(Solved) Bought an Overpriced iPhone 12, Want to Return It and They’re Asking for Fees

Hi,

So I was looking for an iPhone 12 128gb and saw an ad here for an iPhone 12 64gb at becextech and went to their website to look around. The website is so messy and unorganised. Then I saw an iPhone 12 128gb and I purchased one (at least what my eye saw). I thought they had the cheapest product so I went ahead and bought it.

Then I received the phone and open it to see that I accidentally ordered the wrong phone and got the iPhone 12 mini 128gb and paid $1338.95, of that, $74.50 was charged for shipping from NSW or VIC to SA. I feel I got ripped off for being charged that insane amount just for express shipping of under 500g. I then go and look on Officeworks and they’re selling it for $1277. 😑😑so not only did I pay $62 more for the phone, I also could’ve gotten it a few days before having to wait for shipping.

The next day I ask the support team to proceed with a return of the product as they have a peace of mind policy.

“BecexTech also offers 14 days POM(Peace-Of-Mind) return policy. All POM returned product will incur charge for re-stocking fees. The charge may varied depending on the item condition. However, BecexTech reserve the right to refuse the return if the product is not in reasonable condition.”

They respond saying “that it would be an expensive process for both of us to organise a return” and they said that if I keep the phone they’ll give me $20 as a partial refund gratitude to keeping the phone.

At that point I just wanted to return it because I felt unhappy with the overall experience. So I offered to pay the postage back to them at my expense. Then they said “we will charge a restocking fee of 10% and the return postage is non refundable” I thought they must’ve been joking or something, but 10% ($134) restocking fee is mad. Bare in mind I haven’t even opened the phone it is completely sealed and perfect as the way it came to me. At this stage I started to get worked up because of this, I feel like I’ve been overcharged for the phone, and now I have to take a loss of $134, and the return postage. My overall net position is -160 for ordering and returning a phone, to me it’s a lot money and many hrs of work. 🤬

I thought to myself, is this even legally possible? If I go to a major retailer here anywhere in Australia and the packaging is perfectly intact they’ve never charged a restocking fee.

So here’s where I need some help. Can I argue for the restocking fee to be waived? If yes, And with what evidence can I use in my defence?

EDIT: Alrighty.

Lesson learnt. What I can say now is that I took a big FAT L. I’ll just take this an expensive lesson, one that has taught me to read the label before clicking the PAY button and never again impulsively buy things without reading the T&C’s.

Thanks for the responses everyone, I will be wiser next time.

Happy Bargaining

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Comments

  • +51

    grabs popcorn

    • +28

      grabs overpriced iPhone 12

      • +23

        "overpriced" is superfluous in the same context as an iphone ;)

    • +22

      Grabbed choc top by mistake

      • +21

        Now candy bar won't take it back.

      • Overpriced choc top

  • +58

    No-one forced you to buy the phone

    The price and spec and T's and C's were on the website

    All on you OP

  • +50

    I thought to myself, is this even legally possible? If I go to a major retailer here anywhere in Australia and the packaging is perfectly intact they’ve never charged a restocking fee.

    Oh boy. Look up change of mind returns via ACCC. They don't need to accept your return.

  • +36

    I thought to myself, is this even legally possible?

    Yes.

  • Thanks for informing me.

  • -1

    Go and look at the Hardley Normal sales terms for returning stock, good luck.

  • +19

    Learn to read

    It’s good for you

  • -5

    Your fault. your loose. Keep it or sell it, dont bother returning it you will get scammed.

    • +17

      He's loose ? how do you know that's a bit private !

      • +8

        No, he HAS a loose. Whatever that is.

        • +1

          Have to get me one of those, sounds like I could be missing out.

  • +5

    I accidentally ordered the wrong phone

    Cop it on the chin and move on OP.

    If you don't want to keep the phone, then return it and hope that they process the refund promptly (less return fees).

    Otherwise you could try selling it on gumtree for cash.

  • +19

    Enjoy your iPhone 12 mini 128gb

  • +21
    1. Buy the wrong product
    2. Ask to return change of mind purchase
    3. Told about restocking fee & no refund on return postage by seller
    4. Be unreasonable
    5. Complain on the internet
      ..
      ….
    6. Promise myself to read product description before purchase next time & learn about change of mind purchases under ACCC
    7. Enjoy my iPhone 12 mini like a big kid
  • +29

    This. People falling for bexectech again and again because they are on top of Google search (cheapest item price) but charge high shipping fee

    • +12

      Bexec Tech, oh yeah, I remember that mob, the one that displays lower prices than others but makes up for it & then some with ripoff delivery charges… yeah, avoid like the plague.

  • +26

    My overall net position is -160 for ordering and returning a phone, to me it’s a lot money and many hrs of work.

