It is prohibited to return headphones if they are in working order.

When can you refuse without explanation?

According to Government Decree No. 55, equipment for individual use and complex technical goods are not subject to return or exchange.

Of the entire variety of models, the first group includes only vacuum-type headphones - when used, the ear pads are installed in the ear canal.

Complex household devices include only wireless headphones that connect to a mobile device, desktop PC, laptop or TV via a radio channel.

All other models can be exchanged or returned to the store on a general basis - within 14 days from the date of purchase, subject to several conditions:

• no signs of use;
• the presentation, stickers, labels, tags, packaging have been preserved;
• the client can confirm the purchase in a specific store with a cash receipt, sales receipt or other documents.

You can refuse to purchase for any reason: if the headphones are not the right color, the rim is uncomfortable, they are too heavy, the cord is short. In these cases, the buyer has the right to pay extra and choose a more expensive model or take back the difference in price if the analogue turns out to be cheaper. If you can’t choose the right headphones, you can return the goods and collect the money.

The legislative framework

When considering whether headphones can be returned, it is necessary to take into account the law on the protection of consumer rights, according to which returns are not possible, since headphones are classified as technically complex goods (see the liver established by the Government of the Russian Federation)

Returning headphones of proper quality is not possible even if:

• the presence of proper quality without the presence of obvious damage to the goods;
• confirmation of the absence of use of headphones;
• preservation of all components of the product (headset, box, wires, warranty, protective film, label, tags).

If the store administration refuses to return goods of proper quality, then they have all the legal grounds for this and it is useless to argue with them. You can only count on service in the form of a voluntary exchange.

If the headphones are defective

If the headphones turn out to be of poor quality, by law the client has the right to:

• within two weeks after purchase, exchange it for a quality product or take the money back;
• Submit it for repair under warranty if 14 days have expired.

The warranty period is set by the manufacturer or store. If there is no information about it in the instructions for use, on the packaging, or a warranty card has not been issued, according to the PZPP, the consumer can make claims about the quality no later than two years from the date of purchase.

How to return an item and get your money back

You can return your purchase and return its cost on the basis of an application indicating:

• seller’s data (full name of the manager, name and registered address of the organization);
• information about the buyer (last name, first name, passport details, contact phone number);
• date, time, purchase price;
• model name;
• the reason for petition;
• requirements (exchange, refund);
• list of attached copies of documents (receipts, warranty card);
• date of compilation, signature.

After submitting the application, the organization is obliged to conduct a diagnosis within 7 days, order an examination and report the decision. The money will be issued at the cash desk after filling out the transfer and acceptance certificate or transferred to a bank card within 3 days.

Download a sample application for returning goods

Sample of writing a claim for returning goods

At first glance, buying headphones also falls under the scope of this article. And, by law, if you don’t like their color, shape or other parameters specified in the article, you can exchange them for a similar model or return the headphones to the store and demand your money back. There are no headphones in the list of goods that cannot be returned to the store after purchase, approved by Government Decree No. 1222 of October 20, 1998.

However, in addition to this list, there is another list of goods whose exchange and return are limited. It was approved by Resolution No. 55 of January 19, 1998. It includes products that belong to technically complex household appliances, including sound-producing and radio equipment. By law, a warranty period is established for the operation of such devices upon sale.

You cannot return or exchange these items, if they are in working order, to the store on the grounds that they do not suit you in size, shape or color. Depending on what product code is in the certificate of the purchased headphones, they may also fall under this product category, and then they will be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

Accordingly, if upon purchase the seller issued a warranty card and warned you about the warranty period, you will not be able to return the headphones to the store without defects. If you are not satisfied with the sound quality and it is objectively low, or the headphones have another defect and the warranty period has not yet expired, then in this case you can contact the store with a statement, after reviewing which there are several ways to resolve the issue:

• carry out repairs at the store’s expense;
• exchange for a similar model, but without damage;
• if the defect is minor and does not interfere with the use of the product, the price may be reduced and the difference in price refunded to you;
• the store may offer you a more expensive model by recalculating the cost;
• If none of the proposed options suits you, then the money spent on the purchase will be returned to you.

The application is usually considered no longer than three days. The store can send the product for examination to prove that the malfunction of the headphones is a manufacturing defect and not the result of careless use.

If the examination shows that the headphones were originally of high quality, and the defect appeared due to the fault of the buyer, then you will need to repair the product yourself, and also reimburse the store for the costs of conducting the examination.

