Ordering Merchandise by Mail

Be a buyer aware by following this guide

If you have trouble with a mail order firm, try to work out the problem with the firm. If you fail to work it out to your satisfaction there are several agencies who can help you.

Most reputable mail order firms are eager to give you good service because they appreciate your business and want you to order from them again. But, aside from their willingness to satisfy, mail order firms are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission. One of the regulations under which mail order houses operate is the thirty-day rule.

Important rules to learn

Here's how the thirty-day rule affects you. If the seller knows he can't fill an order within thirty-days, he must say so in his advertisements. If he's unable to fill the order within thirty days, he must notify you of your right to a refund.

If you want a refund, you must notify the seller. But, if the seller notifies you that he can't fill the order within thirty days and you don't respond, he then has sixty days to fill the order. If sixty days pass and the seller still hasn't filled the order, he must give you the choice of getting a full refund or waiting longer.

If you don't respond when you're given this choice, the seller is required to refund your money. You can give the seller any number of thirty-day extensions... but once the third extension is granted, you may ask for a refund at any time.

The Federal Trade Commission rule doesn't apply to services like mail order photo finishing, magazine subscriptions, plants, seeds, orders mailed "Collect on Delivery," and credit orders where the buyer's account isn't charged before shipment.

Try to solve it

If you have trouble with a mail order firm, try to work out the problem with the firm. If you fail to work it out to your satisfaction, notify the Federal Trade Commission, or the Georgia governor's Office of Consumer Protection or the U.S. Postal Service.

For more information on your rights as a consumer, contact your local county Extension office.