Refund/exchange policy

[MarieC]

   I recently purchased an item of clothing from a shop where a notice was put up saying that the shop in question operated a no refund/exchange policy. When I asked why I was told that this was because their turnover was very fast and any goods exchanged might be already discontinued lines. Is this legal? It's the first time I've heard of a shop that won't exchange or refund anything even with a receipt.

[AllYourBase]

This is perfectly legal. Ina pickle is confused between your statutory rights and your expectations.

Shops are NOT obliged to give you a refund unless the item is faulty, not as described or damaged in a manner that was not made clear at the time of purchase. As a consumer you have no further rights.

Many shops will give refunds and exchanges beyond these basic (or statutory) rights, but these are made as a gesture of customer service and are not a legal right in any way.

Most large companies will refund with a receipt for many weeks after the original sale. However this is due to the generosity of thses stores and the desire to retain your respect and trust as a buyer.

It does sound as though the shop assistant didn't know what the real answer was, and the answer given by them isn't the reason why they don't give a refund, however it does sound better than the truth - "we don't have to"

Many "outlet" type stores have this policy. It is important for shoppers to be aware of their rights and the fact that these rights are different to many peoples widely held expectations or beliefs.

As an expert in consumer law I am frequently asked to assess who is right in disputes. In my experience, most disputes are caused by people who start the discussion by saying "I know my rights" but clearly don't!

The other commonly mistaken consumer law question people always get wrong is the one about it being the law that a shop must charge the price on an item, even if it obviously too low or incorrect -guess what - they don't!

[Oneeyedvic]

As Allyourbase says, there is no legal right to refund or exchange if there is nothing wrong with the goods.

 However, if the goods are faulty then what In a Pickle states is correct - no matter what the signs says, there is a liability.

[nicola_red]

My bf works in a well known (in the north of england at least) music store where they also operate a no refund policy.  Customers frequently challenge them on this trying to claim it's illegal, but Allyourbase is perfectly right, if the goods are in saleable condition they have no obligation at all to give money back to someone who's just changed their mind.  Shops that do this are just acting out of goodwill.  The answer is not to buy from a store like this if you're not 100% sure about your purchase.

[PatTheRat]

The only time you are fully entitled to a refund is if the good were bought in a sub-standard state. Even then, if it is a sale, they can say before you buy that it is cheap because of this reason.

 

On the other hand, if you go into a shop and a jumper has a price of �40 on it and when you go to buy it, the barcode reads it real price of �60....the company i believe has the legal responsibility to sell at that price. This is why u never see little small price stickers on items anymore, because people could put a cheaper sticker on it and they had to sell at that price.

 

Someone correct me if im wrong, but we done a course about this ages ago and I remember this being on the agenda.