People who buy a breathalyzer do not receive just the main unit. They may also receive mouthpieces, charging and connection components, and in some cases installation or initial setup services. A breathalyzer is a device that detects alcohol in the breath with a sensor and shows a reading, and its use and scope of contents can differ, from an individual's self-check before driving to a workplace's pre-work safety check. This is why situations arise where a buyer opens the package or installs the device to see whether the ordered model or configuration fits their plan, and then asks about a return.
Whether a return is possible is not a question decided by the product type alone. The materials the seller uses to decide differ depending on the sales channel, the quote and order terms, the packaging condition of the main unit and consumables, and whether installation service has been carried out. So it reduces confusion to get the applicable terms in writing or by reply before opening, connecting power, or installing, and, when a problem arises, to send repair requests and return requests separately.
Return inquiries and repair requests have different purposes
When a malfunction is suspected, what you need may be a symptom check or a repair request. When the item received differs from the item ordered, what you need may be an exchange or return inquiry. Even if it looks like the same act of sending a product back, the order information the seller checks and the handling criteria differ. When you first make contact, it is best to state the handling you want up front, for example "the contents appear to differ from the order, so I am asking about the return conditions" or "the power will not turn on, so I am requesting a check."
The official FAQ explains that repairs, sensor calibration, and consumable purchases can be requested through the customer center or the after-sales service request board. This concerns the channels for fault and calibration requests. The existence of an after-sales service channel alone should not be read as settling the cancellation of a particular order, approval of a return, or the collection location.
Before ordering, ask what the transaction terms cover
If a quote lists only the model name and quantity, it is hard to judge how far you can check things before opening the package. When you ask the actual seller about the return inquiry procedure and conditions before approving the quote or placing the order, also record which items and which purchase the answer applies to. Online orders, dealer purchases, and supply contracts that include installation may have different contact points and conditions even for the same product.
If you receive a short phrase such as "unused product," it is practical to ask further how each of the following is treated: turning on the power, connecting to an app or computer, removing the unit's protective packaging, opening a mouthpiece box, and attaching the device to a wall, vehicle, or other object. If the buyer decides on their own whether a product counts as unused, the facts may be disputed later.
| When to check | What to ask the seller specifically | Records to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Before approving the order | The return inquiry procedure and item-by-item conditions that apply to this order | Quote number, information on the seller who answered |
| Before opening the package | How the outer shipping box is distinguished from each product's sealed packaging | A reply that sets out the packaging condition criteria |
| Before power or connection | Whether checking power, initial setup, or connecting to an app or computer affects the conditions | An answer that names the model and components |
| Before installation work | Restrictions before attachment, wiring, or on-site setup services begin | Installation scope and whether approval is needed |
This table is not a list setting common rules. It breaks out questions that are easy to miss in each transaction. For items you have not received an answer on, rather than filling them in with conditions favorable to the buyer, it is better to mark them as unconfirmed and adjust the opening or installation schedule. In particular, if a visit by installation staff has been scheduled, do not bundle the return inquiry for the device and the cancellation or change conditions for the installation service into one sentence. Check each separately.
Record the condition of the main unit and consumables item by item
A breathalyzer order may include consumables such as mouthpieces, cables, and mounting parts in addition to the main unit. Mouthpieces are consumables that are recommended to be replaced after a single use where possible, for hygiene. So if the packaging condition of the main unit and the opened state of the consumable boxes are described in the same words, the actual situation becomes unclear. At workplaces where several people use the device, guidance is to replace the mouthpiece with a new one for each user, so the quantity already handed out at the site also needs to be tracked separately.
Take a hypothetical case. A workplace received 3 main units and several boxes of mouthpieces, and the model notation on the delivery note appeared to differ from the purchase order. The facts to observe are how many of the 3 units had their outer packaging opened, which mouthpiece boxes were opened, and which device had its power or connection set up. You can consider organizing this with the purchase order, delivery note, photos of product labels, and actual quantities, asking the seller whether an exchange or return is possible, and holding off on installing the remaining devices and handing out more consumables until you receive a reply.
The completion criterion in this case is not repacking the goods. It is passing on the facts so the seller knows which items need to be checked in what condition, and receiving a reply on the next steps for that order and whether items can be shipped. If some items have already been moved to where they are used, write down separately the quantities remaining at the central location and the quantities moved.
Do not install before the checks you can still undo
Installation can involve more than placing a device. It may include fixing it in place, wiring, connecting to access control devices or computers, and site-specific initial setup. Which work affects the return conditions differs by model and contract, so you cannot decide the scope of work just because the installer has arrived. Before installation, a useful sequence is to first compare whether the ordered model, quantity, components, installation location, and work items match the quote and order.
If you suspect a difference from the order, rather than just telling the installer verbally and going ahead with the work, send photos and the order information to the seller and ask them to confirm. Also ask whether installation can be postponed and whether there are separate conditions for the site visit or setup work. This process is not an action to have a return automatically accepted. It is a way to make clear the condition before installation and the scope of work already done.
Decide what to ship only after receiving a reply
Being asked to submit information after requesting a return or exchange is different from shipping being approved. If the seller has given collection instructions, confirm the request number, the receiving location, the range of cables, manuals, and mounting parts to send with the main unit, and how to pack each item, and then make a shipping list. If shipping costs or the handling schedule are not stated in the reply, do not pass them on internally as if they were settled.
Linking the quote number and condition replies kept at the purchase stage, the item-by-item condition recorded after delivery, and later request instructions to a single purchase makes it easy to explain the context even if the person in charge changes. Checking the main unit, consumables, and installation service separately, rather than guessing at return conditions after opening, also gives you time to reconsider the equipment configuration you need.
