§ 51. What condition must the item be in when you return it?
If you return the item in worse condition than when you received it, the shop can deduct the loss in value. You avoid a deduction if the damage is caused by the item itself, by examining the defect (mangel), or by normal use before cancellation of the purchase (heving).
Machine-translated from Norwegian. The Norwegian text is the one that applies. Read the original in Norwegian.Norsk English العربية Polski Українська
The text of the law (unofficial translation)
If the consumer (forbruker), upon cancellation of the purchase or replacement (omlevering), cannot return the item in substantially the same condition and quantity as he or she received it, the consumer shall compensate for the value or the reduction in value the item has suffered. However, this does not apply if a. the reason it is impossible to return the item in substantially the same condition and quantity is the nature of the item itself or another circumstance not attributable to the consumer b. the item has been wholly or partly destroyed or deteriorated as a result of an action needed to examine whether the item has a defect, or c. the item has been wholly or partly consumed or altered by the consumer during intended use before the cancellation of the purchase or the replacement.
What does this mean?
The shop should get its item back. If you have lost parts, scratched the casing, or smashed the screen, the loss in value is deducted from what you get back.
But you are protected against situations that are not your fault: Did the item break by itself? No deduction. Did you have to break something to examine the defect? No deduction. Did you use the item normally until you discovered the fault (and half the paint tin is empty)? No deduction.
Example
Sofie buys noise-cancelling headphones. The left ear cup stops working. She puts them in her bag with her keys, and they get deep scratches. The shop accepts the defect and gives her a new pair, but deducts a couple of hundred kroner for the scratches — she did not return them in substantially the same condition.
Common mistakes
- Throwing away a defective item because "it's broken anyway" — you MUST be able to return what is left of it in order to cancel the purchase
What should you do?
Treat the item carefully until you return it. Put it away somewhere safe. Gather all the loose parts and cables that came with it.