Plaintshirts.co.uk - Refusing refund!?!?

Am1

Hi everyone,

I purchased some t-shirts from plaintshirts.co.uk
They did not fit, and expected (as per any other website) to be able to return them. They have informed they wont accept any returns as they are a 'business to business' seller!?!?

This is not clearly stated on there front page!? Instead, 'Most orders posted within 24 hours', and 'Free
Delivery of just £3.50' is highlighted and stated. This is a dubious and misleading tactic of selling.

I consider myself to be a very savy internet user, and have purchased items on the web for the last ten years or so!? Am shocked I have been 'duped' by this website!?

Do I have any grounds to claim my money back?

Any help would be massively appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

George_Michael

On their "about us" page

This website offers a complete solution to large and small businesses to purchase the FULL Hanes clothing range, with no minimum order and delivery direct without the middleman. This not only offer you a faster service, but also allows you direct access the Hanes stock at the Belgium warehouse and UK

On their returns info page.

Please note, we supply Trade Only.

Please order samples before placing a wholesale order as goods cannot be returned or refunded, unless incorrectly supplied. Colours & sizes are all approximate and should be used as a guide only. Garments cannot be returned due to size, colour, quality or description issues as samples are available to purchase to check these issues. 'Token of Goodwill' or '1-off exceptions' will not be accepted as a valid reason for a return.

If you are viewing Hanes products for personal use, we strongly advise you purchase your goods from a local store where returns and refunds are more widely accepted.

and on their terms and conditions page.

Guarantee
We supply Trade Only. Please order a sample before placing a bulk order to ensure the garments meet your requirements.

&

Returns Policy
Please note, we supply Trade Only and are a business to business supplier. Please order samples before placing a Bulk Order as Goods cannot be returned or refunded, unless incorrectly supplied. Colours & Sizes are all approximate and should be used as a guide only. 'Token of Goodwill' or '1-off exceptions' will not be accepted as a valid reason for a return.

To be fair, they couldn't really have made it much clearer that they are a trade only retailer.

Also, before you complete the purchase, you tick a box to state that you agree to their terms and conditions
I accept the Terms and Conditions displayed [URL="javascript:GotoAnchor('infolines');"]below[/URL]
(all of which are shown on the same page as the tick box so there is no need to open any further pages or links.)

http://www.plaintshirts.co.uk/

arcon5

Despite their terms, whether you are a consumer or business is a matter of fact.

What was the purpose of your purchase and/or did you buy them in a business capacity?

If you was acting as a consumer purchasing them for personal use then you may well have rights to return. Whether they will accept this is a different matter. Whether it's the 'right' thing to do is also a different matter.

Am1

Hi guys,

Thanks for your quick replies.

I appreciate, having re-visted the site when I was told they would not refund - I did see those links being for 'Trade Only'.

When you go on the site, it looks very consumer / public friendly, hence why I did not view the 'Returns page'...as every other site offers returns as per the Consumer rights act law.

If they are so 'trade only', surely they should put this in big letters on the front page, and clearly state no returns on the front page too? This would put any member of the public off instantly.

Instead, 'Most orders posted within 24 hours', and 'Free
Delivery of just £3.50' is highlighted and stated. This in my opinion is a dubious and misleading tactic of selling.

Im sure they know this, and like the fact that some members of the public will accidentally buy from them.

To answer 'Arcon 5' - I did not buy them in a business capacity. This website just seems to be extremely sneaky in there website layout!?

I guess I will keep pestering them for a 'goodwill' return. But Im sure there's gonna be more people buying from that site without realising in the future, and Im sure that website knows it!

Thanks for your quick posts though!

wealdroam

George_Michael wrote: »

...they are a trade only retailer.

An interesting phrase.

Are they trade only, or a retailer?

George_Michael

Fair enough. (slapped wrist accepted).

They are a trade only seller.

vuvuzela

Am1 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I purchased some t-shirts from plaintshirts.co.uk
They did not fit, and expected (as per any other website) to be able to return them. They have informed they wont accept any returns as they are a 'business to business' seller!?!?

This is not clearly stated on there front page!? Instead, 'Most orders posted within 24 hours', and 'Free
Delivery of just £3.50' is highlighted and stated. This is a dubious and misleading tactic of selling.

I consider myself to be a very savy internet user, and have purchased items on the web for the last ten years or so!? Am shocked I have been 'duped' by this website!?

Do I have any grounds to claim my money back?

Any help would be massively appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

You haven't been 'duped', you just haven't actually read the website at all. On every page, the prices are stated as "Trade Prices Excluding VAT @ 20%" along with the About Us and Terms and Conditions pages stating they are business to business.
Your 'savvy' 10 years of Internet shopping clearly haven't made much of an impression

Am1

Vuvuzela - As for trade prices excluding vat - it says they are a distrubutor of Hanes clothing. As a member of the public, I therefore assume I am buying directly from Hanes.

I assume trade prices are because it is coming directly fromt the manufacturer. That does not put me off!? I don't think 'oh, we'll they musn't accept returns then!?'

I have ordered from many, many websites over the years and never had this problem.

For example, in the past I have pruchased and returned without a problem from polo-shirts.co.uk and they too list without vat!?

Sure 'About Us' and 'T&C' state this, but the website is very 'public' friendly. I dont check the T&C of most websites, as you assume as per 99% of other websites they have to abide to the consumer act law.

They know the pubic have and will continue to accidentally purchase from them. State it clearly on the front page - and they can avoid this.

vuvuzela

Am1 wrote: »

Vuvuzela - As for trade prices excluding vat - it says they are a distrubutor of Hanes clothing. As a member of the public, I therefore assume I am buying directly from Hanes.

I assume trade prices are because it is coming directly fromt the manufacturer. That does not put me off!? I don't think 'oh, we'll they musn't accept returns then!?'

I have ordered from many, many websites over the years and never had this problem.

For example, in the past I have pruchased and returned without a problem from polo-shirts.co.uk and they too list without vat!?

Sure 'About Us' and 'T&C' state this, but the website is very 'public' friendly. I dont check the T&C of most websites, as you assume as per 99% of other websites they have to abide to the consumer act law.

They know the pubic have and will continue to accidentally purchase from them. State it clearly on the front page - and they can avoid this.

The fact they have a nice website doesn't really mean anything, to be fair - not all 'trade' companies have awful early 90's-style websites. But the fact that they state that everything they sell is 'trade price' surely must have rung a bell or 2 somewhere that they will be selling to the trade rather than the public.

bris

It's very clear it's a B2B site, it even says so at the bottom of the page. If that's not enough on the payment page it won't let you buy unless you put in your companies name so what did you put for that.

Am1

When 'trade price' is listed, I assume it is coming directly from the manufacturer. I also assume that anybody can purchase. Members of the public / companies / - anybody. To me, that is a very reasonable assumption.

Being a .co.uk website too also makes me instantly assume that the Consumer Law will apply (in regards to returns).

They could easily highlight 'Trade only' and 'No retruns' - next to their highlighted '£3.50 delivery', and 'posted within 24 hours'. This is a key elemenet of their website. When that is SO important - it should be given the same importance clearly on their front page.