Topshop student discount policy

vacationgirl

Hi,

My DD received a gift from a friend without a gift receipt. My daughter didnt like the item but didn't want to offend her friend by asking for the receipt.
When my daughter returned the item to Topshop they offered to exchange the item for something else, which my daughter was pleased about. When she chose another item (more expensive) she went to the desk and offered the difference in price, less the student discount due on the replacement item.The assistant said they would have to deduct student discount from the returned item(!).This doesn't make sense because her friend isn't a student and would have paid the price shown on the tag.The assistant assured us that this was normal practice but we couldn't see this policy in their terms and conditions.
I understand that someone could buy something with student discount, "lose" their receipt then replace it with a full priced item but to just assume the purchase was made with student discount seems a bit harsh.

marliepanda

It makes complete sense.

No receipt = no right to anything in law. Your daughter didn't purchase it = no right in law to a exchange.

Taken back with no proof of cost and asking for student discount on replacement, therefore it's a decent assumption the original item was purchased with student discount.

If you want any different you need to get original purchaser to provide receipt.

tomtontom

Your daughter has no rights in this situation, she is not the buyer and she has no proof of purchase. She can either take what she has been offered or ask the friend for the receipt.

vacationgirl

marliepanda wrote: »

It makes complete sense.

No receipt = no right to anything in law. Your daughter didn't purchase it = no right in law to a exchange.

Taken back with no proof of cost and asking for student discount on replacement, therefore it's a decent assumption the original item was purchased with student discount.

If you want any different you need to get original purchaser to provide receipt.

The shop were fine about giving student discount on the replacement, and as I stated in my original post she was pleased they offered an exchange, but my question was that their t/c's don't explain this.

I don't agree with your "reasonable" assumption, how can you assume every purchase without a receipt attracts student discount?

marliepanda

vacationgirl wrote: »

The shop were fine about giving student discount on the replacement, and as I stated in my original post she was pleased they offered an exchange, but my question was that their t/c's don't explain this.

I don't agree with your "reasonable" assumption, how can you assume every purchase without a receipt attracts student discount?

They don't. Theyre not saying 'all purchases without receipts didnt have student discount' they dont have to do anything in the absence of a receipt/POP or from someone who did not buy it, like your daughter.

However a student brings in an item and asks to swap it. They want student discount on the swap. To allow them to swap I have to assume they are the original purchaser (and didnt steal it, or find it in a bin) as that person is the only person with any rights to a refund/exchange, and therefore probably got student discount on the original item. They have nothing to show me otherwise.

Why would you assume a student with a valid way of getting student discount did not buy it with student discount originally? You're only assuming that because your daughter did not buy it. You're forgetting that that now means she has no legal rights to anything.

You say yourself that means students could go in, get discount, and then return, get a full refund and get something else, with full discount, etc. You could end up with a £50 pair of jeans from buying a £10 tshirt if you kept going long enough. Yet you still think its unfair?

shaun_from_Africa

vacationgirl wrote: »

I don't agree with your "reasonable" assumption, how can you assume every purchase without a receipt attracts student discount?

But look at it from the store's point of view.
Without any receipt, how do they know that a student discount wasn't given when the purchase was made?


It's no different to the policy operated by many stores when returning goods for a change of mind without a receipt.
If there is a sale on or one has recently finished, many places will only refund or give an exchange of the lowest recent selling price.
If this didn't happen, someone could buy something in a sale at a 50% discount then return it a few days later claiming that they bought it before the sale started and paid the full undiscounted price.

arcon5

Most shops say no proof of purchase or receipt then they base the refund price on the lowest price they've had the item up for

jenniewb

OP, put yourself in the position of the retailer;


If they have no evidence that the first item was paid in full they have to err on the side of caution and if they see evidence of a discount anywhere; weather it be a student discount or anything else, they will assume this is what has been used and will discount accordingly.


The only way around this is to find the original receipt or proof of purchase or to ask for a credit note.

daytona0

Why does it always have to be about the money? Can't you just like keep it for sentimental reasons or even give it to charity?

Also, bear in mind that this friend may actually go on to buy a similar present in the future if you don't say anything! So maybe you can subtly or tactfully bring up the issue with them?

Maybe even just be direct! Not everyone would be insulted if you asked for the receipt to exchange it!

(the word "you" in my post refers to "daughter").

Also, what is a DD? I don't understand why people use abbreviations without prior reference to it!

duchy

Once your daughter asked for discount she opened herself up to this as she had no proof she hadn't bought it herself - with discount.

Whist it would be lovely for retailers to automatically believe teenagers - the ones who game the system have spoilt it for everyone else.

mije1983

I'm assuming this is quite a close/good friend if they are buying gifts for your daughter. Will they not question why your daughter never wears the gift?

Just get your daughter to be upfront and honest with the friend. That way you head off a potential awkward conversation in the future, and also get hold of the receipt to get the full amount paid refunded.