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AIBU?

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Original poster

...to be annoyed about returning these clothes

36 replies

Probablyfinebutworried · 20/08/2024 20:02

Ok. Bought some clothes from a large chain on afternoon of Tuesday 2nd. Decided they weren't right for me. Receipt said "you have 28 days to return any unwanted items to us", no other info. Went back to shop on morning of Tuesday 30th (e.g. exactly 4 weeks later). Cashier refused a refund because "it's more than 28 days, because the day you buy them is day 1". Would only offer a credit note. In my opinion I had had the clothes in my possession for 28 days so was within the returns period (no specific 'return date' was printed on receipt).

YABU - it's obvious that I should have returned them by Monday 29th
YANBU - it's not clear that the day you buy them is day 1 and I should have had a refund

OP posts:
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HyggeTygge · 20/08/2024 23:31

Reminds me of that Bodybuilding forum thread that went viral because some idiot was insisting there were 8 days in a week

HÆLTHEPAIN · 20/08/2024 21:30

Probablyfinebutworried · 20/08/2024 20:49

That was my logic.

I didn't realise it wasn't a legal right, I thought having it on the receipt made it so.

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You’re correct.

It isn’t a legal right to return something you buy in a shop for a change of mind generally.

However, as I say, you’re correct in that if that particular store offer that as part of their returns policy that forms part of your contract so you then do have a legal right to return it under the terms they set (in this case 28 days).

I, too, would have thought 30th would be the last day. Like a PP said, if you had 1 day to return something that you bought today, then that would be tomorrow.

I’d maybe find the CEO email and see if you can get a response that way.

Edited as had my days mixed up!

Pibrea · 20/08/2024 21:28

The day you bought them is day 0, there is no debate, it’s how maths works. If you had one day to return, you’d be allowed to return the following day.

If you bought them at 11am on the 2nd and tried to return at 11:01 on the 30th, you would be over the 28 days, so maybe this is the problem? Surprised they’d be that strict though. Interested to know which shop it is!

Bilbonne · 20/08/2024 21:19

If you had taken them back on day 26, then clearly that is not 28 days as on the receipt and they would have had to give a refund as it's on the receipt but when you did take them back could be 28 days so grey area

Otherstories2002 · 20/08/2024 21:11

Ifeelthesameway · 20/08/2024 21:10

If the following day is day one, then the 30th is day 28
Also, whilst stores are not legally obliged to refund, if they DO decide to offer a returns/exchange policy,then surely that forms part of the contract? The customer is buying the goods on the basis that they can try them on at home and return within a certain period of time and they purchase the goods on that basis.
I think the store was a bit mean and I probably would have challenged it.

Challenge all you want. You wouldn’t win.

Ifeelthesameway · 20/08/2024 21:10

If the following day is day one, then the 30th is day 28
Also, whilst stores are not legally obliged to refund, if they DO decide to offer a returns/exchange policy,then surely that forms part of the contract? The customer is buying the goods on the basis that they can try them on at home and return within a certain period of time and they purchase the goods on that basis.
I think the store was a bit mean and I probably would have challenged it.

Bilbonne · 20/08/2024 21:02

Shops are all tightening up on returns, they are all very strict now, even M&S.

Bilbonne · 20/08/2024 21:00

You were lucky to get a credit note, many store point blank refuse a refund if it's late.

Original poster
Probablyfinebutworried · 20/08/2024 21:00

quickturtle · 20/08/2024 20:55

You're the one counting the first day you bought them as day 0

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Slow hand clap for the non-sequitur.

OP posts:
Notwhatuwanttohear · 20/08/2024 20:55

If you were that desperate for a refund you shouldn't have left it till the last minute.

You have no legal right to a refund if you change your mind anyway so moaning about it on here won't change it.

quickturtle · 20/08/2024 20:55

Probablyfinebutworried · 20/08/2024 20:35

What difference would that make? What an odd comment.

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You're the one counting the first day you bought them as day 0

Original poster
Probablyfinebutworried · 20/08/2024 20:54

HowIrresponsible · 20/08/2024 20:39

Why can't you name the store, it isn't outing.

You have 28 days to take stuff back. What on earth have you been doing.

Juggling jelly and unicycling on the moon? Why does it matter, it's totally irrelevant. Does one reason for not taking them back earlier trump another in terms of determining how clear the returns policy is?

