Help - faulty goods without receipt?

rhubarb1

Earlier this week I took my daughter to a well-known pet store. She bought a playpen for hamsters with her pocket money which came to £12. The box states that it provides "an environment for small animals to exercise under supervision" and says it is for hamsters, mice and gerbils. It is an outdoor/indoor play area. On the front is a picture of a syrian hamster in the playpen.

We got it home and it took our hamster less than a minute to climb out. We cannot keep it in the playpen as it's forever escaping and we certainly couldn't use it outside.

I want to take it back but despite searching the whole house I cannot find the receipt. She paid cash for it with her pocket money so we have no bank statement either.

Now I will argue that it doesn't do what it is supposed to do. It is not suitable for syrian hamsters as they can easily just climb out. What are my rights in this situation?

moonrakerz

Without "proof of purchase" you are in a difficult position.

All you can do is take it back explain, nicely, that your daughter paid for it cash and has lost the receipt and ask if they can change it.
Don't get irate and start laying down the law or they will just say "nothing we can do!"

rhubarb1

Thanks Moonraker, but I do know that if the goods are faulty you don't need a receipt. We did buy another item from the store that day that I can show them and have a receipt to state that our hamster also came from the store. But because my daughter paid for it in cash, we've no bank statement.

I feel a bit angry because they are selling something that does not do what it is advertised to do. I would prefer a cash refund as we're now doing to buy one of those plastic storage containers that would keep hammy the hamster in and be a darn sight cheaper, giving my daughter some change. A credit note would mean we would have to buy yet more things from this store.

But I realise that I am on shaky ground without the receipt which is why I've asked on here. Am I really stuck to accepting a credit note?

maginot

I think a credit note would be more than fair if they offer this. Although you don't necessarily need a receipt, you do need proof of purchase. Otherwise anyone could bring their old broken items in and want a refund.

gordikin

...but I do know that if the goods are faulty you don't need a receipt...You do need proof of purchase.

maginot

And you don't have proof of purchase?

djbum_syd

There is no actual fault though with the item - the problem is the hamster can climb out.
It's false advertising, but it's not really a fault.
Just take it back, say the problem and hope they're decent enough to exchange it for something else.

Chimpofdoom

rhubarb1 wrote: »

"an environment for small animals to exercise under supervision" and

Ok, going to be pedantic here, so please don't take it the wrong way.

You've said there's no fault with the item. The only issue is that the hamster can climb out. The comment I've quoted from your first post would suggest that perhaps the hamster being able to climb out is perfectly normal, hence the supervision?

As for the returns aspect, there's no harm in trying to return it, just be polite and don't be irate, explain what has happened and hopefully they'll give you store credit as an act of good faith?