I ordered two books by the same author and, when the first one was deliverd ('Don't Sabotage Your Submission' by Chris Roerden), I was quite concerned to read inside the front cover - dead centre - in a highlighted alert panel, this info - "This book is a revised edition of the ... Don't Murder Your Mystery. It offers the SAME information ... What is different? - 130 new excerpts in addition to 100 of the original 140, for a total of of 230 positive examples... etc etc." In other words 'Don't Murder Your Mystery is redundant and bookdepository should have alerted people who might innocently order both.
Why was that not stated when I ordered both books? Bookdepository can't claim they were unaware of the alert. I didn't see that information anywhere on their site or order page or order confirmation page. If I had I would not have bought the second - as yet undelivered book - 'Don't Murder Your Mystery'. That is a breach of Consumer Law in Australia under ACL 2010 and I asked a refund for 'Don't Murder your Mystery' on order BDG-371-02812920806. I also offerd to return it unopened if bookdepository forward the return postage - which is also a requirement under Australain Consumer Law.
In reply to my email I got this (Order No.: BDG-371-02812920806 - refund request):
Hello,
I am afraid this is the title you have ordered however you are more then welcome to return the title to us at:
Returns Department
The Book Depository Ltd
Goodridge Business Park
Quedgeley
Gloucester
GL2 5EB
UK
i then reminded them that under Australian Black Letter Consumer Law ACL 2010, that BD were required to pay for the recovery of the book. Veronika Demeterova, nor anyone else replied.
If BD and parent Amazon wish to trade in Australia they must respect our Consumer Law - particularly:
18 Misleading or deceptive conduct
(1) A person must not, in trade or commerce, engage in conduct that is misleading or deceptive or is likely to mislead or deceive.
Australian Consumer Law
20 Unconscionable conduct within the meaning of the unwritten law
(1) A person must not, in trade or commerce, engage in conduct that is unconscionable, within the meaning of the unwritten law from time to time.
Amazon/bookdepository have acted to deceive and mislead though ommission of product critical information in their online advertising of the books referd to in this letter; and to trade and engage in commerce that is unconscionable.
I am struck by how many reports i have now seen that descibes this kind of culture and behaviour by his group of companies.