bought an empty box, can't find receipt

booboobunny

I got a bit carried away in Boots on Boxing Day and bought up half the store!

I was delighted to grab a Hope and Glory facial treats box as it was out of stock on the website. Grabbed it, plonked it in my basket and carried on. I was saving it till Saturday to give myself a proper facial, but when i opened it up the box was completely empty, save for a small bag of sicila gel!!!

Putting aside the total Grrrrr factor, i would obviously like to take it back and complain. i thought this was going to be tricky anyway as some may believe i am not being truthful, however i have searched and searched and can't find the receipt anywhere. Does anyone know where this leaves me?? i'd be happy for a store credit rather than refund, but as it stands i have paid £15 for an empty box and i really think i have to do something. Can anyone advise please??? thanks

ijustlovesavingmoney

How did you pay? and did you use your boots card they might be able to trace it.

IJLSM

booboobunny

i paid on my debit card and i did collect points on my card. i was wondering if i could suggest they could verify the purchase this way. in most stores (not just Boots) whenever you suggest they can track a purchase through a loyalty card i think they always say it doesn't work like that, but it never rings true. i was thinknig that if they can't do it in store, their central head office type function must be able to as they surely use your actual purchases to target marketing??
what difference does the payment method make please? obviously i can produce evidence that i bought some items in store on that day, but not what i actually purchased. so cross at them for having an empty box on sale and myself for not keeping the receipt safe.

SuperHan

FYI, and potentially unrelated, there are definitely some stores that can't track a sale through a loyalty card, IKEA family being one example. I have no idea if this is the case with Boots, but they can't necessarily do so.

busybird

I know this isn't probably much help, but a couple of years ago, my Dad was visiting from Spain and did the same thing in Staples. He thought he had purchased a wireless keyboard and mouse set and carefully packed his box away in his hand luggage so that it didn't get damaged - so he had it with him all of the time. When he arrived home and undid the box, he found it was empty. I went back to staples, minus a receipt, asked to speak to the manager and he replaced this for my Dad who was highly delighted. I know it probably isn't the norm, but it certainly secured my custom at that particular store big time and even if the price is a little higher there than elsewhere, I usually buy from Staples as I think they deserve my loyalty. It might be worth a try - I am sure decisions such as this are at manager's discretion - as long as you don't get a jobsworth.

mattyprice4004

busybird wrote: »

I know this isn't probably much help, but a couple of years ago, my Dad was visiting from Spain and did the same thing in Staples. He thought he had purchased a wireless keyboard and mouse set and carefully packed his box away in his hand luggage so that it didn't get damaged - so he had it with him all of the time. When he arrived home and undid the box, he found it was empty. I went back to staples, minus a receipt, asked to speak to the manager and he replaced this for my Dad who was highly delighted. I know it probably isn't the norm, but it certainly secured my custom at that particular store big time and even if the price is a little higher there than elsewhere, I usually buy from Staples as I think they deserve my loyalty. It might be worth a try - I am sure decisions such as this are at manager's discretion - as long as you don't get a jobsworth.

Surely he'd notice if the box was so light?

busybird

You would have thought so wouldn't you? However he is now approaching 82 - not been computer literate for that long and the box was full of packaging. I think he just thought they were making them lighter these days.... Mind you, he has a lively enough profile on Facebook so getting a little more PC savvy.

Valli

FWIW I doubt it's Boots having an empty box on sale; more likely someone opened the box and relieved it of its contents, given that the packaging often has the security tag on, rather than the contents.
In Superdrug once I picked up a pack of pore strips - they're light anyway but when I 'rattled' the box it was pretty clear it had been emptied. This is an unsealed item - so now, when I buy them I check that the package contains all 6 strips. Usually in full view of the SA - after all I don't want to be accused of stealing them - but equally I would really rather walk out of the shop with what I have paid for.

Errata

OP - you may be able to prove the purchase through your bank statement / loyalty card, but you will never, ever be able to prove the box was empty.