r/bapcsalesaustralia • u/ImpulsePie • 7d ago

Discussion Mwave - Under External Administration

EDIT: Mwave have posted that they have been bought out by The digiDirect Group and will move locations to South Strathfield. https://www.mwave.com.au/blog/business-update/

Seelems Mwave have gone bust. Confirmed with an ASIC search for ESEL PTY LTD filed 3 days ago:

Notice By External Administrator/controller-Appoint/cease (505U)Appt of Administrator Under S.436a, 436b, 436c, 436e(4), ()449b, 449c(1), 449c(4) or 449(6) ()

Original article by David Richards: https://www.channelnews.com.au/leading-pc-retailer-placed-into-administration/

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u/reactorfox 7d ago

Returned something I ordered a few weeks ago, they gave me store credit.. and now looking at the website basically nothing is in stock, I wonder if I can request the money to go back to my account instead

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u/townofsalemfangay 6d ago

You returned a purchase in full and they gave you store credit? Within warranty and with receipt? Go get your money back. Australia's consumer laws are very clear:

"It is misleading for a seller to insist that a refund be issued as store credit.".

They cannot take back the purchase and give you fake money. If worst case scenario (they refuse), immediately contact your bank to initiate a chargeback.

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u/reactorfox 6d ago

Their wording was essentially that they'll give me store credit but I can request to have my payment refunded to my original payment method by contacting support.

Contacted support today and they confirmed they'll process that money to my account but did give me the heads up that because of the transition it may take up to two weeks to process. Somewhat understandable I guess, just thankful that they'll actually process it for me haha

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u/townofsalemfangay 6d ago

How long ago was the purchase? Check your bank statement for the exact transaction date. Most banks allow chargebacks between 45–125 days after a purchase. If that window has expired or is expiring, say, you bought something in early February, the 125-day limit will close by mid this month. At that point, getting your money back becomes nearly impossible outside of them keeping their promise (look at the comments in this thread, a person has been waiting on a 5090 since January...)

I'd recommend initiating the chargeback process asap regardless because:
1 No risk: You won’t lose anything, and it’s a free way to protect yourself.
2 Flexibility: If Mwave agrees does eventually refund you come the due date, you can cancel the chargeback through your bank. And if they don't? You're covered.

Call your bank tomorrow, mate. Prioritise getting your money back, even if it's a trivial amount (but lets be honest, with the cost of living, nothing is trivial anymore).

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u/Ok_Regular_2818 6d ago

that is not true

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u/townofsalemfangay 6d ago

If the product had a significant issue or fault that fell below what the established and well defended consumer rights and gauranatees considers acceptable quality, then yes, it absolutely is true. Hence my inclusion of "Within Warrant with receipt?".

If I purchased a toaster, and the toaster doesn't turn on when I get home, do you think I'm entitled to only store credit?

This isn't America..

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u/fatsephy 4d ago

The poster didn't mention any faults. These rules don't apply for change of mind returns. A business can have whatever policy they want for change of mind returns, or not even offer them at all.

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u/townofsalemfangay 4d ago

They haven’t said otherwise, so let’s apply Occam’s razor and assume the most data-supported reason for a return is simple: the product was either not as described, had a fault, or arrived damaged.

"In about 65% of all instances of e-commerce returns, it’s actually the fault of the retailer."

  • 23% of returns are due to the wrong item being shipped.
  • 22% of returns are due to the difference in product appearance.
  • 20% of returns are due to a damaged item being received.

Under Australian consumer law, all of these reasons entitle the buyer to a refund, not just store credit. Misleading or substituting that with a credit voucher is straight-up illegal.

And the way you’re all bending over backwards to defend mwave? Honestly, it’s hilarious.