If a fault is detected within the first 15 days from the date of delivery of the goods, then you have the right to return the goods or exchange them for the same or similar ones with a recalculation of the price.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with: Clarifying the boundaries of a land plot: procedure, documents, boundary plan

Important: the countdown of the period begins from the moment the goods are received. If you paid for the product and it was delivered to you a week later, then the non-guaranteed return period is calculated from the day of delivery.

The money must be returned to you within 10 days, and a replacement must be provided within 7 days from the date of application (if with quality control, then within 20 days).

Important: if the price of a product has increased since the date of purchase, you have the right to demand compensation for the difference in price.

Claim for defects within 15 days after purchase, except for technically complex goods

After this period, you can only count on warranty repairs of the product.

Although, if the repair lasts more than 45 days, or the fault turns out to be unrepairable or recurring, then you have the opportunity to demand a replacement or refund.

You can also demand compensation for losses associated with the sale of a device of inadequate quality to you. For example, compensation for the costs of transporting goods to the place of repair.

Claim for a technically complex product with a significant defect, if more than 15 days have passed

Claim for return of goods if defects are discovered after 2 years, but within the service life

Claim for return of goods if defects are discovered after the expiration (absence) of the warranty period

While you are waiting for the product to be repaired or replaced, you can request a replacement from the seller during this period. You must be provided with a replacement within 3 days.

1. if the warranty period has not expired, you should contact the seller (manufacturer, importer) with a written claim, drawn up in two copies, with clearly stated requirements (copies of all necessary documents are attached to the claim, for example, a sales receipt, sales receipt, warranty card, etc. .).
2. the seller accepts the product and replaces it with another, or conducts a quality check (in your presence). Don't forget to get an acceptance certificate from the seller.
3. During the inspection, the seller is interested in establishing that the cause of the problem was your fault, so we recommend that you be present during this inspection (you have this right). The result of the check may be satisfaction of your request for a replacement, or refusal.
4. If you and the seller have a dispute about the causes of the malfunction, the seller is obliged to conduct an independent examination (where you can also be present) at his own expense. If the examination reveals a manufacturing defect, the seller is obliged to replace the product. If, on the contrary, the defect arose during operation, then you will be left with faulty goods and will be required to pay the seller the costs of conducting the examination.
5. If the consumer does not agree with the seller and the results of the examinations, then he has the right to file a claim in court.

If the item has not yet been delivered to you, you can already refuse it. After the transfer you can cancel within seven days. If the seller does not attach documents indicating the procedure and terms for returning goods of proper quality, you can refuse the goods within three months from the date of its transfer.

To return the product, it must not be in use, its presentation, consumer properties, as well as a document confirming the fact and conditions of purchase of the product must be preserved. If there is no such document, then you can refer to other evidence of purchasing the goods from this seller (a screenshot of the online store’s personal account, a purchase notification by email or SMS).

- you must be returned the amount in the amount of the loan repaid by this moment with a refund of the fee for providing the loan, i.e. interest.

- in the case of a consumer loan (loan), you must return the amount paid for the goods and reimburse interest and other payments under the loan agreement.

Considering the important aspect of whether headphones are a technically complex product, the answer is yes. The warranty period is established by law and is usually 2 years. So how do you return headphones to the store? The client has the right to the following types of returns:

• exchanging headphones for a similar product or a product of a different brand;
• return of a product if there is a manufacturing defect;
• the presence of shortcomings that were discovered during the first use of the purchase.

We invite you to read: For which injuries are payments made from the Social Insurance Fund in the event of an accident at work?

Products of technical complexity cannot be returned to a store within the warranty period, since in this case the procedure is carried out only through a service center.

One of the main aspects when returning headphones to a store is to submit a corresponding application with all the necessary data. The document must be drawn up in accordance with all the rules, indicating the following details:

• indication of the personal data of the store director to whom the claim is addressed (last name, first name, patronymic, name of the trade establishment and address according to the legal agreement);
• description of your personal data (personal initials, phone number, email) indicating your actual residential address;
• a detailed description of the purchase procedure with the exact date of purchase and an indication of the reason why the product is required to be returned (presence of a manufacturing defect, defective material, non-compliance with the configuration);
• providing documents confirming the fact of purchase of the headphones (receipts, instructions, warranty card, packaging with a bar code);
• mandatory indication of the legislative framework on the basis of which the return procedure is possible;
• description of preventive measures in case of possible refusal to return the goods (contacting the competent authorities, filing an application with the court to satisfy the claim and compensate for moral losses);
• mention of the request to notify the decision within the time limits established by current legislation;
• attachment of documents in the form of a copy of the check with a clear image of all details;
• setting the date of completion and signature with decoding of personal initials.

