Primark - what constitutes underwear

Ellie2758

I have an issue with Primark. OK, so it is only £10 worth of goods but it is the PRINCIPLE. Their policy makes no sense (should I be surprised?)

Last month I bought several pairs of ladies thermal leggings from their Chatham branch. I bought 2 pairs in each of the following sizes - 8/10, 12/14 and 16/18 - for myself and my daughter. I remarked when I paid for them that I would be returning some as I was not sure of their sizing. The assistant made no comment about any of the items I bought being non-returnable.

Today I attempted to return two pairs, which did not fit, to the Gravesend branch, along with a ladies vest which also did not fit. I was told that I could not return the leggings as they were classed as underwear. However, the vest was not classed as underwear. Confused?

The notice by the till stated that the following goods were not returnable: briefs, boxers, bra, bra and briefs set. It did not mention underwear or leggings. I was told by the manager that there would have been a notice next to the leggings stating that they were not returnable. However, when I checked downstairs at Gravesend the notice next to the thermal leggings states that BRIEFS are not returnable. Leggings are not briefs and I consider this signage to be extremely misleading. Also, the fact that the assistant made no comment when I paid for them needs some investigating - although the manager at Gravesend insists that his staff would not make such an error I am sure at some point this must occur - especially during the busy christmas shopping season. Therefore it is even more important that the signage regarding leggings is made clear. If they want to call them briefs it should say "leggings are regarded as briefs in this instance".

Incidentally, I had no problem returning leggings to BHS or M&S.

Anthillmob

leggins are leggins for gods sakes. although, and this might turn your stomach (it did mine), a girl i went to college with years ago confessed she always went commando when wearing leggings.

YUK YUK YUK if youd seen the size of her !!!!.

anyway, thats not really helping. imho they are being rediculous.

relay

PMSL @ Anthillmob! Would anyone like my Banana yoghurt? I don't think i fancy it anymore.



Underwear ie leggins - think about it as a hygene issue for the same reason you can't return knickers once you tried them on. Not everyone has the best standard of personal hygene so you can understand why they wont accept them back.


Vests are also underwear but you don't wear them round your genitals. (crude but direct!) LOL

lilac_lady

Thermal legging are different from other leggings. I would class them as underwear and I wouldn't like to wear someone else's ones.

Becles

It depends on what you mean by "thermal leggings".

If they were long johns that you would wear under trousers, then I would class them as underwear and expect that some people might wear them instead of knickers.

If they were leggings that you would wear to go out in, like the ones people have been wearing this summer with smock tops and ballet pumps, then I would class them as normal clothing not underwear.

IvanOpinion

Why is it that irrespective of how skinny you are leggings make you look like you have a fat a$$?

Ivan

helloecho

They're not obliged to give you a refund on anything just because you've changed your mind, regardless of whether it's underwear or not.

That aside, I probably would class leggings as underwear. They're essentially footless tights, aren't they? I'm fairly sure they wouldn't exchange tights or socks either.

I'm sure it's annoying, but if you knew you would be bringing some back, it would have saved you a lot of hassle to check for certain with someone that they'd accept them.

Badger_Lady

Well, it's difficult, though - I understand the points above, but the fact is you can go commando/sweat/be dirty in any clothes, not just underwear. Who wears anything between their skin and a party dress, for instance?

And regardless of our own standards, Primark have failed to make their policy clear (including when prompted by the customer OP) - surely this constitutes a breach of consumer rights?

Edinburghlass_2

Badger_Lady wrote: »

Well, it's difficult, though - I understand the points above, but the fact is you can go commando/sweat/be dirty in any clothes, not just underwear. Who wears anything between their skin and a party dress, for instance?

And regardless of our own standards, Primark have failed to make their policy clear (including when prompted by the customer OP) - surely this constitutes a breach of consumer rights?

I wear my vest and Bridget Jones, don't you

The very word "thermal" screams underwear at me and having just bought some from Tesco I'd hate to think that they had in fact been returns.

Yes the signs are perhaps misleading but I doubt they could put every item of underwear on their list of goods that can't be returned. I note they don't include thongs for example but I very much doubt if they would accept them as returns.

As for the person on the till, did they even hear what was being asked of them as you say he made no comment about the items you were buying, when serving on the very busy tills that are in Primark I doubt it would even have registered with the CA what items were going through the till.