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Technology News
Protect Ebay purchases
Chris - December 13th, 2011 4:48 PM
Tags: ebay, protection, warranties
Ebay has introduced an insurance scheme that allows to protect purchases from private individuals. Shoppers using the online auction site can buy the Square Trade extended warranties on new, second-hand and refurbished electronic goods.
Ebay said it launched the programme “based on overwhelming feedback from our buyers” because man of the electronic goods bough at the online auction site are for second-hand items sold by private individuals. Unlike sole traders and retailers, private sellers are not bound by UK consumer statutory law so the buyer has no legal redress for faulty goods Vince Tseng, Square Trade’s managing director told the press that, although many people are happy with Ebay’s Buyer Protection scheme, any claim for faulty goods must be made within 45 days of sale.
“Often faults don’t show up in that time. Companies selling goods have to abide by the Sale of Goods Act. That is not the case when buying from a private individual. It can bring peace of mind to have cover in those cases,” he said. The cover can be bought for electronic items sold through Buy It Now sales and auctions.
Square Trade said that its warranties, which last from one to four years, are up to 40 per cent cheaper than those offered by other providers. People can cancel a warranty under the Supply of Extended Warranties on Domestic Electrical Goods Order 2005.
The company will offer both a standard warranty, which will cover repairs or replacements up to the price paid for the goods, or take the option of buying additional accidental damage protection as well. The cover is available only for electronic goods but Ebay said it planned to introduce this programme to more categories in the future.