Procedures for going to court regarding the return of small goods are quite rare. If the controversial issue is not resolved in any way, then it is necessary to file a claim with firm confidence that there is irrefutable evidence that the buyer is right.

When purchasing headphones online, the buyer has the opportunity to refuse the product upon receipt if it does not meet his requirements or has any manufacturing defects or obvious signs of a malfunction of the product.

You should contact the point of sale within the time limits established by law. To do this, you need to provide the headphones themselves, their packaging, a receipt, and fill out an application. The requirements presented by the buyer depend on the category to which the product belongs.

If the product is of high quality, but the color, shape, or size does not suit you, you can actually return it. They can be accepted without any questions, but sometimes problems arise. This is due to the list of goods that cannot be returned. These include products of increased technical complexity; this does not apply to simple headphones.

There is no clear prohibition in Resolution No. 55 regarding the return of headphones of proper quality. Whether your product will be accepted back or rejected depends on the seller’s knowledge of Resolution No. 55.

If the headphones were purchased from an online store

When the buyer cannot check the quality of the product before paying and chooses it based on photographs or descriptions, the procedure and terms for exchange and return are determined in accordance with the Distance Selling Rules.

You can cancel an order:

• before receiving the goods, even if the order has been shipped and transferred for delivery to the courier service;
• no later than 7 days after delivery of the parcel, if the seller included a reminder in the package about the return period;
• within 3 months, if the store did not warn about the week period.

After 7 days or 3 months, only low-quality equipment can be returned. The buyer will receive the funds via bank card or by postal order within 10 days from the date the organization receives the original application and the defective product. Delivery is carried out at the expense of the sender and is not compensated by the store.

Possibility of returning goods of inadequate quality

Almost all computer equipment and electronics belong to the list of technically complex goods, which means that problems with returns or exchanges may arise.
Let's look at this in more detail. You have decided to return the headphones of proper quality. There are different reasons for returning:

• I didn’t like the product: it doesn’t match the interior in color, shape, etc.
• We were in a hurry with the purchase (we found it cheaper or selected another model), changed our minds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECjm3fw9Zhw

Check whether your product is on the list of technically complex devices or on the list of goods of good quality that cannot be returned or exchanged.

If you found headphones in one of these lists, then it will be difficult to return or exchange this product, even if you have all the necessary documents and even if no more than 14 days have passed.

After making a purchase, many people wonder whether headphones can be returned or exchanged if there are obvious defects in the product.

In this case, it is important to prove the fact that the headphones were originally with a manufacturing defect or defect. The emergence of controversial issues requires an independent examination, which is paid for by the store.

The procedure for returning headphones consists of performing the following sequential actions:

• existence of legal grounds for returning the headphones subject to the above requirements;
• provision of all documents that were issued along with the box of headphones;
• checking the validity of the warranty period for the purchased product.

When filing a claim, the buyer must submit a statement requesting the return or exchange of goods. Consideration of the document in accordance with the law lasts for three days. After the specified period, a decision is made to approve or refuse the procedure.

Upon approval of the submitted application, the trade establishment must provide the following rights to the consumer:

• purchasing headphones of another brand with recalculation of a certain cost of the goods;
• receiving a significant discount on damaged goods with a clear manufacturing defect or defect;
• the opportunity to return money if there is no similar product of proper quality.

If an independent examination is necessary, the product is sent for examination of the resulting defect. The duration of the procedure is 3 days. Based on the results obtained, a conclusion is made that decides the outcome of the submitted claim.

If, after purchasing the accessory, wheezing, unclear sound, or other defects were noticed, this may be a reason to return the product under warranty. The safety of this insert must be ensured.

Warranty periods may vary. If the store does not establish this clause, then it is regulated by law, and it is two years from the date of purchase.

If the headphones break down during this period, you can contact a service center or store. Contacting a retail outlet gives you a better chance of resolving the problem:

• it is possible to get a new working model, similar to the broken one;
• refund the cost of the headphones;
• receive another product of this type with additional payment;
• repair the goods at the seller's expense.

This turn of events takes place if the quality of the headphones was not damaged due to the fault of the owner. Only a manufacturing defect can cause an exchange of goods and a refund. It is quite possible to establish the cause of the breakdown with the help of an expert inspection. Its duration reaches a month, if you follow the law. If 30 days have expired, the seller should:

• submit a report on the inspection;
• if the malfunction is not the fault of the manufacturer, the seller’s claims will be denied;
• manufacturing defect – satisfies the buyer’s requirements.

We invite you to read: Residence permit for a foreign citizen in the Russian Federation