One of my least favorite things to do in Brazil is to return something that I have bought or been given. The process is so archaic and so customer-unfriendly, you cannot believe it. Today I had smoke coming out of my ears at the plumbing supply shop--I'm guessing you could see the fumes in Miami.
Here's how the return policy works in most cases. You buy something, in this case a faucet part. You are so proud because your Portuguese has worked for a technical piece of equipment. Chuffed, you swan home in a haze of ego puffery.
You pull apart the faucet, because you are American and self-sufficient. You once were a do-it-yourselfer hanging out at Home Depot. Then you realize that the US$25 part does not work in the faucet, in spite of the authorized dealer telling you it will. In spite of the manual saying it will. It will not.
Being American and hopeful means that you will go back to that same shop later that day. With the unopened product. And they will say to you: sorry, no money back. Not even store credit--you can choose something of same value that very day only. Yet I find myself not in need of any other plumbing part.
According to consumer rights' laws here, there are two ways to get your money back. One, if you have bought something on-line, you have seven days to return for a refund. I assume this is because the actuality might be different from the photo on line. Two, in a commercial establishment, you may return an item for your money back in the case of defect or if the item is "inappropriate for consumption". Then you have 30-90 days (the difference being non-durable and durable items). In practice you will have a tough time proving "inappropriate for consumption" and you cannot return something just because you've decided you didn't like it, or you already have one.
According to consumer rights' laws here, there are two ways to get your money back. One, if you have bought something on-line, you have seven days to return for a refund. I assume this is because the actuality might be different from the photo on line. Two, in a commercial establishment, you may return an item for your money back in the case of defect or if the item is "inappropriate for consumption". Then you have 30-90 days (the difference being non-durable and durable items). In practice you will have a tough time proving "inappropriate for consumption" and you cannot return something just because you've decided you didn't like it, or you already have one.
Most stores allow a return within 30 days only. When you return something, you do not get your cash back. Or credit on your card. No, you have to choose something else in that store and right away. If the value is lower, they do not give you the difference. More likely is you find something more expensive and you have to pay the difference.
Now what happens when your twin boys get duplicated birthday presents? You run all over São Paulo trading them in at the various stores before the 30 day limit expires. Each time you don't get money or a charge back on your card--only a credit that you must use immediately. Now. Quick--the Ironman costume or the Hot Wheels tower? Never mind that they don't play with either--I've got to trade it in! I'm in a panic!
A Target or Nordstrom's would eat these return policies for lunch. My father once returned a pair of shoes to Orvis after 15 years asking if they could re-sole them and they just sent him a new pair. My father is an Orvis man for life.
I would have a difficult time saying the same about my local stores.
I would have a difficult time saying the same about my local stores.
