H. Samuel - Earings :(

T4i

Hi all,

Hopefuly someone on here can shed some light on this matter that really annoyed me yesterday.

Heres the story:-

Bought a pair of earings from H. Samuel on the 28/11/09 as a Birthday gift for partner.

There was no mention of returns policy - the store worker talked me into getting the 3 year insurance cover incase of loosing one of the earings or damage etc...


I gave the earings to partner 29/11/09 on her birthday, she wasnt too keen on my choice (LOL). So I said we will go back and exchange them for some more suitable ones.

Got to H. Samuel and they say they won't take the earings back due to hygiene reasons, I asked why I wasn't told about this policy when buying the earings......she said it says it on the reciept...........and yes it does state no returns on piercing jewellery.

But hang on, to read the reciept you have to pay for the goods first, so in escense the policy is very hidden until you pay for it at which point its too late... :mad::mad::mad::mad:


Where do I stand on this? Can someone point me in the right direction if I can take this further?

!!!!!!!

Thanks

soolin

I can't think of a single retailer that would exchange earrings or other items that physically 'pierce' the body. If I did ever hear of a retailer that allowed it I would no longer be happy to shop there.

Regardless of my personal views, there is actually no 'rights' under any laws that say a retailer must exchange or refund items that are not faulty. Many will change unused items with restrictions (underwear is usually another item that is exempt from these goodwill policies) but no retalier has to make any exchange or refund at all. The onus is always on a buyer to ask about a refund policy if they think there is a chance they might need it. If a shop has a goodwill policy then fine, if it doesn't and it is important to you then maybe take your custom elsewhere.

T4i

I've just had a look on the internet for Earring shops and I've not come across one that says it wont refund earings.

I Mean - Hygiene? What a poor excuse! The earrings I bought were on display for anyone to touch.....surely they can just soak the earings in some TCP or such other ointment.....


I just wish I'd of been told specifically about the returns policy before commiting to buying them, I don't think that is asking for alot - I had a chat with the assistant when buying them and I made it very clear they were a present and I wasn't very good at making good choices...


I guess its only £35 but hopefuly I can give them to someone else as a present. Just makes me angry she knew the situation and didn't make it clear about the earrings policy - i've never bought earrings before so I didn't have a clue!!

RANT

Claire_Bear

Every single shop I know that sells earrings or any other 'piercing' jewellery won't exchange it. Hygiene isn't a poor excuse at all, in fact it's a massively good excuse as allowing someone else to wear earrings that have been worn by someone else can cause all sorts of infections and things to happen, why would a shop risk it's reputation on something like that? Touching a pair of earrings with your hands is a lot different to putting them inside an open wound (essentially what piercings are).

In my own experience, shops selling jewellery for piercings often have signs up explaining that they can't be returned, (although I'm thinking of places like Claire's Accessories, maybe not in the more upmarket jewellery places). I agree that the sales assistant should have warned you about their returns policy, but it's the woman to blame, not the policy itself.

rsykes2000

On the H Samuel website, it says : "Pierced jewellery may only be returned for refund or exchange in original sealed packaging."
I would be utterly shocked if there wasn't a sign in every store of theirs that says the same thing. They can't force you to read it, but it is common practice in every jewellers.
Also, a point you are missing is - there is no legal right to a refund if you simply don't like an item you bought in store. A lot of stores do a goodwill refund or exchange but they don't have to. (edit - sorry Soolin, didn't read the bit where you posted about this )

Fuzzy_Duck

I can't think of anywhere that does refunds on pierced earrings either. It's a bit like trying on pants without the hygiene strip- unless they are in a sealed bag, untouched, they can't do refunds. The reason being is that it is a bit gross When I borrow earrings I'll happily TCP them first but when you're buying new you don't want a stranger having worn them first.

I'd put it down to experience. If she hasn't worn them you could try selling them on. Earrings are a difficult thing to get right- if you're not that confident buying jewellery necklaces are the way to go, especially as the receiver can send them back if she doesn't like it!

JimmyTheWig

T4i wrote: »

she said it says it on the reciept...........and yes it does state no returns on piercing jewellery.

But hang on, to read the reciept you have to pay for the goods first, so in escense the policy is very hidden until you pay for it at which point its too late

I'd like to think that had you seen this on the receipt before leaving the store then you could have got your money back. Depends how strictly they apply the rule, but I'd like to think there would be a bit of common sense.

Unfortunately I think it's just one of those things. You'll know for next time.

As has been stated, they are under no obligation to take anything back unless it is faulty. So the lack of signs doesn't mean anything.
If, however, there was a sign that said returns were accepted and that sign _didn't_ say that pierced items were excluded then I think you have a fair case. But I would be shocked if that was the case, I'm afraid.

It would be a bit like buying meat from Tescos and taking it back, after its "use by" date and asking for your money back because you didn't get around to using it. There are no signs in Tescos to say you can't do this but everyone knows they wouldn't let you.

Amistoso_2

T4i wrote: »

I've just had a look on the internet for Earring shops and I've not come across one that says it wont refund earings.

I Mean - Hygiene? What a poor excuse! The earrings I bought were on display for anyone to touch.....surely they can just soak the earings in some TCP or such other ointment.....


RANT

Erm , hello they go through a part of your body!!! I wouldn't want to buy earings that someone else may have had inside them!!!!!!

VIVA-BOOTS

QVC allow you wear earrings for 30 days and if you don't like them you can return for a refund :eek:

Amistoso_2

VIVA-BOOTS wrote: »

QVC allow you wear earrings for 30 days and if you don't like them you can return for a refund :eek:

i think that's different as they destroy them if they are returned they arn't re-sold thank god!!!!

gemz20

From my experience of working in h samuels a while back they would have a sign somewhere in the shop of there returns policy, and you could have asked the assistant if the person you was buying them for wasnt happy could you return them before you bought them, as i wouldnt be happy knowing i had bought earrings that had already been purchased and returned by someone else