This Return Shipments Policy ("Policy") governs the return request raised by the Buyer in accordance with the terms of this Policy ("Return Request") and the mechanism for resolution of disputes raised by the Seller in relation to the Return Requests.
Any capitalised terms used herein this Policy and not defined explicitly shall have the same meaning as defined in the Terms of Use, as amended from time to time.
The Users understand that Thecostprice.com (hereinafter referred to as 'we') is an intermediary platform and shall only mediate the Return Request. Except for any Logistics RVP, it shall be sole responsibility of the Seller to resolve the issues/ concerns raised by the Buyer pertaining to the Return Request.
We shall not assume any liability for any failure on the part of the Seller to resolve the Return Request raised by the Buyer.
We may modify this Policy from time to time, and any such changes will be reflected on the Platform and be effective immediately upon the changes being reflected on the Platform. Users agree to be bound to any such changes or modifications and understand and accept the importance of regularly reviewing the Policy as updated on the Platform from time to time.
To initiate a return or replacement of your order(s), buyer can go to My Order section in their account at thecostprice.com. They will select the desired order(s) to initiate the return or replacement of the product(s) with the valid reason. Return/Replacement window will be valid for any order till the 7th calendar day from the date of delivery of shipment to the buyer.
1. The Buyer may raise a Return Request on the Platform for any one of the following reasons:
1. Product(s) is physically damaged or is defective, including damage to the outer box delivered;
2. warranty issues or quality related issues with respect to the Product delivered;
3. wrong Product or the Product is not matching the description or specifications mentioned on the listing page on the Platform;
4. part of the Order/ Products is found to be missing due to reasons attributable to the Seller.
Without prejudice to the foregoing, the Buyer may raise a Return Request for the following reasons ("Logistics RVP"):
5. part of the Order/ Products are found to be missing due to any reasons attributable to the logistics; or
6. Product was damaged in-transit; or
7. Any other logistics related issues.
2. At the time of making a Return Request on the Platform, Buyer will be required to provide appropriate supporting documentation/ proof including without limitation:
1. images of the Product(s) indicating the issue in the Product/ shipment delivered. The images need to capture the following: (a) the shipping label with Order ID; (b) Order details; (c) packed shipment; (d) issue observed by the Buyer in the Product; (e) damages to the Product; and/or (f) the IMEI number (in case the Product is a mobile phone);
2. unboxing/ normal video clip indicating the issues in the Product/ shipment delivered. The video clip needs to capture all sides of the package, order details, shipping label, quantity of the Product, damages in the Product, IMEI number (in case of mobile phones), any tampering with the outer box etc.;
3. copy of bill/ tax invoice for the Product received.
If any further information or clarification is required from the Buyer, we will contact the Buyer.
3. Depending on the category of Product, the Buyer may raise a Return Request for any of the issues as set forth under paragraph A.2 above within the timelines prescribed below:
| Category | Timelines |
|---|---|
| Smartphones & Feature Phones | 7 days from the date of delivery of Shipment |
| Accessories and Consumer Electronics | 7 days from the date of delivery of Shipment |
| Electricals | 7 days from the date of delivery of Shipment |
Upon receipt of a Return Request from the Buyer, the same will be displayed on the Platform. We will internally scrutinize the Return Request raised by the Buyer and notify the Seller. The Return Request raised by the Buyer will either be approved or rejected and the same will be communicated to the Buyer.
Basis our internal scrutiny of the Return Request raised by the Buyer, any of the following may occur:
1. Approval of the Return Request: The Return Request shall be approved under the following scenarios:
1. The Return Request has been approved by the Seller. In such case, the Reverse Shipment will be shipped to the Seller; or
2. If we determine that the Return Request is a Logistics RVP, in such case, (i) we will pay the full value (as declared) of the Shipment to the Seller; and (ii) we shall have the right to proceed with the liquidation of such Reverse Shipment.
In case of approval of the Return Request, if the Buyer has already paid for the Order, the order amount for the Product(s) shall be refunded to the Buyer or third party as per instructions of the Buyer.
2. Rejection of the Return Request: The Return Request raised by Buyer shall be rejected, in case of any of the following reasons:
1. If the Buyer does not respond to the inquiry calls and/or communication via other modes made by us to procure missing documentation and information in relation to the Return Request; or
2. supportive documents are insufficient, or Buyer is unable to provide sufficient proof in support of the claim.
3. If the Buyer’s return history shows excessive returns, then the Return Request of the Buyer may be rejected.
3. In all the above-mentioned cases wherein, the Return Requests are approved by the Seller, refund will be initiated to the Buyer, once the return shipment has been delivered to seller/ warehouse. A proper QC will be carried out for the return shipment that we received from respective buyer, after verifying all the aspects of the return policy the refund (fully/partial) will be issued to the buyer within 48 business hours.
We may, in our sole discretion, check the contents of the returned Shipment that are picked up from the Buyer, however, we shall not assume any responsibility or liability with respect to such verification of the Shipment. If we choose to do such verification, our check will be limited to checking that the Products which are handed over to us match the description of the Products, quantity, colour, size, and/ or brand with the Product for which Return Request has been raised. Buyer's return request shall automatically stand cancelled in case the Products handed over to us do not pass the verification check. We will not entertain any further return request in case of any cancellation due to verification check.
1. Once the Return Request raised by the Buyer is accepted, our logistic partner will pick up the Shipment from the Buyer ("Reverse Shipment") within such timelines, as maybe communicated or displayed on the Platform.
2. The Reverse Shipment will be delivered to the Seller by us (at the location from where the Shipment was picked up for forward order delivery to the Buyer). We will endeavour to make the first attempt to deliver the Reverse Shipment to the Seller within:
1. forty-five (45) days from the date of receipt of Reverse Shipment (non-food products) from the Buyer; and
3. For any delay in making the first attempt to deliver the Reverse Shipment beyond the said timeline due to reasons solely attributable to us, we shall communicate such delay to the Seller within reasonable time. In case of unavoidable circumstances or occurrence of a force majeure event or any event beyond our reasonable control, timelines shall stand extended. The Seller will be able to track the Reverse Shipment on the Platform. The Seller will be bound to accept the delivery of Reverse Shipment and sign the proof of delivery.
4. If we are unable to deliver the Reverse Shipment to the Seller due to Seller's or its representative's unavailability at the delivery location on the first attempt, our logistic partner will make a maximum of two (2) more attempts to deliver the Reverse Shipment. We will endeavour to attempt delivery within the next forty-eight (48) hours from the last delivery attempt. Our returns team will contact the Seller to arrange for delivery of the Reverse Shipment. If despite our reasonable efforts, we are unable to deliver the Reverse Shipment to the Seller in the third attempt, the Reverse Shipment will be transferred to our liquidation hub for liquidation.
5. At the time of delivery of the Reverse Shipment to the Seller or any of the Seller's representatives, our FE will require the Seller to acknowledge the delivery of the same by signing on the proof of delivery document ("POD"). Seller or its representative is required to sign on the POD and clearly call out the damage or tampering to the Reverse Shipment and/or TPID (if any).
6. At the time of receiving the Reverse Shipment, the Seller or any of the Seller's representatives shall observe the following:
1. Shall not detain our FE for any reason whatsoever;
2. any tampering, pilferage, or damage to the Reverse Shipment at the time of receiving the Reverse Shipment from us shall be written on the POD and the same shall be reported to us within 72 hours from the receipt of delivery of Reverse Shipment by choosing the 'Disputes' option on the Returns Page on the Platform. If the Seller does not write on the POD about any damage, tampering or pilferage to the Reserve Shipment, we reserve the right to reject any Dispute which the Seller may raise on the Platform against us with respect to the damage to the Reverse Shipment during reverse transit of the Shipment.
1. Upon receipt of Reverse Shipment from the Buyer, Seller can raise a dispute with respect to the Reverse Shipment within seventy-two (72) hours from receipt of the same, failing which it shall be deemed as accepted by the Seller without any damage or fault. The Seller may raise a dispute for any one of the following reasons using the Platform:
o Reverse Shipment/outer box/ is in a visibly damaged condition or tampered and the same has been mentioned on POD;
o Products received are wrong;
o Difference in the quantity;
o If the Reverse Shipment is not delivered to Seller but marked "delivered" on the Platform; and/or
o Mismatch/non-alignment with the approved refund amount.
2. Upon receipt of the Seller(s) complaint or dispute on the Platform, our returns dispute team will get in touch with the Seller to resolve concerns or disputes in accordance with our Policy, as maybe communicated from time to time. The Seller at the time of raising the dispute will be required to provide us photographs and/or videos of Reverse Shipment (internal and outer box), and such other documents/ proof or information, which we may require to investigate into the issue or concern raised. The Seller agrees to co-operate with us while we investigate the claim or dispute raised.
3. For the purpose of investigating the claim, We may require certain additional documents/ proof/ information in support of the claim at the time of raising a dispute or post submission of the dispute by the Seller. Seller will be required to provide such additional documents/ proof/information in support of the claim within forty-eight (48) hours from the request raised for such document/ proof/information, which include without limitation, images of the returned product(s) indicating the issue in the shipment received. The images need to clearly capture the following:
o the Return ID;
o AWB number of the shipment;
o issue observed by Seller in the returned product;
o damages to the returned product;
o brand name/ manufacturer's name of the returned product; and/or
o the IMEI number (in case the product is a mobile phone).
The Seller further agrees that our decision with respect to the investigation shall be final and binding.
4. Upon receipt of the seller(s) dispute and necessary documentation in support of the claim, we will investigate internally and endeavour to resolve the dispute within five (5) days of receipt of dispute.
5. Based on the documentation provided by the Seller, the dispute may be resolved either:
1. against the Seller, if it is concluded by us that:
1. evidences collected by us and documentation, proof, and information provided by Seller in support of Seller's claim do not match, including during QC check;
2. document/ proof provided by Seller in support of Seller's claim are insufficient; or
3. Seller does not respond to the inquiry calls and/or communication through other modes sent by us to procure missing documentation, proof, and information in support of Seller's claim from the Seller; in such cases Seller's dispute will be settled against the Seller.
In such cases, within forty eight (48) hours of resolution of Seller's dispute, we shall deduct and adjust the value of the returned product (in case the amount for such Shipment has already been transferred to the Seller) from Seller's sale proceeds that are collected by us from the Buyer(s) or any other amounts that we are required to pay to the Seller; or
2. in Seller's favour, if it is concluded by us that document/ proof/ information submitted by Seller along with Seller's dispute are sufficient to justify Seller's claim and match with Evidences collected by us, then we will approve Seller's dispute. The amount that the Seller will be eligible to receive in relation to such approved claims shall be calculated on the basis of the category of the Product for which the return is raised. The applicable amount to be refunded to the Seller shall be as mentioned, herein for the following categories The Seller further agrees that our decision with respect to the investigation shall be final and binding.
The raising of a Return Request and dispute resolution is a mechanism of User protection and is subjected to guidelines of fair use. If we in our opinion become suspicious or become aware of any misuse of this Policy or the Platform by any User, we may notify such User for a change in applicability of our Policy.
The User agrees to be bound to any changes or modifications made to this Policy as may be updated on the Platform, from time to time or any additional terms that may be communicated to the User, from time to time.