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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if Amazon would accept this return?

75 replies

OooohhDeer · 16/11/2018 14:26

I bought a book on Amazon for my studies. Fairly expensive, £26. My plan was to read it then return it but the book came wrapped in clear foil. I know it's naughty but I can't afford this book right now. I couldn't get it elsewhere cheaper or second hand. On eBay or on bookshops the book costs £35-40 😬
Do you think if I opened the package read it and would return it by Monday Amazon would accept the return ? I know it's so bad but I'm so desperate

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 16/11/2018 16:34

I got some wine glasses delivered yesterday one was smashed, I called them and they issued a full refund and said to keep the five good ones.

How is that, or a poster's earlier faulty printer anecdote, the same? you didn't buy the glasses, use them and then try to return them as new.

Bluntness100 · 16/11/2018 16:41

I didn't say it was the same, I said they were good with returns and gave an example

puzzledlady · 16/11/2018 16:45

Yes @Bluntness100 - i totally get what you are saying re the wine glasses, and yes, amazon are good like that, but in the case of the OP, it is deception. Totally different.

UserMe18 · 16/11/2018 16:49

Buy it second hand and sell it on Amazon afterwards, I did this many times with expensive text books, they tend to keep their value.

SilverySurfer · 16/11/2018 16:54

Ask yourself this: If you were an Amazon seller would you be happy to sell a brand new, foil wrapped book and then accept its return with wrapper off and having obviously been read and refund the £26? I know I wouldn't.

I completely agree with Isleepinahedgefund. WTF difference does it make that you have paid for your studying up until now?

Holdingonbarely · 16/11/2018 16:55

They literally accept anything back for any reason.
That’s how they can pay people a pittance on zero hours and treat them like dirt.
It’s an upside for you!

100Pumpkins · 16/11/2018 17:57

If you do this the person who actually wrote the book gets nothing despite their hard work. How would that feel if it was you?

Original poster

OooohhDeer · 16/11/2018 18:32

You know guys I completely get everyone's opinion. And it's wrong and I knew when posting the thread that what I was thinking was/is wrong. It is relevant that I paid for all the other books etc for my course before. Not from Amazon point of view or your point of view but from my point of view. I'm not a thief but when costs pile up and you really start thinking 'not another one'. It's £26 it's not loads but it's a lot. It's a thick book and I need about 80 pages of it really which is irrelevant. It's a book if you need it you buy the whole book but it is a lot of money for me. Which again doesn't make it right but heyhoo the thought has crossed my mind and I asked the question here. And if the day there is no point questioning I just need to suck it up and move on.

Btw I know from my own experience how annoying it is when someone buys something off you and returns it used. I have sold several handmade soft furnishings items before such as cushion covers, throws lampshades etc and the amount of times the buyers have requested refunds saying the items were faulty or used - yes used by them ! And eBay not once took my side and had taken the refund off my account. So yup just for reference I know how it feels. It shit!

OP posts:

RCohle · 16/11/2018 18:51

"I'm not a thief". But you bought the book with the intention of theft. Apparently whilst knowing from personal experience now "shit" that is from a retailer's perspective. I'm baffled as to why you thought you would receive sympathy here.

Original poster

OooohhDeer · 16/11/2018 18:59

Well I paid for the book so I am not a thief. Just because a thought crossed my mind it doesn't mean I am going to do it. Obviously if it was normal return I wouldn't come here and ask if it was okay to ?! Clearly I was questioning myself 🙄 In one of my previous comments I mentioned that I'll keep the book and try to flog it once I'm done with it.
I'm not sure where I was asking for sympathy?!

OP posts:

RCohle · 16/11/2018 19:20

Purchasing the item obviously isn't theft. Using it and fraudulently returning it would be - en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_fraud

Your OP you said your "plan" was to read it and return it, which is more than the idea "crossing your mind" in my opinion.

In your OP you also said "I know it's so bad but I'm desperate" which sounds to me like you wanted people to sympathise with your situation.

SoupDragon · 16/11/2018 19:26

Just because a thought crossed my mind

But in your OP you said My plan was to read it then return it but the book came wrapped in clear foil That's not a thought just crossing your mind, that's a spoilt plan.

Original poster

OooohhDeer · 16/11/2018 19:30

It is all a plan until one takes action don't you think?
I put in that I'm financially desperate as this is the only reason returning the book after it being read crossed my mind. (If I wasn't skint I'd buy this and another 2 books to help with my studies.)
Otherwise if I said I bought this book. I'm going to read it then return it - well that is clearly wrong! I'm not saying the version I said is any better but I did not want to drip feed in the comments.

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 16/11/2018 19:47

The only reason you didn't take action is because it was sealed.

That's not "just a thought" no matter how you try to dress it up.

eloliphant · 16/11/2018 19:49

If you didn't have to sign for it then ring them and it say it never turned up and they'll refund it

30birthdayholiday · 16/11/2018 19:50

Wonder if you let us know which book it is, someone might have a copy lying around that they could post to you?

Original poster

OooohhDeer · 16/11/2018 19:51

I'm really sorry but I won't take that from you @SoupDragon
I get all the comments that were saying that it's wrong, and think about the business or the author I would basically stealing the money from and fully agree that they are right .
But I have to ask who the hell do you think you are making a statement like this
'The only reason you didn't take action is because it was sealed.

That's not "just a thought" no matter how you try to dress it up.'

You don't know me or know anything about me! Fully entitled to have an opinion but not telling me what I was actually going to do or am doing !

OP posts:

EmbraRocks · 16/11/2018 19:52

Is there a possibility that the part of the book you need has been published as a journal article? Can you say the course?

RCohle · 16/11/2018 20:06

Well obviously no one can read your mind. All we have to go on is what you've said here, and from what you've said I think SoupDragon's interpretation is spot on.

LadyAddle · 16/11/2018 20:12

I second the inter-library loan suggestion - ask at your local public library if you aren't near a university. If you are near a university, see if you can obtain a reference only ticket for their library.

MaddieElla · 16/11/2018 20:24

My daughter is an avid reader. She had hundreds of books but I didn't realise how quickly she actually read until I bought a book for her from Tesco one day which she promptly finished that afternoon. I went back to Tesco and got a refund the next day. Terrible I know, but it was still pristine. I did learn from it though and it was the last time I ever bought her a book. From then on she borrowed from the library and I saved a fortune.

DaysOfCurlySpencer · 16/11/2018 20:25

If you had known it would be sealed on arrival would you have bought it knowing there would be a doubt about returning it?

Or did you think it would be unsealed and returnable without any chance of a problem?

I think SoupDragon would know the answer to this one, and I suspect I might too.

Lougle · 16/11/2018 20:25

Have you tried Google Books? Sometimes an excerpt is searchable.

MeVoila · 16/11/2018 22:38

You should have a librarian who is responsible for your course- liaising with lecturers and providing resources - even for distance learners. They might be able to borrow a copy for you through the Inter- Library Loan scheme- and give you other advice on getting hold of books and articles..

magoria · 16/11/2018 23:09

Sell it on ebay for more then buy another one from Amazon at the same price and keep it and the profit.

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