AMAZON’S EXCHANGE OFFERS–A BIG FRAUD ON CUSTOMERS. Review on Amazon

Sept 02, 2017

AMAZON’S EXCHANGE OFFERS–A BIG FRAUD ON CUSTOMERS

Following is my highly unpleasant experience with Amazon.in

I placed an order for LG Washing Machine on 09 Aug 17 under their exchange offer(Order No: 404-8638841-2252337). I received the machine on 10 Aug 17. The cost of the machine was Rs.14499. My Samsung semi automatic machine was purchased by Amazon for Rs. 2500. So the exchange price came to 11999.00.

I was advised to contact LG company for installation and demo. This costs Rs.600. The LG technician came over to complete the installation and demo. To our and his horror, the machine was badly dented and the front portion had caved in. It was obvious someone had returned it and the same was sold off to me. The LG technician took some photographs and left as I wanted a replacement. Now the interesting part begins. This is their ridiculous policy.

1. Amazon DO NOT give a replacement for items purchased on exchange basis.

   
   




2. They WILL NOT return your old unit taken away by them on exchange.

   
   




3. Amazon DO NOT pay  the cost of  your old unit in cash.

   
   




4. The exchange price of your unit(washing machine, phones etc) is impounded by them.

   
   




5. This amount is treated as PAY BALANCE on their website.

   
   




6. They compel you to buy some item from them within one year or this amount also is lost.

   
   




7. In my case Rs.2500(cost of my machine that was exchanged)  is withheld by them so that I am forced to buy some item from them. Refund amounting to 11999.00 was given to me.

   
   




8. In order to utilize the Pay Balance of 2500 I have to use my credit or debit card. No COD allowed.

   
   

As you can see, the policy is heavily tilted in their favor. Neither you get a replacement if you get a defective/damaged product from them nor the exchange cost of the item taken away from you. They keep your item and the money. If you don’t utilize this amount within one year, you lose this impounded cash too besides having lost your old unit already.  THIS IS WHY THEY DON’T GIVE A REPLACEMENT.

Is their EXCHANGE OFFER fair? NO. It is a fraud played on the gullible people. They would be sending hundreds of such defective/damaged items on exchange basis daily and impounding millions of rupees. This will earn huge interest on the withheld amount in these fraudulent deals. The procedure could be repeated several times with various defective and damaged items and the money held back.

One logical question to Amazon – If you are a seller you will sell the item ordered in any case even if it comes to replacing a defective unit. Why would you NOT replace and sell when you have sold  a  defective and damaged item to a customer?  You lose the business to your competitors and the trust reposed in you. Your policy amounts to cheating and twisting the arm of innocent people. Your sole purpose is to lure the customers with exchange offers and rob them of their property and money.

I and my wife are senior citizens with limited resources and no other help. We gave away our Samsung semi-automatic machine that was working very well in the hope of getting a fully automatic one and reducing our work-load. Because of Amazon’s wicked tactics we were left with no machine. So, we purchased one from Flipkart. The installation and demo was done free of cost by them. I tried to buy a mobile phone utilizing the 2500 that was withheld by Amazon. This can be done only by means of Credit/Debit card. No COD is allowed in such transactions. As fate would have it, the payment didn’t materialize for some reason. I cancelled the transaction.  Many believe Amazon to be a trusted place for online shopping. Just wait till you get caught in the maze of their preposterous policies. You would be forced to change your opinion.

Well readers, choice is yours. Be very careful of Amazon’s exchange deals. You may end up with a lemon and lose your unit too in exchange. Besides, you will not get a rupee in cash on your old unit. Whoever has devised this policy should be suitably rewarded for his devilish brilliance. I am seeking a legal opinion on this despicable exchange policy devised by Amazon to fleece the customers under the garb of exchange offers. Cheers.

Arshad U. Khan

Bangalore.