    Interesting you value your time and money and not theirs that you've wasted because of your own error. The restocking fee was clearly advised to you on purchase as you quoted.

    There's no recourse you can take really, yes it's perfectly legal and in fact, they don't have to accept your return at all in the first place.

    Also, who on earth pays $75 delivery for interstate? Was it delivered by trained doves?

  • +5

    Bet its an import too so doubt it will have the 2 Year Aus warranty and no… change of mind doesn't warrant the customer getting a refund actually.

    • +9

      Never change ChiMot. One day your Apple hate will transform into a beautiful butterfly.

    • +2

      Not agree it's op fault. Full stop.

      How is it not OP's fault? Didn't check properly what they were buying

      • +1

        I think what he meant to say is, "I don't agree. It's OP's fault, full stop" :)

        • Well he should have spent more time on the topic at hand instead of posting drivel.

        • Why punctuation is important

    • I moved to Samsung as I couldn't justify paying up to $500 more for basically the same product. No regrets, happy with my Samsung. I won't buy Apple or Nintendo products for this reason. Also the same reason I dont shop at Harvey Norman or E.B games…
      A pointless stand but I stand by it…
      However if I purchase something and its my mistake or I find cheaper, I cop it on the chin and consider it an expensive lesson and hope I learn from it and research better.

      • +3

        Nintendo is not really the same thing - you can't play exclusive Nintendo games on another platform. So it isn't like you're paying extra for the same thing, it is a different thing.

        • +4

          Even 3rd party games? Games like The Witcher, which is inferior on the Switch and many years old. $15 on every console but $80 on the Switch. Also, how can you charge full price for a port from another console and barely any changes…
          If people want to pay it…go for it…I just don't support companies with ludicrous price tags…

          • @Puglife: If you're going to only play 3rd party games you can do it on a PC for very little. It would be ridiculous to buy a Nintendo console if you only wanted to play games that are available anywhere.

            If you want to play Nintendo games though you need a Nintendo console.

            It would be like deciding whether to live in a mansion in Potts Point or in Dubbo. It should go without saying that if you have no family, no hobbies, no jobs and intend to stay inside your house for the rest of your life you wouldn't buy a mansion in Potts Point - it's a given that people who are considering buying a house there have a reason, job, hobbies, family etc. Just like it is a given that if you are considering buying a Nintendo console it is because you're interested in Nintendo games.

            • +1

              @Quantumcat: They are still greedy as everything should devalue over time unless it's limited. A 10 year old game is not worth the original price…
              But hey, if we pay it, then they charge it. Its a brilliant business strategy and it works.

              • +4

                @Puglife: It’s just supply and demand. Games sell high so why should they drop them. Second hand market retains much of the value too.
                I have more of an issue with big publishers like EA and Ubisoft filling games with micro transactions

      • I won't buy Apple or Nintendo products for this reason.

        What's the Samsung to Mario or Zelda's iPhone?

      • Cool story

  • +4

    At least it's not a 50% restocking fee ;)

  • +4

    The problem seems to be you have misordered and allowed the price to dictate what you ordered.

    When I looked at Becextech website there is opportunity to review your Cart that shows the Product Specifications and the Delivery Charge.

    While you say the Phone is still new and sealed, you can expect Becextec would incur costs and loss in restocking your return. They would need to open and examine the phone and as a consequence could only then reoffer as open-box or used.

  • +2

    You got the wrong Informer

    Ask them to give full store credit instead of money back, without restocking fees, and buy Iphone 12 from them on good price, if it works.

  • In all seriousness OP:

    “BecexTech also offers 14 days POM(Peace-Of-Mind) return policy. All POM returned product will incur charge for re-stocking fees. The charge may varied depending on the item condition. However, BecexTech reserve the right to refuse the return if the product is not in reasonable condition.”

    Go look at their website and find out if they specify what the restocking fees are.
    "All POM returned product will incur charge for re-stocking fees. "
    "The charge may varied depending on the item condition."

    Leads me to think this means if they item has been opened or used.

    "BecexTech also offers 14 days POM(Peace-Of-Mind) return policy."
    This wording leads me to believe you can return it for change of mind.

    If you haven't done this already:

    Tell them the item is unopened and them how to justify the restocking fee.

  • +2

    Change of mind; they don't have to take it back, so they can set their own terms and fees.

  • +4

    This is not a court of law, there is no defense, as there is no case before a court.

    If that is alot of money for you, maybe you should be more careful before ordering expensive phones from overseas.

    • -1

      This is OzBargain mate.

  • +12

    Are there iphones that aren't overpriced?

  • Another entitled op. Many such cases.

  • +1

    If you paid via Paypal and activated refunded returns and still want to return it, have a look at:
    https://www.paypal.com/au/webapps/mpp/returns
    that may contribute something to your return postage costs.

