M&S Sale no refunds is it legal?

wolvesinwales

M&S have spoiled people over the years with their lax refund policy but now as they are having to compete with cheap clothes retailers they have obviously got to compete on an even playing surface.

wolvesinwales

KathrynPenguin wrote: »

When I bought on the first day of the M&S sale they said I could bring things back if they didn't fit. The fitting rooms were all closed for the day!

I bought a bra that doesn't fit but I havn't been able to take it back yet. If they don't refund I will be livid. I specifically asked as often different bra styles have different fits - this is the same size as one I'd bought a week earlier in Marks but a totaly different fit.

Let me know where and when you will be taking it back, i enjoyed 'March of the Penguins' but feel this will be even more entertaining.

BargainMad_3

It is only items in the "final phase" of the sale that are non returnable. These are marked with an "S" stamp. I bought a skirt in the first week of sale and was able to return for a refund.

The final phase of the sale is to "get rid" of stuff at knock down prices - crazy prices in some cases ! They don't want it back.

If an item is faulty your statutory rights are unaffected but it seems they know all about people "damaging" goods AFTER purchase and have put up a warning sign.

To be honest if you get the odd item at a knockdown price in this final phase and it does not fit it's a case of ebay or (to save time) the charity shop. If it is expensive then try it on first !

I have seen people grab handfuls of stuff in the final phase of the sale - they are told at the desk it is non returnable and the signs are there so if they rue their purchases after that then they have nobody to blame but themselves.

Chocmonster7

I bought a pair of M&S jeans for £3 in their clearance sale last week. Didn't try them on but I figured for that price if they were too baggy I could wear them for doing the DIY/Gardening or could give them to charity. Plus they came with a nice belt so that would be worth the money alone!

wannabe_a_mum

I can't understand people who damage stuff just to try and return it. I used to work for a well known catalogue retailer and saw first hand at the returns counter the lengths people go to to try and return things. At the end of the day, if the SA see's through it (as M&S obviously do these days) then you are lumbered with an item which is totally useless!

Wasn't it once said that M&S returns policy was so generous that people would go round the store picking items up and taking them to the C/S counter for a refund????????????

BargainMad_3

I've bought stuff in the past for crazy prices from M and S and if they have not fitted me I have sent to the charity shop. The good thing is I may have paid £2 or £3 for them but the charity has been able to sell for much more than that (tags still on) and so my "donation" of £2 or £3 has come to much more.

Got some crockery at M and S the other day and the tissue paper alone will come in for arts and crafts.

fat_jedi

dmg24 wrote: »

MSE is not about lying.

You're absolutely right - it's about being savvy with your money.

Remember - the hard earned stuff that most of us on this board do not have enough of.

The hard earned stuff that you can not afford to have tied up in a refund that you can not obtain for a genuine reason of wrong size, unwanted gift, etc.

I appreciate sold in good faith, but when they make millions, it's about looking after my £10 vs their extreme profit margins.

If you're so charitable, I'll give you my paypal address and you can fill it with enough money so that I never have to worry about an item not fitting and then I can safely put it in the wardrobe never to be used again.

Live by the system or play the system.

I've made my choice.

FJ

veruccasalt

Marks and Spencer (along with every other high street retailer) do not have to offer you a refund simply because you have changed your mind about it or it does not fit. They DO have a stautory duty to give you a refund if it is faulty.

Marks and Spencer had a very generous refund policy for many years, where they were happy to take items back with no time limit at all (really, years later was acceptable), and in the competitive times that we are living in, nearly went down the pan (remember the horror stories when Philip Green nearly took over-you only have to think BHS to see what a disaster this would have been-and it was nearly taken over by the French).

So the new guy (Philip Rose?) came in and realised changes had to be made. Marks and Spencer still have one of the most generous return policies in the High Street (90 days with you receipt for a full refund) putting them ahead of the likes of Next, BHS, Debenhams, John Lewis etc etc. However, remember that they DONT by law have to give you a refund simply because you change your mind when you get home.

So now back to the topic in question. Some items are simply reduced and can be returned as their full-price merchandise. However, to clear the old stuff, they have started a policy of really low prices, and then you cant return it. These items will either be marked with an 'S' stamp or a 'P' stamp.

In the olden days, when I used to work their, 'S' was for soiled and damaged, where they have pointed out a fault to you in advance of the sale, and 'P' stamps were for just in-store reductions, where a manager could decide unilaterally to reduce item(s) if he chose. In both cases, your statutory rights still apply, but the extra bit (ie refund cos you changed your mind or didnt fit) does not-as reflected in the price you pay.

Hope this helps a bit

marksandsparksgal

Veruca, you'll be pleased to know the S and P stamps are still going strong, at least they were on my store anyway!

And Fat_Jedi, no one has a problem with stuff being returned for wrong size, or since it's an unwanted gift (that's why gift receipts exist nowadays) but I do agree that it's unfair to decide you don't want something anymore and deliberately make it faulty in order to obtain a refund. Others are right when they say staff are on the lookout for these sorts of transactions, and in my store we ended up getting the police involved one time since we had a serial offender, and another customer who was blatently scamming the store (buying stuff off the market after the season and complaining when it was worth 10p now) that the management did not like the way she shopped! (Truly priceless moment!)

fat_jedi

I am by no means a serial refunder or returner.

It's a miracle if I can buy anything to treat nowadays.

(Indeed I only had to get a refund twice throughout all of 2007!)

I'm meerly stating that on the rare occasion that I do need to refund, I ensure that my odds on the refund lottery are better than usual and do not wish to pander to the shop's goodwill.

(ever been looked down upon and been the subject of a group discussion at the end of the counter? Not nice to feel like a criminal for changing your mind).

I applaud giftvouchers and giftcards, but if there is nothing else suitable - I do not wish to have money tied up in such a way.

FJ