UK Shop - Under French Consumer Law

I have recently been going back and forth with a retailer about a coat I bought as I am trying to get a refund. To clarify I bought this item in a store in London and not online. I am not happy with an exchange (which they have offered in the email below) as I have already had to exchange the item once for a similar defect. I wouldn't bother but I spent a fair bit of money on this coat and was expecting it to last a number of years not months.

The retailer first told me they could not do refunds in store and that I would have go through their online team. I've been going back and forth with them for about a month now, see their most recent email:


Dear Iain,
I am deeply sorry but for an item bought in store we can not provide any refund. I agree that for somethin faulty we had to provide you a compensation alos that is why we offer you an exchange. Due to our General Terms of Sales none refunds applies for a store's purchase. Our General Terms of Sales are subject to French law also for the Uk store. Thank you for your understanding. I remain available for further information.


Is this legal? When you buy something in the UK you generally assume you are protected by the consumer rights act. Also at no point during my purchase was I shown 'General Terms of Sales.' I looked up the companies 'General Terms of Sales' but could only find terms which relate specifically to online purchases and nothing to do with in store purchases.

Any help here would be greatly appreciated.