Many online retailers charge “restocking fees” on returns if the

Question

Many online retailers charge “restocking fees” on returns  if the purchase price is refunded back to the customer's credit card, but charge no such fees if given as  store credit.

A. if the purchase price is refunded back to the customer's credit card, but charge no such fees if given as
 
B. for purchases that are refunded to the customer's credit card, but not when those purchases are refunded as
 
C. when the purchase is refunded back to the customer's credit card, but not given in the form of
 
D. if the purchase price is refunded to the customer's credit card, but not if the refund is given as
 
E. whose purchase prices are refunded to the customer's credit card, and charge no such fees if refunded

I got stuck between a and d. The option 'd' does not seem to have complete sentence after but. So we have a run on sentence. Am I missing something?

blueseas · Accepted Answer

here is the OE

The sentence describes an action taken by retailers under one set of circumstances but not under another, so the two scenarios should appear in parallel. Because the two outcomes contrast with each other -- fees are charged in one case, but not in the other -- the parallel structure should be marked by a transition that indicates contrast.

(A) In the construction "charge no such fees if given," the modifier "if given" must refer to the subject of the clause: "retailers charge no such fees if given store credit." This construction illogically suggests that the retailers themselves are "given as store credit." In addition, the use of both refunded and back is redundant; to refund money is to give it back.

(B) This sentence contains no parallel structure. Instead, “those purchases” seems to refer, incorrectly, to the purchases described in the previous clause (that is, those for which the refund is issued to the consumer's credit card). The second clause is meant to describe other purchases/returns that contrast with those previously mentioned, so the meaning of this choice is actually the opposite of what is intended. Additionally, both clauses state that the purchases themselves are “refunded”; this is inaccurate, as it is the price of the purchase, not the actual purchase, that is refunded.

(C) This choice sets up a parallel structure between "refunded" and "given," illogically suggesting that both modifiers refer to “purchases." (Refunds, not purchases, are given in the form of store credit.) The use of both "refunded" and "back" is redundant; to refund money is to give it back. Finally, the wording of this choice indicates that the purchases themselves are “refunded”; this is inaccurate, as it is the price of the purchase, not the actual purchase, that is refunded.

(D) CORRECT. The parallelism between the two subordinate clauses ("if the purchase price is..." and "if the refund is…") properly highlights the two situations to be contrasted. The transition word "but" properly indicates a contrast between the two situations.

(E) In the construction charge no such fees if refunded…, the modifier if refunded… must refer to the subject of the clause: "retailers charge no such fees if refunded store credit." This construction illogically suggests that the retailers themselves are given store credit. The parallel constructions are joined only by "and," a transition that does not indicate contrast. Finally, the modifier "whose purchase prices are refunded" modifies “returns,” illogically suggesting that returns are things that must be purchased for a price.

HOPE IT HELPS

rohitgoel15 · Answer

Refunded back is redundant.
So D

vatsas · Answer

Good catch. or a poor miss on my part :oops:

. I have been making this mistake of missing redundancies. How do I avoid them? I read this so many times before posting it but alas it slipped everytime. Can you suggest a way to avoid such stupid error? Going back to my original point - Option D seems to have an incomplete sentence after 'but'.

rohitgoel15 · Answer

The best way is to do a Lot of Practice ... I think there is no shortcut to success. Coming to your second ques: In a run on sentence, both the sentences before or after the comma are complete. You are stating otherwise. https://grockit.com/blog/gmat/2011/06/02 ... sentences/

kuttingchai · Answer

Another reason i choose D is the parallel construction after "but"

if the purchase price is refunded back to the customer's credit card
should be parallel to "if given as store credit"

In ans D

if the purchase price is refunded to the customer's credit card
is parallel to 
"if the refund is given as"

tuanquang269 · Answer

"refund back to" in choice A and C is redundant. So, they are out. Choice D is truly complete because the 2nd part is only opposite with the 1st part, it's used to collaborate the 1st. "The purchase price is refunded" can be alternated by "the refund" \. Choice C shows "in the form of" is no clear meaning.

Choice E is wrong because of the meaning of the 2nd part "charge no such fees if refunded".

alchemist009 · Answer

i've got stuck between A and D too. but finally choose D. in my point of view, the meaning is a bit ambiguous. what is given the price or the fees. in D the intended meaning is clear.

regards

geometric · Answer

Man, this is a good problem.

Here's mine:

First, read the entire sentence. Then read each answer choice (beginning with A). After reading each, there are three easy eliminations: A, C, and E. A from "if given" and "refunded back", C from "but not given", and E from "whose".

