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Returns and Refunds Policy

Last updated: 20 September 2026

We want you to be happy with what you order from Scorched Earth Records. This policy explains when you can return an item, what we will do if something is wrong, and how refunds work. It should be read together with our Shipping Policy.

1. Your rights under Australian Consumer Law

Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have goods repaired or replaced if they fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.

Nothing in this policy limits those rights. The rest of this policy sets out what we offer in addition to them.

2. Faulty, damaged or not as described

This section applies to every item we sell, new or used.

If your item arrives damaged, faulty, or is not what we described or what you ordered, email us at [email protected] within 14 days of delivery. Include your order number and clear photos of the item, the packaging and, where relevant, the shipping label. For a cassette or CD that will not play, tell us what device you tested it on.

We will then offer you a replacement, a repair or a refund, depending on the problem and the stock we have available. If we send you the wrong item or the item is faulty, we reimburse the reasonable cost of returning it once we receive it, and we refund your original shipping cost where you are entitled to a refund.

Please keep all packaging until we have replied.

3. Used items and condition grading

Used items are one of a kind and are graded on our product pages using the condition grades shown on the site. Signs of age and use that are consistent with the stated grade, such as light case wear, small scuffs, or slight tape hiss on an older cassette, are not faults.

If a used item is in materially worse condition than its grade and description, or does not play as it should, we will resolve it under section 2. Please test used items soon after they arrive so we can deal with any problem quickly.

4. Change of mind returns

We accept change of mind returns only for sealed items, and only if all of the following apply:

  • you contact us within 14 days of delivery and we approve the return before you send anything
  • the item is unopened, with the original shrink wrap intact and unmarked
  • the item, and any packaging and inserts, are in the same condition we sent them
  • it is not a used item

We do not accept change of mind returns for used items or for any item that has been opened, because these are one of a kind or cannot be resold as new.

For approved change of mind returns, you pay the cost of sending the item back, and we do not refund the original shipping cost. We refund the price of the item once it has arrived and we have checked it. Import duties, taxes and fees paid on international orders are set by the destination country and are not refunded by us.

5. How to return an item

  1. Email [email protected] with your order number, the item, and the reason for the return. Add photos if the item is faulty or damaged.
  2. We will reply with our decision and, if the return is approved, instructions and the return address.
  3. Pack the item securely and send it with a tracked service. Keep your proof of postage and tracking number.

Please do not send anything back before we have approved it. We cannot accept returns that have not been approved, and we may not be able to trace them.

For change of mind returns, the item remains your responsibility until it reaches us. If it is lost or damaged on the way back, we may not be able to refund it, so please use a tracked service and pack it well.

6. Refunds

Approved refunds are paid to the original payment method. We process your refund within 5 business days of approving it or, where the item is being returned, within 5 business days of receiving and checking it. Your bank or payment provider may take further time to show the refund on your statement.

If a returned item is not in the condition we sent it, or is missing parts, we may refund a reduced amount to reflect the loss in value, or send the item back to you.

7. Replacements and store credit

If we replace an item, the replacement depends on stock. Used items are one of a kind, so if we cannot supply an identical replacement, we will refund you instead. If you would prefer store credit to a refund, ask us and we may agree to it. Store credit is not offered unless you request it.

8. Cancellations and pre orders

You can cancel an order for a full refund at any time before we dispatch it. Contact us as soon as possible. We cannot cancel an order once it has been handed to the carrier, although you may still return it under this policy if you are eligible.

Pre order items can be cancelled for a full refund any time before they are dispatched. If a pre order is significantly delayed or cancelled by us, you can choose to wait or receive a full refund.

9. Orders placed on other platforms

If you bought from us through a marketplace such as Discogs, the return and refund rules of that marketplace apply alongside your rights under Australian Consumer Law. Contact us through the marketplace so the order can be handled there.

10. Payment disputes

If there is a problem with your order, please contact us before you raise a dispute with your bank or payment provider. We will work to resolve it quickly, and it is usually faster for both of us.

11. Contact

Questions about a return or refund: [email protected]