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EU May Force iTunes Store To Accept Returns
Sweet Harmony writes "ArsTechnica is reporting that the European Union may soon require online music stores to accept returns. A review of European consumer protection laws has highlighted online sales of 'digital content services' as an area where existing consumer protection laws need to be harmonized. 'The EC would like to standardize cooling-off periods along with other aspects of the EU's consumer protection laws. One of the issues being considered is whether the rules on consumer sales should apply to 'digital content services' like music.'"
Why not just mandate a "preview" where you can hear a prominent 30 second clip (e.g. melody or chorus or some such). Then say "if you decide to buy, you agree there is no return" in big bold letters. I don't know if itunes already does this (I think it does, so forgive the ignorance) but that should quash any problems.
In the grand scheme of things, if there are drm'ed files that are corrupt that's another issue. But if you just blindly buy a dozen tracks without knowing a thing about them you assume the risk. Not like you can "uncopy" or "unhear" them.
Just like movie theaters, I know at the AMC it was policy that if you left upto 30 mins in a movie you could get a full refund. After that you're screwed. I actually made use of that policy during the movie "Any Given Sunday" [or whatever it's called, that stupid football movie]. I walked out after 15 mins and got my money back.
Tom
Someday, I'll have a real sig.
Meh, $10 says that they put something in there like "if you play/burn this song you can't return it", just like the no-returns on open software/CD rules that exist already.
Once upon a time I worked on the projects TypeOnCall and SoftwareDispatch. The problem with returns where no physical media changes hands is tricky because the brick and morter way you get some physical media back, where electronic media you have no evidence the consumer has completely removed the item from their system. Introducing this policy would likely force an online store into the position of requiring audit of the end users systems to ensure removal. You can't stop someone from copying something and returning it, but there is value is in the doc, jewel case, or whatever. Take that away, and DRM gets a whole lot more incentive.
/\/\icro/\/\uncher
The one time I've had cause to complain about an iTMS purchase I got a refund within 24hrs. That was an Audible product too - no-one told 'em that Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is supposed to be in stereo. So I still have their crappy mono version, got my money back and bought the CDs off play.com instead.
Why would you return a non-DRM'd MP3 file. You can't just say "I don't like the song" likely to only reson you could return it is because it is corrupted or has some technical error. So you send it back a "proof" and they then sed yu the same track but non-defective. just like with an opened CD all they will do is give you the same CD title in exchange.
According to UK law, the iTunes store is required to accept returns within 28 days of sale with no reason given (as is any other retail establishment), although I don't believe that anyone has attempted to force them to do so yet.
Of course, if you return things frequently, there is nothing stopping the store refusing to do business with you in the future...
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