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Does anyone know what our rights are?

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On Dec 10th I bought some clothes for my son for Christmas from a well known sports shop. I asked at the time whether they were exchangeable/refundable if unsuitable and was assured they were and was given a gift receipt along with my till receipt. Today my son went to the town as he had decided that they didn't fit properly and he would rather exchange them for something of his choice. The 2 items totalled around £80. However he was then told that he was not able to exchange the goods until the 29th and that this was stated on the till receipt and there were notices up in all their shops stating this. I never saw a notice like this and didn't see it on the till receipt, but think it's a little late then as I had already bought the goods and would therefore by their rules be unable to do anything about it til the 29th Dec. My son said to them that he was not able to come back next week as he would be working and he wanted to try on things before exchanging them. He was treated very rudely by a member of staff and eventually banned from the shop altogether. This means that now I have to drag myself down to the shop when I will be taking a total refund plus a word with the management about staff and policy. They could have had the £80 if they had behaved reasonably. Of course if I don't get there within a couple of days to get the refund then I will be deemed by said shop to be too late as the goods were bought a couple of weeks before Christmas as I can't manage to shop when there are hordes of people around.
Just wondering whether or not this particular store are denying people their rights and whether they are within the law to make policy such as this? Any thoughts on this gratefully received.
I don't know about the legal crappola BF but it sounds a bit off to me. I'd go in and do what your going to do and then ask for the area/regional managers name and contact and go home and compose a suitable letter hoping for at the very least an apology. Good luck :thumbup:
I think as far as the law is concerned if the goods were OK -- ie not faulty or anything - and it was just a matter of the wrong size, then you don't actually have any legal rights.
On the other hand, most outlets go to great lengths to put across a good image and thats what you need to work on.
I know a lot of places have put up a "change your christmas gifts after the 29th" notice -- they are giving you an option you don't actually have any legal right to and expect you to give them a little breathing space after the christmas/boxing day rush.
Hope you manage to sort it out. Speak to your local trading standards people if you are unsure of your actual rights.
Good Luck
nearly all shops do a no exchanges or refunds whilst the sales are on...i've seen the 29th as the standard day to do so from a few shops in town...as for your son getting banned...is he telling you everything that happened to warrant that?
Caveat Emptor
As already mentioned, unless there's something wrong with the goods you are not entitled to exchange or refund. Look at it from the shop's point of view: Loads of people buying clothes for someone else who's not there, ergo most of what's sold in the run up to xmas doesn't fit. They know that nearly everything is going to come back so it's commonplace to stipulate that they don't do exchanges while the sales are on otherwise they'd be doing nothing but exchanges.
Also, some shops discourage the post xmas exchange stampede by adding a handling charge which they are perfectly entitled to do.
:thumbup:
sorry to hear you have had problems.
as said the law states that a shop only had to exchange or refund the goods if they were faulty.
ie not fit for the purpose they were sold for,
most shops took on he 29th dec date to save the hassles of doing nothing but returns.
i think some of this is based on he fact that goods purchased prior to the sales was their done income, and if you take it all back now its all half price they make less money for more exchanged goods.
im afraid if you go in demanding a refund in cash they will turn you away, they dont even have to offer credit notes or exchanges, so i wouldnt go in to angry lol.
xxx fem xx
Having been burned a few times with this problem I came to the conclusion that the only way to go is with a little dishonesty. Pick out a few threads and return the item as faulty.
Quote by ForestFunsters
Having been burned a few times with this problem I came to the conclusion that the only way to go is with a little dishonesty. Pick out a few threads and return the item as faulty.

No, no, no, no, no ... don't even think of going down that slippery slope.
If you are buying with the intention/expectation of returning the goods, why not buy a voucher and let the recipient go and choose for himself?
Most shops WILL exchange goods, some will offer both an exchange or a full refund.
A lot of shops will not do either until a few days into a sale, as they are obviously mega busy. For me I cannot see any problem with that at all.
If your son got banned from the shop, he obviously said or did something pretty bad to warrant that?
I cannot see what the big deal is having to wait a few extra days to get a refund or exchange.
If he got banned from the shop, I wonder if he went in there with the right attitude to start with? dunno
I think Cubes has put a link on about everyones rights, which everyone has when they buy something, either in a shop or on the internet...it is a good read.
Dont know if its the same shop I used once but the staff there were down right rude left the goods at the desk and went never to return. Bring back woolies lol
Seems to me people cause unecessary problems for themselves (regardless of what policy a shop has). Buying clothes for someone else is always a risk...may not fit or even like them. Whilst a voucher/cash is not the same to unwrap is does have obvious advantages, as well as beuing able to go further in the sales (altho with all the xmas sales this year prob makes little difference!).
As others have said it is largely goodwill on the shops part.
Given whats come to pass I suggest going to a different branch and try a charm offensive (ie don't get annoyed!) on one of the saturday type staff. Be prepared to choose something else from the store tho.
its easy.......undo some of the stitching...... rolleyes
Quote by markz
its easy.......undo some of the stitching...... rolleyes

What an excellent idea :roll: