Just curious really

El_Capitan

Hypothetical really as I'm not out of pocket but was just curious as the whether a shop can do this. (I'm imagining yes since they don't have to take back items where you've changed your mind).

Last week I bought an item of clothing in store which was on offer - had 20% off. This week, it was decided that the item was needed in a different size.

Took the thing back to store to exchange for the other size (store has one of those excellent returns policies where you can change your mind and get a full refund/exchange etc., with or without reciept).

When exchanging, the member of staff asked us to pay the extra 20% as we got the money off before, despite the item being exactly the same (just a different size.)

I was under the impression that I could just exchange like for like, no refunds/extra payments needed?

In the end the offer was still on for the item, just the till hadn't finished processing so the member of staff didn't know. As I said I'm not out of pocket, I just wondered if you could get away with not paying the extra. It seemed quite strange to me to charge it on an exchange (no refunds were processed at all).

marliepanda

As offering the refund/exchange on in store purchases (not faulty) goes above what is required by law, I assume they can attach whatever terms they want.

It may be that their exchange goes through the till as a refund and resale, I've worked places where an exchange was that on the till system, a refund with an immediate resale, quite often resulting in us giving the customer money back if the item was now in a sale.

El_Capitan

That's what I thought tbh.

The refund/resale thing makes sense. I just assumed you'd be able to get it at the same price!

JimmyTheWig

I wonder if it would help if you didn't have your receipt?

marliepanda

If he didn't have his receipt he wouldn't be able to prove he paid the 20% less?

OlliesDad

marliepanda wrote: »

If he didn't have his receipt he wouldn't be able to prove he paid the 20% less?

I think the he is suggesting that if he took it to the store they would just exchange based on the current pricing as they would not know it was sold cheaper.

OP, the only rights would be if the terms of the contract allowed it. I suspect that they will treat it as a refund/new sale.

ThumbRemote

If the terms state that you can return it for a refund, then they are within their rights to do this.

If, however, they state you can "return or exchange" (or similar wording) then they can't make you pay the extra 20%.

El_Capitan

I think in future I'd just return it without the receipt!

Glad I learnt this when I didn't lose out.

On second thoughts maybe in future I'll just buy the right size...

arcon5

ThumbRemote wrote: »

If the terms state that you can return it for a refund, then they are within their rights to do this.

If, however, they state you can "return or exchange" (or similar wording) then they can't make you pay the extra 20%.

Of course they can, ops exchanging it for a more expensive piece, thus pays the difference. Nothing it the option of 'exchanging' goods is it implied no extra charge will be due.

arcon5

Usually places that offer refunds or exchanges without a receipt will offer the lowest price the items been for sale it in the last however many days. So without a receipt, if you paid full price it's highly likely they would refund you to sale price.

JimmyTheWig

arcon5 wrote: »

Usually places that offer refunds or exchanges without a receipt will offer the lowest price the items been for sale it in the last however many days. So without a receipt, if you paid full price it's highly likely they would refund you to sale price.

It depends how good their till computers are.