Christmas Returns Warning (Especially WH Smith)

iansp

So - got some pressies sent up from the family in Wales (I live in Northumberland) and it turns out that they were stuff I already had - and of course, they didn't send the receipts up. I checked discreetly, and they were bought from WH Smith/Waterstones - so off I trotted into Newcastle to see if I could at least get an exchange or some store credit. (At this point I should say that I know there is no Xmas obligation to exchange, but c'mon.....)

Anyway - WH Smith gave me a blanket "NO! No! No!".

No receipt, no returns, no exchanges nothing. Nothing without a receipt - to my mind an idiotic policy at Xmas. Now that's their privilege, but that's got me thinking twice about shopping there, and I'll certainly be warning my relatives off shopping there next Xmas.

In the end I had to find a shop that WOULD take my exchanges, which was less than honest, really. Luckily I was able to.

Also, in Waterstones trying some returns *WITH THE RECEIPT* they would not credit cash back because my family had paid with a debit-card. It has to go back onto the EXACT SAME DEBIT CARD. Apparently this is in case someone finds a receipt in the street, goes home to get the exact same books and takes them back fraudulently(!) Idiotic - but also you are essentially penalised for paying by debit card. I assume the same would apply to Creidt Card or vouchers - so the only way to get cash on returns is if the buyer paid cash. I managed to sort out an exchanged in the end.

So - here are the lessons I learned:

1) I am generally an ungrateful sod at Christmas, but also my relatives are rubbish at buying me presents.

2) If you are buying presents for relatives far away, send the receipt if you can (to a partner, or whoever)

3) Don't shop in Smiths if there is a remote chance something might need to be exchanged without a receipt. They are incredibly uncompromising.

4) If you shop ANYWHERE (in person - obviously not online) and there is a chance something might need to be exchanged or returned, pay cash if you can.

Cheers

catkins

I don't understand this. I work for W.H. Smith and their policy is that without a receipt goods can be exchanged.

iceicebaby

I have previously exchanged things in Smiths without a receipt too.

kaja86

iansp wrote:

So - got some pressies sent up from the family in Wales (I live in Northumberland) and it turns out that they were stuff I already had - and of course, they didn't send the receipts up. I checked discreetly, and they were bought from WH Smith/Waterstones - so off I trotted into Newcastle to see if I could at least get an exchange or some store credit. (At this point I should say that I know there is no Xmas obligation to exchange, but c'mon.....)

Anyway - WH Smith gave me a blanket "NO! No! No!".

No receipt, no returns, no exchanges nothing. Nothing without a receipt - to my mind an idiotic policy at Xmas. Now that's their privilege, but that's got me thinking twice about shopping there, and I'll certainly be warning my relatives off shopping there next Xmas.

In the end I had to find a shop that WOULD take my exchanges, which was less than honest, really. Luckily I was able to.

Also, in Waterstones trying some returns *WITH THE RECEIPT* they would not credit cash back because my family had paid with a debit-card. It has to go back onto the EXACT SAME DEBIT CARD. Apparently this is in case someone finds a receipt in the street, goes home to get the exact same books and takes them back fraudulently(!) Idiotic - but also you are essentially penalised for paying by debit card. I assume the same would apply to Creidt Card or vouchers - so the only way to get cash on returns is if the buyer paid cash. I managed to sort out an exchanged in the end.

So - here are the lessons I learned:

1) I am generally an ungrateful sod at Christmas, but also my relatives are rubbish at buying me presents.

2) If you are buying presents for relatives far away, send the receipt if you can (to a partner, or whoever)

3) Don't shop in Smiths if there is a remote chance something might need to be exchanged without a receipt. They are incredibly uncompromising.

4) If you shop ANYWHERE (in person - obviously not online) and there is a chance something might need to be exchanged or returned, pay cash if you can.

Cheers

I have 4 items to be returned to WHS-now I'm starting to worry. Where did you manage to 'return' them?

UltraCheap_2

I also have a few books to exchange. Anyone know what the exchange policy is for Waterstone's - without a receipt?

iansp

This was WH Smith in Newcastle upon Tyne.

(I managed to exchange a DVD in Virgin - but for £30 less than the WH Smith website showed THEY charged for it)

hollydays

Always ask for a manager.

kaja86

Just took back 4 books and some top trumps to WHS that i 'think' I got there (no receipt)and they let me exchange them -no bother at all!!! Selby, very nice helpful staff.

UltraCheap_2

I exchanged 3 books yesterday to Waterstone's with no problem (no receipt)! Excellent customer service!

worldwide3rider

Also, in Waterstones trying some returns *WITH THE RECEIPT* they would not credit cash back because my family had paid with a debit-card. It has to go back onto the EXACT SAME DEBIT CARD. Apparently this is in case someone finds a receipt in the street, goes home to get the exact same books and takes them back fraudulently(!) Idiotic - but also you are essentially penalised for paying by debit card. I assume the same would apply to Creidt Card or vouchers - so the only way to get cash on returns is if the buyer paid cash. I managed to sort out an exchanged in the end.

Beleive this is the same for all shops!

Wig

I think this stupid tradition of not sending a reciept has GOT TO STOP!

And always buy with cash if it's a present for someone else, that way they can have the reciept an will not encounter any problems.

It will be my new years resolution to always include a cash reciept with ALL presents in the future, unless they were ordered from internet sources. But all my internet goods are things that I would be happy to take back from the person I gave them to and have for myself. It's just getting people to be honest about whether they want the gift or not.

Also there are websites (like thingsiwant.com) where you can put up your wish lists, OP you might want to look into this idea as it seems you are particularly vulnerable. and then people know exactly what you want for xmas. and they know if someone else has already got you it.