turbo's had different color choices I would buy most all ecig hardware from them.

 

[Warped3k]

Moved to Polls Subforum

 

[javajoe]

This is a poor business practice. I run a business from home and if I make a mistake I pay return shipping, it's only right. This helps legitimize the whole jaloppy

 

[Sentinal]

This is a poor business practice. I run a business from home and if I make a mistake I pay return shipping, it's only right. This helps legitimize the whole jaloppy

I would have no prob with the practice if vendors would ship replacements first and give you 2 weeks to get them the return. The whole pay to ship back and wait for return part is annoying. Ship me the replacement and if I dont ship yours back charge me. Most computer companies do this... since ecigs are exploding as far as markets are concerned; customer service will be what separates the big boys from the rest.

 

[Tendril]

I think the customer should send the product back and the vendor provide credit for the cost of the shipping.

The proper way for a vendor to do this, IMO, is to send the customer a pre-paid UPS return slip

It's tough to take sides. I've had several orders with registered vendors here on ECF where I either didn't receive half my order or half my order was DOA. Like Sentinal mentioned, I've ended up paying far more for the original parts after shipping is figured in for sending back DOA units (not to mention not getting what I ordered). At the same time, the suppliers are making an investment purchasing these parts from overseas and at the profit margin for items like atomizers it isn't cost productive to test each one before sending it out. These people are sometimes members here before they start the business and it's easy to empathize. If they get a bad batch of atomizers from China, will China reimburse their losses

 

[Cuss]

I voted for vendors, but I personally tend to look into their return policy prior to placing my order. I prefer vendors that pay, so if faced with two equally priced vendors, I will choose the former.

Luckily I have yet to receive any defective products.

 

[hairball]

I voted vendor unless it was something that I did wrong. If a battery up and dies and is still in warranty..then vendor should pay...if I screw something up like a mod that needs repaired...I should pay. Make sense?

 

[TexFan]

While the consumer part of me says the vendor should pay shipping both ways, it's not time or cost effective for the vendor to send out an return shipping tag for a couple of bucks shipping cost. The customer would have to wait an extra week for the return shipping label to arrive in the mail, then a week for the failed product to get back to the vendor, an extra few days for inspection, etc., ad infinitum. It's worth a couple of bucks to me to get it over with quick.

 

[throatkick]

Vendor no doubt. I understand they have a rather large failure rate and it is hard to check so much merchandise before you ship it out. Oh well.... cheaply made, inexpensive items coming from China. Did anyone expect anything different?

 

[nansc]

I too always read the fine print.I haven't really had any problems(so far).