Page 59 - Book8E

CHAPTER 6
When You Receive Merchandise You
Didn’t Order
John Doe answered his door to a delivery person holding a large box of merchandise—merchandise John hadn't ordered. Inside were a set of car-repair tools and a bill for $100. John knew nothing about fix- ing cars, so he would never have ordered the set of tools. Fortunately, he didn’t pay for the tools, but he did take the time to take the box to the post office and paid for the postage to have it sent back to the merchant.
What John didn’t know was that he didn't have to return the tools. He could have kept the tools, given them as a gift, or even donated them and got a tax deduction.
Why?
The Unsolicited Goods Act of 1971 enti-
tles a consumer to treat goods sent to him
or her without prior consent as if they were his or her own as long as specified conditions are fulfilled. The Act also makes it a criminal offense for the merchant to demand payment for those goods. Certain conditions must be met by the merchant before the merchant can legitimately demand payment of a person or a company for unsolicited merchandise they sent to that person or business.
If merchandise you didn’t order shows up on your doorstep with your name on the label, the law says you can keep it as a gift. No one can force you to pay for the item or to return it. If you decide to keep the merchandise, you may want to send the merchant a letter to let them
I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
—Bill Cosby
49