M&S Returns Policy if my purchase shrinks: What to do?

tesuhoha

Need a bit of input.

Yesterday I bought a pair of linen mix trousers from M&S. They are perfect in every respect, cut, fit, colour. They were a bit expensive at £45 but I don't buy many clothes so don't mind paying for something I am going to wear and wear. Also as I am only 5'3" I find it incredibly difficult to find trousers that fit and suit me.

However, last night I decided to read some reviews online for the trousers. To be fair I looked at them in another colour and one of the reviews said that on washing they shrunk one and a half inches. Now it doesn't say anything about shrinkage on the reviews of the colour I bought but it must be the same fabric.

http://www.marksandspencer.com/Per-Una-Linen-Straight-Trousers/dp/B004PMBO6I?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_8&nodeId=1765369031&sr=1-8&qid=1374147867&pf_rd_r=0T88C30ZCV1EZB7Q5J4J&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=0&pf_rd_p=321381407&pf_rd_s=center-3

They are much nicer than the photo and the colour is darker, a more creamy beige. However, if they shrink on washing they will look hideous. I cannot afford any shrinkage at all on the length and would not wear them again if that happened.

I am not sure what to do. Should I keep them and try to get a refund if they shrink? Would M&S give me a refund? Or should I return them and buy the longer ones which are available online. I would then have to wash them and hope that they shrink because they would be too long for me otherwise. If they didn't shrink then I would be stuck because I couldn't get a refund. Or should I try to take them back and lie about washing them? This would be difficult to do because linen creases and I'm not dishonest anyway.

Sorry to post about such a trivial matter but £45 is a lot to me. My daughter says keep them and my husband says take them back. However, I searched the whole of Bluewater for a pair of trousers and this was the only pair I found. I am not young so cannot go into any fashion shops, Monsoon is my limit.

sayahu

I bought a lovely t-shirt from matalan for my brother last year, however it shrank in the first wash. He took it back along with my reciept and got a refund.

It was no where near as expensive as your trousers so if they had not refunded I would not have been as upset as I would be if I had spent £45.

My advice - check their refund policy, if its not fit for purpose then I am sure they have to refund (although there may be clauses, so read carefully before you decide what to do).

HTH

tbw

I don't think you will have much difficulty getting a refund from M&S if they shrink. They can be a wee bit difficult sometimes ( I well remember the time I returned some 'desert boots' when the eyelets broke off after a months use - silly moo told me I didn't know how to tie shoe laces ! She did get the sharp end of my tongue as ou can imagine) but they wouldn't have a leg to stand on if these shrink in the wash if you abide by the Care instructions.

Much harder to moan if you get a bigger size and then they don't shrink to fit !

bcl999

They'll just say they weren't laundered according to the care instructions. But if you really like them, take the risk.

crumblepie

Just make sure you wash them carefully.

I wash anything linen on the 'hand wash' option on the washing machine which is the same as a wool wash, 30c and use a liquid for special fabrics.

So far I haven't shrunk anything - I've even washed dry clean only skirts (linen mix blend similar to your trousers) and they've survived without any shrinkage.

Enterprise_1701C

Forget about the reviews - a lot of people ignore the washing instructions and then complain about the results.

As long as you wash according to instructions then they should be fine. If they still shrink when you wash then properly then you should get a refund. Unless there is a warning on the label saying that they may shrink?

DUKE

I've bought trousers & lost 2 inches from the leg & waist, & lost as much as 6 inches off tops! This is ridiculous, I'm sick of hand washing & not being able to tumble dry. So now I just return things & pretend I've followed the instructions & get a refund.

tesuhoha

Thanks everyone. I am taking the general advice and keeping them. I will measure them before washing and will wash on the hand wash cycle. In this hot weather there is no need for a tumble drier.

There is no warning on the label about shrinkage but if they do shrink I will take them back. Thanks for the input.

adandem

I bought a dressing gown from M&S which shrunk, returned it and they refunded with no problem.
We then had a problem with the dye in a duvet cover, they sent this away and it got lost!! Took weeks to sort and was then told the store could have refunded. We must have got the jobsworth on that day!!