OP posts:
Original poster
Probablyfinebutworried · 20/08/2024 20:50

Trallers · 20/08/2024 20:48

I'd have thought the same as you I think. If I returned them the next morning then I returned them within a day. If someone said you have one day to return this you'd think oh OK I can bring it back tomorrow, not that it needs returning before shops
shut that same day. So I'd have extrapolated that out to 28 days and reached the same conclusion as you.

That said, I'd also worry about having a margin of error and would have returned sooner!

Yeah, so would I normally but I had to be away from home. Taking them back on the day I did was a total pain in the arse too, but slogged there anyway and so it was particularly annoying not to get my money back.

OP posts:
Original poster
Probablyfinebutworried · 20/08/2024 20:49

HyggeTygge · 20/08/2024 20:47

If you had one day to return them, they wouldn't expect them back that same calendar day, would they? (Genuine q)

So if "one day" would mean the next day then you would be fine.

Although as pp said, it's a gesture, not a legal right.

That was my logic.

I didn't realise it wasn't a legal right, I thought having it on the receipt made it so.

OP posts:
Trallers · 20/08/2024 20:48

I'd have thought the same as you I think. If I returned them the next morning then I returned them within a day. If someone said you have one day to return this you'd think oh OK I can bring it back tomorrow, not that it needs returning before shops
shut that same day. So I'd have extrapolated that out to 28 days and reached the same conclusion as you.

That said, I'd also worry about having a margin of error and would have returned sooner!

Original poster
Probablyfinebutworried · 20/08/2024 20:47

CosmicDaisyChain · 20/08/2024 20:44

Whatever it is to you, you're wrong. It's really that simple.

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Yes I obviously got it wrong, because I'm stuck with a credit note! I don't dispute that. My point is that I think it's unclear and a third of people who have voted think so too, so I'm obviously not alone.

OP posts:
HyggeTygge · 20/08/2024 20:47

If you had one day to return them, they wouldn't expect them back that same calendar day, would they? (Genuine q)

So if "one day" would mean the next day then you would be fine.

Although as pp said, it's a gesture, not a legal right.

Bilbonne · 20/08/2024 20:46

If you bought in store it will be whatever their interpretation of 28 days is as its goodwill, online you have more rights when returning things.

RickiRaccoon · 20/08/2024 20:46

That is a weird counting system the shop has. I have to count legislated due dates at work and we'd count 28 days as a Tuesday to another Tuesday. I have had to argue with someone over a due date was and was baffled they had issues over basic counting -- but now I know they were not alone! Store credit's not bad for a change of mind though.

Original poster
Probablyfinebutworried · 20/08/2024 20:45

DevotedSisterBelovedCunt · 20/08/2024 20:38

Technically I'd say the cutoff was the 30th, at the time of day you bought them.

E.g if you bought them at 11am on the 2nd, then at 10am on the 30th it would be 27 days and 23 hours since you bought them i.e. less than 28 days. Just over an hour later and you'd be too late.

As PP points out though they're not obliged to take them back anyway so it's all academic.

Why are they not obliged to take them back - in a general sense I mean, for example if I took them back after 10 days, why would they not be obliged to take them back? Surely they are obliged to if that's what they say on their receipt?

OP posts:
CosmicDaisyChain · 20/08/2024 20:44

Probablyfinebutworried · 20/08/2024 20:29

That's kind of the point, I thought I did know! :) To me the day you buy them is day 0 because I haven't had them for any time yet. The next day, to me, is day 1 because I have owned them for 24 hours and so on.

Show quote history

Whatever it is to you, you're wrong. It's really that simple.

Original poster
Probablyfinebutworried · 20/08/2024 20:43

LarrysNewOwner · 20/08/2024 20:40

There’s legal precedent that the day you buy is day 0

Thank you - that's interesting, do you have a link to any more info about that? I just did a Google but getting loads of irrelevant results, not sure what to type in!

OP posts:
LarrysNewOwner · 20/08/2024 20:40

There’s legal precedent that the day you buy is day 0

prepareforharvest · 20/08/2024 20:39

While I do agree it was risky leaving it so late I'm with you here OP. If they said you have 2 days to return I wouldn't expect that to be the next day. Personally I think it's a bit harsh of them not to accept the return even if it was one day late even if they don't technically have to.

HowIrresponsible · 20/08/2024 20:39

Why can't you name the store, it isn't outing.

You have 28 days to take stuff back. What on earth have you been doing.

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