  • +2

    I want your gun and (ozbargain) badge on my desk by 6pm.

  • +1

    You complain about over paying by $140 yet seem willing to pay $140 just to return it.
    The expensive delivery probably included insurance for $1k+ item.
    If you choose to resale it, there's also the 10% commission you have to pay as well, so pointless.
    Noone is going to buy it from you for full retail price. They would probably demand at least $100 discount

    Just use the phone as you intended to buy it and view this as a lesson to spend more time shopping.
    You often hear this sort of complaints on this website. People missing out on a bargain and think they've been cheated.
    You should've shopped around. They don't sell them at the same price. Some $100 more, Some $200 more. Some are willing to overpay if they could get it early or near where they live

    I recently purchased an ipad pro and thought I got a bargain thinking I got the 2020 model. Turned out it was the 2018 model and felt cheated. The model was listed on the ad, but I screwed up and thought it was the 2020 model. While I didn't get a bargain, I purchased it at average price and the 2018 model isn't that much worst than 2020, so instead of whining to the seller I just kept it to use

    • It doesn’t have a photo of the camera? Would recognize immediately the older model.

  • +10

    If only you used the same amount of effort in your purchase as you have arguing for the return…

    Than you might have made the correct choice.

  • +1

    I am confused. So did you order the wrong model?

  • +1

    Apparantly size does matter.

  • +6

    tip for next time, buy direct from apple. they have one of the best no questions asks returns policy - no fees, no questions, just send/take it back and get another one. 14 day returns period starts over again.. repeat if you really need to. towards the end of 2020 they extended the 14 day return period to a couple of months 'because of covid' ..

    • I agree but they have an extended holiday return policy every year, COVID is not related.

    • so you're saying if you return 27 times you will get a whole year using for free?

  • Just wait until OP discovers dropshipping… lol

  • +5

    Wow, being a retailer in Australia sucks. Imagine having to deal with customers like this on a daily basis.

    • -3

      Well then try to be a good retailer and not to sell things at inflated prices, simple as that.

      • +4

        FYI - businesses are not charities.

        • -2

          Thank you, but you have added nothing new, so whats your point?
          Bad retailers get bad customers, they literally ask for that

          • @justwii: Please read up on economics, business & trading before commenting further.

            Aim of a business is to maximise profits. By your definition, Apple must be a terrible retailer because their margins are huge.

            • -1

              @mrvaluepack: You can stick with your business definitions but it is irrelevant. You are just trying to define the meaning of business while I am talking about the means. Both a good and a bad retailers are maximizing their profits, but one achieve that by good services, RRPs or even at no margin to gain good word of mouth, while the other inflated prices with a website full of baits and traps.
              So don't complain the customers are bad when the retailer is not doing any good. And yes Australia does not welcome bad retailers.

              • +1

                @justwii:

                inflated prices with a website full of baits and traps.

                What kind of baits and traps in this case?

  • Thanks for the post! Not buying off BecexTech.

  • Well at least when they pump up the shipping to advertise the lowest phone price, the 10% restocking fee is less.

    • But you will lose out 100% of the so called original shipping instead of just 10% if it is item price. They can sell the phone for $1 and charge $1000+ for shipping and offer a return without any restocking fee but of course no refund on original shipping cost.

      • I totally realise you'll be worse off - was trying to give a glimmer of sarcastic brightness :)

  • I'm making tea.
    OP, seeing all these harsh and cold responses, what do you think?

  • Can't believe you only realise it AFTER receiving the phone. It might be impulse buying but shouldn't you at least double check what you just ordered after paying and so you could stop them from sending the item?

    Try to see if swapping for the non-mini version and pay the difference can minimise your loss.

  • $1277 for an iPhone mini. Lols.
    Apple are just taking the piss at this point, right?

    • -1

      Just paid that price for iPhone Pro Max 512GB.

  • it's customers like this that cause me so much trouble with my business.
    they simply do not read product descriptions, so annoying.

  • +1

    Your first mistake was buying an iphone

    • -1

      2nd mistake was buying an iphone

  • +2

    Don't understand why didn't buy direct from https://www.apple.com/au/shop

  • You paid 4.5% more and you're calling it "overpriced"?

    No-one forced you to buy the phone, why should the company be inconvenienced because of your inability to research?

  • +1

    Some credit cards if paid through (AMEX) can provide peace of mind in case you change your mind.

  • $74.50 was charged for shipping

    I'd have aborted the purchase the moment I saw this ludicrous shipping fee. This business is obviously extorting people in the name of shipping. They're among the lowest form of scum in my books.

    Truth be told, I'd have aborted the purchase when I saw iSomething in my cart. But that's me. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

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