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AIBU?

To think this major high street retailer is wrong and the store manager was out of order

198 replies

Notalone · 27/08/2013 18:49

I have been looking for a dress for ages and finally found one on Friday that makes me feel amazing. It is pretty much a bog standard dress really but with clever folds and a belt that sets it off perfectly. Except when I wore it at the weekend I realised the belt is stupidly small and squashed me that much I had to take it off. It didn't look the same without the belt though.

I went down to the shop to ask them to exchange the belt for a bigger one and the cashier said that a lot of people had said the same thing but she would have to check with her manager. The manager comes out and refuses saying that if she gives me a different belt then it would make another dress faulty so no she won't exchange the belt. She can't order another belt from the manufacturer either but would give 20% off the dress. I explained that no, I just wanted a belt that actually fit me because the dress is just not the same without it and I want to keep the dress. She looked me up and down and sneeringly said that SHE had tried the belt on, was the same size as the dress and it wasn't big on her at all. I retorted that my friend who is a size 8-10 struggled to fasten the belt too so therefore it wasn't me buying a too small dress. She then said it was only me with the problem and no-one else had complained. I said that is not what her cashier had said so she glared at the cashier and said she should have fed that back to her.

The end result I that she refused to swap the belt and I now have a dress that just isn't the same. I am sorely tempted to go to another tore, try a bigger dress on and just switch the bloody thing over myelf even though I know this isn't right really.

I know there are bigger issues than this but I feel really peeved because the dress cost more than I would usually spend and I really love it with that frigging belt Grin

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SenoritaViva · 27/08/2013 18:53

She was rude but I can see why she couldn't exchange it. Have you tried calling head office for their advice?

Otherwise try your sorely tempted option...

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Notalone · 27/08/2013 18:55

In the end I asked for their head offices details so if I don't take the sorely tempted route then I will have to write or call them instead. What a palava for a bloody belt though

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IComeFromALandDownUnder · 27/08/2013 18:57

She was rude but I can see why she couldn't exchange just the belt. Did you try it on before you bought it? Could the belt be altered or could you try a different belt with it?

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blueraincoat · 27/08/2013 18:58

I really don't know what you want here? Different people come in different shapes even with the same dress size and what works for some doesn't always work for others. They offered you 20% off which I think is more than generous of them really because the belt wasn't faulty just didn't fit your shape. Can you really not find a belt anywhere that matches and fits you?

Yes the manager was rude. Complain about her if that is what happened, but seriously you are being ridiculous about the belt.

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TheDetective · 27/08/2013 18:58

It's not fit for purpose if the belt does not fit the correct sized person/dress.

She should have refunded as faulty.

Take it further.

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Notalone · 27/08/2013 18:59

I did try it on but was in a big hurry so kind of put the belt round me to see what it looked like without actually fastening it as I was late to meet a friend. The thing is it really is tiny. Every single person who buys the dress is going to have the same problem and I feel it is poor customer service when they made the belt too small and refuse to do anything about it.

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blueraincoat · 27/08/2013 19:00

Is this Next by any chance?

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WhispersOfWickedness · 27/08/2013 19:00

I can see why she couldn't exchange the belt as well, although she didn't need to be snotty. Is there room on the belt for you to make another hole or is it not that type of belt?
Head office is probably your best bet.

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Edendance · 27/08/2013 19:01

Could you look out for a similar belt that would fit? There's so many belts out there (and on the internet) that I'm sure one would fit like you want it too! I had a similar thing once and didn't manage to get the belt either- I feel your pain!

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BrokenSunglasses · 27/08/2013 19:02

I think you should have been entitled to a refund on something that wasn't fit for purpose, but I don't think they should have had to give you an exchange. She's right that it would make another product faulty, but it should have been up to you whether you wanted to keep it as it is, or get money or credit back.

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TheSydenhamSet · 27/08/2013 19:03

Can you link dress please, just cos I'm nosy Wink

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Notalone · 27/08/2013 19:03

Its hard to explain but the belt sets off the dress in a way that another belt would be a poor substitute. Plus it is very narrow and fits in loops at the waist. It is not me being a different shape, apparently lots of people have said it is too short according to the cashier and my friend who is 1-2 dress sizes smaller struggled to get it on too. I also feel it is not fit for purpose though the manager said it is a trimming and not counted as part of the dress as such even though they advertise it on their website and in store with the belt firmly attached

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BuskersCat · 27/08/2013 19:06

Last time this happened to me I just bought a new belt. It didn't even cross my mind that maybe it wasn't fit for purpose, just that my body didn't fit the belt. They are a few quid.

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Notalone · 27/08/2013 19:09

I know but I LOVE this belt !!!

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StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 27/08/2013 19:09

I'd have taken the %20 and gone and bought a new belt. £4.00 in Primark Grin

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CoffeeTea103 · 27/08/2013 19:09

Did you not try on the dress beforehand. Even if you didn't, if it doesn't fit you it doesn't mean something is wrong with it.

Either change the dress entirely, use another belt, or move on.

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TheDetective · 27/08/2013 19:12

Where is it from?

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LiegeAndLief · 27/08/2013 19:12

Is there room to get extra holes stamped in the belt (if it's that kind of belt?). Our lovely local cobbler will do this for free.

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Notalone · 27/08/2013 19:12

River Island. Am I allowed to say that?

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mercibucket · 27/08/2013 19:14

are you sure it is the same length as other belts with thst size dress? maybe someone already swapped it

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Notalone · 27/08/2013 19:15

Its not got holes sadly. It got popper fastenings so not adjustable. Oh well, is either swap it myself or take the 20% and try to find another I guess. Still don't think I am wrong though Smile

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OnTheBottomWithAWomensWeekly · 27/08/2013 19:16

no, you're wrong. The dress comes with the belt, you can't walk in and get another belt. 20% off was a great offer, you should go and find yourself a new belt with it.

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Rooners · 27/08/2013 19:17

If you link to it I BET we can find you a similar belt Smile

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blueemerald · 27/08/2013 19:17

Swap the belts. I would.

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Rooners · 27/08/2013 19:18

Also you could go over her head to head office CS - they might be willing to send you another sized belt, you never know.

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