Can a company return an item after the 30 day return policy?

Question

This is a business to business transaction.

A company purchased some material from my company. After about 25 days from the invoice date, a representative from that company e-mailed me to say their client (they were acting apparently as a broker) said their client said our material did not meet specifications. As with any return I requested the proof. They said they would furnish the lab results right away.

Almost daily I requested the lab results until they told me that they were working on getting the results and to please stop requesting it as this would not expedite anything. I was simply trying to get to the bottom of this and became suspicious.


Finally, 2 weeks later (so in total 40 days since invoice date) they submit results to me from their own independent lab and expect an immediate refund.

I don't know where my material has been or how it has been handled but I am wondering if legally I am obligated to refund them since it's 10 days beyond the 30 day policy.
The representative said that her email was enough to give me notice of intended return. However, I find it hard to believe that would hold up in court as couldn't anyone say "I plan on returning this" the minute they receive their purchase.

This transaction is occurring in the state of NJ (just in case there are any specific laws).

Thanks!

The policy is written on every invoice that the clients receive.

Answer 1

First question is the big one: have you been paid for the goods? If you haven't been paid you have no recourse.



If the material has been returned, and you accepted the shipment, you owe them a refund. You might be able to charge a re-stocking fee, a percentage of the original sale amount, and deduct that amount from their refund.



Consider these questions: Can the returned product be sold again? Is the shipment complete, or is the returned amount lees that the amount you originally shipped?



You should also consider the potential for future business with that broker before you make any decision. Talk to their purchasing manager and explain your position before you put anything in writing. Find out more about the company, if it's a sketchy situation you might charge a higher re-stocking fee to discourage any future contact.



Return policies are not always set in stone, decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. It seems like your client is acting in good faith, but it's up to you to make that judgment.

Answer 2

Unfortunately for you, I am inclined to believe that they have a right to a refund.

Your 30-day return policy allows them 30 days to test and use your materials. If within those 30 days they request a refund, the policy permits it. When asked for a refund, you however requested laboratory evidence, this means that you were given notice within the 30 days of the desire to return the material, but demanded proof that it was not of sufficient standards.



Any testing/proving done after the original notice of the desire to return your materials is void of any time-limit as it is you, the supplier, who has demanded proof. You did not demand for them to make up their mind, their decision was clear - you demanded proof, and proving things takes time.



Don't take my word for it, ask around with other business colleagues, but I think you'll find that their side will hold up very well in court - given that they did clearly state their discontent and declaration for a refund within the 30 days and did not merely say "I'm not sure if I want it anymore, I'll run some tests and decide later.".



Judging by what you've said they'd made their mind up within your 30-day return policy time-frame, and you'd requested a further effort on their part to prove that the material was not to specifications. 15 days is not "right away", but there is no time-constraint.



Note: Does your policy of 30 days include faulty or mis-advertised products? If your materials were not to specification [mis-information and not sold as specified] a time-limit on returns may not be enough to stop their claim.



Good luck, either way they seem to have a strong case.

Answer 3

there isn't any such factor because of the fact the "US shopper bureau". you are going to pay hundreds of greenbacks to a criminal professional over a $3 hundred dispute? Yeah, useful. you are able to desire to quiet down and get some information. Have they denied your refund? if so, why? you're able to record a dispute with your credit card company.