Return Window, Restocking Fee, and Store Credit
On April 2, Priya orders an $80 desk lamp in matte black. It arrives April 9. The policy: returns accepted within 30 days of delivery; items must be in original packaging; opened items incur a 15% restocking fee unless defective; shipping is non-refundable; store credit instead of a refund waives the restocking fee. On May 1 she opens the box and finds the lamp is glossy white, not black. The lamp works. She threw away the packaging. She paid $9 shipping. She would happily buy a desk chair from the same store next month.
1. Is the return within the window? Compute the deadline the policy actually uses.
Read the worked answer
The deadline is 30 days from delivery, not from the order. Delivery April 9 + 30 days = May 9. May 1 is inside the window. Using the order date (April 2) would give May 2, which would also be inside, but the policy's trigger is delivery, so May 9 is the correct deadline to cite.
2. What refund should she expect if she asks for a refund, and what fee applies?
Read the worked answer
Wrong color is a fulfillment error, but the lamp is not defective, so the opened-item fee applies: 15% x $80 = $12. Shipping is non-refundable, so a refund would be $80 - $12 = $68, not $77 or $80. The missing packaging is a separate risk: the store may refuse the return, so she should not assume $68 until it agrees.
3. What is her best move given that she plans another purchase?
Read the worked answer
Ask for store credit. The policy waives the $12 restocking fee for credit, so she would preserve $80 of value instead of $68, and she plans to buy a chair. She should also report the wrong item and ask the store to waive the packaging requirement or send a prepaid label. If it refuses, the credit is still the better economic choice.