For B & D, we basically need to decide between "for purchases" and "if the purchase price". It looks like D is the way to go, plus it's more economic, which helps.

D...

OA!

gomennassai · Answer

Try this:

When you compare two sentences, what is the difference between the two?

If you spot the difference to an additional word in one versus the other, check if this word is "needed". This is your test for redundancy.

In the give question, between A and D you can spot "refunded back" as the difference, it is present in A absent in D. Immediately pop the question "is the word "back" needed or is it redundant?" you might find it easier to spot those then.

ts2014 · Answer

D for me too. the purchase vs purchase price eliminated 2 immediately. though i didnt catch the redundant "refunded back" (good one rohitgoel!), D felt the best answer for the use of but and IIelism

grainflow · Answer

This question just popped up in a CAT that I took last week. While taking the test (and I was rushed at this point), I saw the "if" and thought if-then statement and immediately crossed off a&d.

Now looking back I realize that if can be used in two scenarios (i) if-then, and (ii) hypothetical. Any advice on how can I get better at determining this distinction?

My thoughts are as follows - if answer choices switch between "if" and "whether", then go down the logic I followed in the test looking for "then". If not not an if-then scenario, go with "whether" to choose between two option. If a hypothetical situation then the correct answer should have an "if" in it.

Thanks in advance for any replies!

maheshmadhukar · Answer

a. if the purchase price is  refunded back  to the customer's credit card, but charge no such fees if given as

b. for purchases that are refunded to the customer's credit card,  but not when  those purchases are refunded as

c. when the purchase is  refunded back  to the customer's credit card, but not given in the form of

d. if the purchase price is refunded to the customer's credit card, but not if the refund is given as

e.  whose purchase  prices are refunded to the customer's credit card, and charge no such fees if refunded

Senthil7 · Answer

I Chose "D" based on parallel structure and the idiom If X But (not)Y. is this approach correct? I just learnt this way of application from MGMAT SC Guide. Not sure if what I assimilated is right an expert reply can help!

sayantanc2k · Answer

Since you have written "If X But (not) Y", there is an issue. The word "if" is within the the element X, not outside. The idiom is "X, but (not) Y":

X = if the purchase price is refunded to the customer's credit card
Y = if the refund is given as....
X and Y have the same structure.

However the structure you have mentioned depicts that "if" is not within the element X:
X = the purchase price is refunded to the customer's credit card
Y =  if  the refund is given as.... 
These are not parallel.

Ilomelin · Answer

Could someone explain why B is wrong? I am struggling with this one because it seems to be a really subtle mistake (Refund of the purchase instead of the purchase price). Is there a grammatical mistake or is it only the meaning?

sayantanc2k · Answer

There is a parallelism issue in B. Since "but not" is followed by a "when" clause, there must be an opening "when" clause for the structure:

...for purchases  that are refunded   to the customer's credit card, but not  when those purchases  are refunded as.... wrong - faulty parallelism

... when purchases are refunded  to the customer's credit card, but not  when those purchasesare refunded   as.... correct.

leanhdung · Answer

Many online retailers charge “restocking fees” on returns  if the purchase price is refunded back to the customer's credit card, but charge no such fees if given as  store credit.

a. if the purchase price is refunded  back  to the customer's credit card, but charge no such fees  if given  as
 
b.  for  purchases that are refunded to the customer's credit card,  but not when  those purchases are refunded as
 
c.  when  the purchase is refunded  back  to the customer's credit card,  but not given  in the form of
 
d. if the purchase price is refunded to the customer's credit card, but not if the refund is given as
 
e.  whose  purchase prices are refunded to the customer's credit card, and charge no such fees if refunded

devikeerthansr · Answer

Refunded back is redundant. D is perfectly right. B is wrong because purchase cannot be refunded!

aragonn · Answer

a. if the purchase price is refunded back to the customer's credit card, but charge no such fees if given as ---- refunded back

b. for purchases that are refunded to the customer's credit card, but not when those purchases are refunded as---- so purchase price is refunded not the purchase.

c. when the purchase is refunded back to the customer's credit card, but not given in the form of ---- refunded back

d. if the purchase price is refunded to the customer's credit card, but not if the refund is given as --- yes

e. whose purchase prices are refunded to the customer's credit card, and charge no such fees if refunded --- use of and, for meaning change we need to use but.

Many online retailers charge “restocking fees” on returns if the

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Many online retailers charge “restocking fees” on returns if the

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