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[Jeffahn]

I spent ages deciding what laptop to buy:

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Acer-TravelMate-4101LMi-LX.T6705.003/version-2.asp

Learning as much as I could and making some tough decisions.

They call me at work to tell me that Barclaycard won't pay them, so I have spend practically the whole day trying to sort it out. They were supposed to call me back to tell me if the payment had gone through but they didn't, so I wasn't sure if my order would arrive yesterday.

So it arrives. I unpack everything. Looks like the NAV disk may be missing. Anyways I go back on the internet a bit later. I wanted to send a link to a friend about the laptop when I come across this:

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Acer-TravelMate-4401LMi-LX.T7806.019/version-1.asp

...which appears to have been added in the time between when I ordered my machine on Thursday night and when I received it on Saturday morning. Now I knew that there were Turion-based laptops on the way, but I didn't think it would be so comparatively cheap, and it's not even on Acer's website yet.

So I would much rather have that other machine; mainly because of the 64-bit (buzzword) Turion ML28 vs the Centrino 730, the X600 vs the X700, XP Pro and the 6-in-1 card reader.

So them I realised I could proabaly return the machine under the UK's 'distance selling regulations' and be refunded. It all sounds simple enough, but I don't think it's possible for me to do it. A plain reading of a summary of the regulations makes it sound like I can just pack everything up and send it back, but the terms and conditions of sale for that site sound like they will only make me an offer for second-hand goods becasue I've already modifed the OS and opened most of the packaging, though this does seem to conflict with my rights to examine the goods under the DSR.

If anyone could give me any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

...

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

You think that's bad try buying stuff in Iraq and then having to contact customer service from Iraq. It's sucks monkey nuts. First off they can NEVER help you online. You always have to call. Secondly, when you do call they want to put you on hold, I'm like motherfucker do you know how much it costs to fucking place a goddamn call from here! Then they all say the same thing. You need to make your current address part of your approved address. So then I have to call my bank because they won't work with me via email even though I told them I was going to be in Iraq and that is the best way for me to be contacted. For them to tell me that they don't allow secondary mailing addresses for shipping.

 

[Jeffahn]

Dunno what happend to the links.

Anyways here's what I have now now:

Acer TravelMate 4101LMi
Home > Acer Laptops > Acer TravelMate 4000 / 4500 Laptops > Acer TravelMate 4101LMi
Acer TravelMate 4101LMi - LX.T6705.003

This TravelMate 4101LMi is a powerful multimedia machine with a 4-hour battery life, making it ideal for mobile multimedia users thanks to the PCI-Express ATI graphics, DVD writer and Centrino processing technology.

* Intel Pentium-M Centrino 730 Processor 1.6GHz/533MHz/2MB L2
* 512MB DDR SDRAM - Low cost double memory Offer - call for details
* 60GB Hard Drive
* DVDRW± Drive - To read DVDs and CDs and write CDs and DVD+ and DVD-
* 15" XGA TFT Screen
* ATI Mobility Radeon X600 PCI-E 64MB dedicated graphics
* Integrated wireless 802.11g LAN
* Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Pre Loaded
* Includes Cyberlink Power-DVD and NTI CD-Maker
* 1 year warranty - upgradeable to 3 years for only £99!



£588. 94
price

£692. 00
inc vat
Stock: > 20


And here's what I want to return/refund it for:

Acer TravelMate 4401LMi
Home > Acer Laptops > Acer TravelMate 4000 / 4500 Laptops > Acer TravelMate 4401LMi
Acer TravelMate 4401LMi - LX.T7806.019

The TravelMate 4401LMi is a high specification business laptop with high performance and long battery life, thanks to AMD's Turion processor - specifically design for laptop mobility. Generous hard drive, memory and graphics, not to mention the DVD Dual Layer drive, makes this a top specification laptop at an excellent price.

