Returning items to M & S when they are part of a 3 for 2 offer

p1an0player

Hello
One year on, do you know of any change to that policy, oasisfeverish?

BATTY

oasisfeverish wrote: »

The policy on the 3 for 2 range:

In store the cheapest of the three gifts is free. This is confirmed on the till receipt with the words FREE next to it. Once M&S have issued a receipt to the customer, the contract is binded and M&S can not demand the FREE gift back, even if you decide to return the two paid gifts back for a full refund, which effectively means you get a gift for free. Buy 3 train sets at £149 each, pay for two = £298. Return two, refund of £298. Result one FREE train set value £149. You may/will get a 'look' from the SA, but there is nothing legally they can do to demand the free gift back.

If you return the items with a till receipt you will be refunded the same way you paid, ie. cash / card / gift voucher / credit vouchers.

If you return the items with a gift receipt you will be refunded with a credit voucher.

If you return the items without a receipt you will receive a credit voucher to the last known selling price. However please be prepared that in some cases they can refuse you a refund, as none of M&S items are tagged and it has been known for people to walk in, pick a item up, go straight to the returns desk and ask for a refund. Please don't get any ideas though, there are cameras everywhere and would be classed as theft.

Some SAs on the returns desk will mention if the item returned is part of the 3 for 2 range if returning with a gift receipt, this is a way to try and force you not to get a refund by stating you have to return all 3. This is infact illegal in what the SA is stating.

Last year post Xmas in some stores notices for the eyes of staff only mentioned that if customers bring back gifts from the 3 for 2 range SAs must not ask for the free gift back.

I covered this subject on here last year in depth, whereby another poster said that they bought 3 gifts, took two back and effectively ended up with a gift that they had not paid for, some people said that was illegal, it is NOT.

You can take it one step further and return the free gift, if you state "I'm returning this as I don't want it / not suitable" you will be asked "do you have a receipt" your reply should be "no". The SA will then scan the item, see what the last known selling price is and issue you with a credit voucher. Resulting in your FREE gift no being exchanged for a credit voucher with a value. As long as you haven't been asked if this was a free gift then you do nothing wrong, Illegal no, morally wrong, up to the individual to decide.

I'll leave it entirely up to the each one of you to decide what you would do.

Thanks for the advice but still not sure where I stand. Bought ( on behalf of my mum but on my credit card! ) on 3 4 2 , a ghost catcher game on one of the 20 % off days. This was for my son as part of his xmas pressie from his grandparents & as soon as we opened it one of the lights wasn't working. After a short while the ghosta got jammed so tried new batteries to which they were still jammed.:mad:
So if I take back the toy which is clearly faulty , with my delivery note what happens with the refund as it was 3 4 2 & 20 % off , & I haven't returned any of the other items. I think the original price was approx £29.50 & they are now reduced to £9.00!! Sold out online but apparently have loads in our local store , but I'm not sure if we want a replacement as it seems rather flimsy & I haven't got much faith in it now! Will they give credit back to my credit card or will I not get a refund as its 3 4 2? I know you mentioned it above but thought this may be different as it was delivered although my delivery note has no price or 3 4 2 mentioned on it.
Sorry if I am waffling but I hope this all makes sense!

p1an0player

I don't know what they'll offer but it's worth pointing out that it's a faulty item so you have "statutory rights" above the goodwill refund terms that are on the delivery note.

You should take your delivery note in to the store and I guess they will offer you a refund of £29.50 less 20% (but ignoring the three for two), back on to your credit card.

If you're worried about them insisting on a replacement, maybe you should go to a smaller M&S which doesn't have any left.