Return policies for computer cables

Factual Questions
1

Foolishly, because I failed to read the documentation correctly, I went to a computer store and bought a 6-pin to 6-pin Firewire cable. I was planning on hooking up a computer to my new Mac Powerbook and use the target disk mode feature to transfer files.

Of course, my old computer is a PC. And the target disk mode function doesn’t work on those.

:smack: :wally :smack:

I read my receipt for the cable and it said that I couldn’t return it or exchange it. This made sense to me since how would the store know that I just wasn’t “borrowing” it for a day to transfer info.

But a coworker insists that I should be able to return it since the product didn’t work for me.

So, I asked and they said “No.” And since I’m not in the business of making a stink to get my way in stores, I have a feeling that’s the way it should be.

Is this return policy standard at all electronics stores regarding cables?

2

Generally, retail return policies are governed by the state in which the stores exists and the owner of the store. It is possible that federal consumer protection laws might apply but often only after the item value is of a certain amount, or it involves a specific item.

You should check your state’s consumer protection laws for help. Just because the store said you cannot return it does not mean they are telling the truth. Quite often store owners rely on the ignorance of their customers with respect to the law just so they don’t have to give you your money back, exchange the item or obtain a store credit.

3

I’m in California and my state law states that goods marked as “All Sales Final” or “No Returns Allowed” don’t have to be exchanged.

4

Isn’t that a standard FireWire cable that would come in useful for daisy-chaining FW devices, sooner or later?

5

Eventually it will be, but for the time being I’m giving it to a coworker who actually has two Macs on sort of a “lend-lease” program.

6

Well, I don’t want to be snarky, but if the receipt is stamped “All Sales Final” or “No Returns Allowed” why would your coworker think the item could be returned?

7

Because she is the type of person who can talk her way into letting people do things her way.

However, I’m neither that attractive or persuasive.

I also have a hard time fighting for a refund for something which I should have known not to buy in the first place. (See :smack: above).

8

This is a little off-topic, but still somewhat relevant:

Strictly speaking, it’s not that Target Disk Mode doesn’t work with Windows PCs , but Windows can’t read a HFS+ formatted disk without additional software (such software exists for Unix/Linux systems as well, but it’s free in that case). Something like MacDrive will allow reading of the PowerBook’s hard disk, or any other HFS(+) formatted disk. If you plan on sharing data between Macs and Windows machines frequently, it could save a lot of headaches.

9

The hard part for retailers returning cables is that they become very difficult to sell once they’ve been opened.
If your a consumer and the retailer says “Here’s the cable you need. I know it’s been opened but somone returned because it wasn’t what they needed. It’s as good as new.”
9 out of 10 consumers will say “No, I want a brand new one” or “okay, but I’m not going to pay full price for it”.
The only way retailers can sell these then is by marking them down to get rid of them.
You can argue that it’s good customer service to return them or that they’ll still make money at 50% off, but having large quantities of “open items” is something retailers prefer to avoid.