Received Chinese-language version of phone ordered on Amazon
October 27, 2014 7:46 AM   Subscribe

I recently ordered the Huawei P6 mobile phone on Amazon (UK). I received it this morning, and it is clearly the Chinese version of the phone with a UK adapter included in the packaging. Will this be a big problem? Can I return it and get a refund easily?

Some details:

The full product title on the Amazon page is "Huawei Ascend P6 SIM-Free Smartphone - Black - Genuine UK Stock". However, when I ordered the phone (from same link) the title was "Huawei Ascend P6 SIM Free Smartphone UK - Black (discontinued by manufacturer)".

This review, which I didn't notice when ordering, mentions receiving a Chinese version of the phone, but there are no other indications on the page that this would be the case. The reviewer states that although the phone works, "there are several areas where the default Chinese cannot ... be overcome. Also had the odd email attatchment open in Chinese even though it was written in english." I do not want to have to deal with this!

Although I bought the phone on Amazon, it was actually sold by this company, which has reasonably good feedback.

Weirdly, before receiving the phone, I was sent via email scanned copies of what looked like customs documentation. The phone was sent from Singapore, and is described on the forms as a "generic large button kids mobile" worth $20! I presume this is to escape paying import tax or something, but I resent being implicated in this kind of fraud. I am even concerned that if a company is doing things like this, it might also not be above sending me a completely fake product.

I have torn open the generic box packaging, but the box for the actual product is completely untouched. I have not opened it at all - I can see from the packaging that it's the Chinese version of the phone though.

The worst thing is that this phone is actually for my girlfriend, not for me. She was nervous about the idea of ordering something like a mobile phone online in the first place, but I reassured her. I know that she would be irritated beyond belief to have bought something that has the big flaw of displaying random stuff in Chinese from time to time. I don't want her having to put up with the manual being in Chinese etc!

Basically I just need to get a refund on this thing, which I've never had to do before. So my question is, how do I get this phone returned and myself refunded as quickly and efficiently as possible? Is the phone being a Chinese one a valid reason for returning it? I'm pretty sure that it was not mentioned in the description.

I'm particularly interested in knowing what to watch out for in this process. I don't want to make a mistake that could see me getting ripped off further. I have not contacted the seller yet (and will not until I read the advice here), but one thing I am concerned about is that they might ask me to post the phone back to Singapore, which would be a big hassle, involving customs etc. I'm also worried that they'll just say, "What's the big deal? Just change the language to English." This is really stressing me out!
posted by cincinnatus c to Shopping (2 answers total)
 
You can return something bought online within 7 days for a full refund, no questions asked. This is your legal right. Just return it, seems like too much hassle to deal with random Chinese email attachments.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:01 AM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]


Contact Amazon directly and see what they say. They've been pretty helpful in the past when I've had to return stuff to third-party sellers. I think it's part of their A-Z guarantee? The last time it happened to me, Amazon just gave me a refund and nobody asked for the item to be returned.

Whatever happens, do all of your contacting through Amazon's messaging system. That way, if you need Amazon to step in, you have some proof of what they've been offering you. Don't respond to any emails directly.

Regarding postage, there may be a way for the seller to purchase the postage electronically, then send you a link to a label you can print off and stick on the box. This will mean you don't have to pay postage and then claim it back.
posted by Solomon at 9:15 AM on October 27, 2014 [2 favorites]


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