# AMD Turion ML28 1.6GHz Processor
# 512MB DDR SDRAM - Low cost double memory offer – call for details!
# 60GB Hard Drive
# DVD Dual Layer Drive - To read DVDs and CDs and write CDs, DVD+, DVD- and large Dual Layer DVD
# 15.0" XGA TFT Screen
# ATI Mobility Radeon X700 64MB dedicated graphics
# Integrated gigabit LAN
# Integrated wireless 802.11g LAN
# Integrated 6-in-1 card reader – reads Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card, SmartMedia Card and XD Picture Card
# Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition Pre Loaded
# Includes Cyberlink Power-DVD and NTI CD-Maker
# 1 year warranty - upgradeable to 3 years for only £99!


£603. 40
price

£708. 99
inc vat
Stock: > 20

They don't give the weight for the Turion machine but I'm pretty sure it's no more than 3Kg.

To summarise, the Distance Selling regulations say that:

" Q2. What are my rights when shopping online?

Your usual consumer rights apply online. Goods must be of satisfactory quality and adverts and descriptions must not be misleading. With auctions and private sellers the general rule is 'buyer beware'. The Distance Selling Regulations provide additional protection - e.g. your card company must refund you if your credit, debit, or store card is used fraudulently and, in many cases in the EU, the law allows you time to change your mind, within seven working days of the delivery, and get a refund.

Q3. I understand I can change my mind if I do not want the goods. Does that apply to all products?

In most cases, the Regulations provide a 7-day cooling off period and an unconditional right to cancel during that period. This allows the consumer time to examine the goods or services being offered, as they would have when buying in a shop. The cooling off period starts 7 working days after the day the goods were received and for services 7 working days after the order was made. However, if a service starts immediately, before the end of the cooling off period, the consumer must be informed (in a durable medium) that they will not have the right to cancel.

The cooling off period and right to cancel do not apply to contracts for:

• goods made to the customer's specification;
• perishable goods (flowers, fresh food);
• CD, DVD, and tapes with software, audio or video if unsealed;
• newspapers and magazines;
• betting, gaming and lotteries

Q4. Do I have to pay to return them?

Charging for delivery and recovery of goods are commercial decisions. The terms of the contract should state whether the consumer is required to return the goods at their own cost. The business must not charge more than the direct costs of recovery of the goods, such as postage or, for larger items the cost of a van collection.

Once you have cancelled the order all money paid must be returned within 30 days of the date of cancellation."

Whilst the terms & conditions under whcih I purchased the laptop say:

"Cancelling your Order or Returning your Goods



Consumer Mail Order

If you purchased your goods over our website or via the telephone and you are a consumer, you have the right to cancel your order with us in accordance with Consumer Protection law (Distance Selling Regulations 2000). The period in which you can exercise that right is 7 working days from the date of delivery. Please note the Distance Selling Regulation do not apply to a business or organisation and if the goods were not stock items and were bought in specially for you, you cannot return them. If for any reason you wish to you return your goods, you can do so within the 7 days without giving a reason. Please email Customers Services for an Authorisation number. The goods must be returned at your cost, unopened and in original condition within 7 days of receipt of our Authorisation Number. Please note that goods returned without their original packaging or incomplete or in any way not in full resalable condition will not be refunded. One of our technicians will inspect your goods prior to replacement or refund and we reserve the right to deem the goods second-hand and make you an appropriate offer should any items not be returned in their entirety or in an AS NEW condition. Proof of purchase must be provided and a valid Authorisation number must be clearly visible on the outside of the packaging. All software packages and extended warranties must be returned unopened and unregistered and laptops and systems must be restored to their default factory settings. Failure to do restore the laptops to default settings may incur a technician’s fee of £50+vat. You will be refunded the value of your order less carriage and any card / finance charges within 14 days of us receiving your goods. Please package any returned items carefully and return them, for your own protection, via a recorded and insured method of carriage such as Royal Mail Special or Recorded Delivery. The carriage costs and insurance are the responsibility of the customer unless the goods were delivered to you in error."

It seems like a bit of a cheat to say that I won't receive a full refund just because I opened the packaging.

...