A faulty item is a different problem from a returned one
It helps to separate a faulty-goods claim from an ordinary change-of-mind return. A faulty claim means the item does not do what it was sold to do: it stopped working, arrived damaged, or does not match its description. In the EU and the UK, this triggers a specific legal guarantee that exists regardless of anything the retailer's own returns page says. In the US, the position rests more on state implied warranty law and any written warranty the seller or manufacturer chose to give. None of this is affected by whether the order was placed at full price or with a voucher code or coupon code; a discounted item that turns out faulty carries the same protection as a full-price one.
EU: a legal guarantee of at least two years
Under EU rules on the sale of goods, consumers get a legal guarantee of at least two years from delivery. If a defect appears within the first year, the law presumes it was already there at delivery, so the consumer does not have to prove this themselves; the burden shifts to the seller to show otherwise. The standard order of remedies starts with repair or replacement at no cost to the consumer. Only if that is impossible, or the seller cannot do it within a reasonable time or without significant inconvenience, does the consumer become entitled to a price reduction or a full or partial refund. Some EU countries allow shorter guarantee periods for second-hand goods, but never below one year.
UK: 30 days, then repair or replace, then refund
The UK's Consumer Rights Act 2015 works in layered stages. Within the first 30 days after taking ownership or delivery, a consumer with faulty goods has a short-term right to reject them for a full refund, and the retailer cannot insist on a repair or replacement instead during that window. After the 30 days, the right narrows to one repair or one replacement, at the trader's expense; only if that attempt fails, is impossible, or cannot be done in a reasonable time does the consumer become entitled to a price reduction or a final right to reject the goods. If a fault shows up within the first six months, it is presumed to have existed at delivery, shifting the burden of proof to the retailer; UK claims for faulty goods can, in general contract terms, be brought for several years after purchase, though the remedies available narrow the longer the consumer waits, and the exact overall time limit differs between England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
US: state warranty law and the seller's own terms
The US has no single nationwide statute mirroring the EU or UK two-tier system. Instead, most consumer products carry an implied warranty under state law, commonly called the implied warranty of merchantability, meaning the item should work as a reasonable buyer would expect for its ordinary purpose. Separately, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act does not create this implied warranty itself, but it regulates how any written warranty a seller or manufacturer chooses to offer must be disclosed, and it limits a seller's ability to use a written warranty to strip away the implied one. In practice, this means the specific remedy for a faulty item in the US, repair, replacement or refund, and the timeline for it, depends heavily on the retailer's or manufacturer's stated warranty terms and on the law of the buyer's state, rather than on one federal rule with fixed day counts.
What this means in practice
- In the EU or the UK, check the delivery date first; it decides whether you are inside the 30-day UK window, the six-month or one-year presumption period, or later in the two-year or six-year window.
- In the US, look for a written warranty from the seller or manufacturer, and separately check your state's consumer protection resources, since the federal Magnuson-Moss Act governs disclosure of warranty terms rather than setting the remedy itself.
- Photograph a fault as soon as it appears and keep the order confirmation; this documentation matters everywhere, regardless of which country's rules apply.
- A retailer's own goodwill policy can offer more than the legal minimum, but should never be assumed to replace it in the EU or the UK.
We list checked codes across 527 shops in 22 countries on daily-coupons.info, and for background on how we check listings see our FAQ page. None of this changes a retailer's legal responsibility for faulty goods.
This article gives general information, not legal advice. The remedy available for a specific faulty item depends on the retailer's terms and the consumer law of the country involved; check both before assuming a particular outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Can a retailer refuse a refund and only offer store credit for faulty goods?
In the EU and the UK, where the legal guarantee applies and the conditions for a refund are met, a retailer generally cannot substitute store credit for the refund the law entitles the consumer to. In the US, this depends on the seller's stated policy and applicable state law.
Does the UK's 30-day rule reset if a repair is attempted?
No. The 30-day short-term right to reject is a one-off window early in ownership. Once it has passed, or once a repair or replacement has been accepted, the remedies available shift to the later stages of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 rather than restarting the 30 days.
Is a manufacturer's warranty the same as the legal guarantee in the EU?
No. A manufacturer's warranty is a separate, voluntary promise, often shorter in some respects and broader in others. It exists alongside, not instead of, the statutory two-year legal guarantee against the seller in the EU.
What should a US shopper do if there is no written warranty at all?
An implied warranty under state law may still apply even without a written one, but its scope and enforcement vary by state. Checking the retailer's return and warranty policy before buying, and contacting the state consumer protection office if a dispute arises, is the practical route.
