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Original poster

Grrr Primark

234 replies

WinterKitchen · 25/05/2025 15:32

A friend gave me a birthday bag with lots of stuff in which included some slippers and flip flops from Primark both of which were too small. I took them back today obviously unworn and they refused to change because I didn't have receipt.

After explaining several times that no I don't have a receipt because someone else bought them for me they asked did I have a gift receipt or a photograph of one. Of course not. I wouldn't ask for that and I didn't tell my friend I was returning the items as I didn't want to upset her or ask for a receipt.

I know the assistant can't do anything, and she offered to fetch a manager but I didn't see the point as they clearly wouldn't change the items. I told them to keep them as they're no good to me and that I would not be returning.

Just frustrating really. Only talking about £10 maybe, and I've already got far too many flip flops and slippers anyway. But I'm just annoyed.

OP posts:
TheIceBear · 25/05/2025 16:04

rainbowunicorn · 25/05/2025 15:43

What was the point of telling her that you wouldn't be returning? She was only doing her job. Every shop i have ever returned something to needs some priof of purchase. It seems a bit childish to announce you won't be back.

This. As if she cares if the op will be back or not.

Sunshineandrainbow · 25/05/2025 16:04

I get that
But doing exchange for another size seems reasonable.

When I worked at m and s exchange desk, people used to steal and damage items to get the cash back as no receipt was needed for faulty items..

LostGhost · 25/05/2025 16:03

ButteredRadish · 25/05/2025 15:55

Also, PPs banging on about shoplifting seem to be forgetting that OP is just asking for a straight swap, not a bloody refund. I don’t see what shoplifting has to do with a straight swap for a different size, providing the items are unworn and still have undamaged tags on. Maybe I’m missing something?

I used to work at Primark.

People would walk in, grab two pairs of slippers and bring them both to customer service asking to swap one size for the other. (This was when they used to allow exchanges without the receipt).

They then walk out with the slippers they want "as an exchange" but haven't actually paid for either pair. How was the person at the desk meant to know they had been paid for in the first place without a proof of purchase?

MoominMai · 25/05/2025 16:02

@ButteredRadish figuratively speaking not literally

Coconutter24 · 25/05/2025 16:01

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:50

I do have the receipt, for the one I paid for.

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If you’ve got a receipt why do t you take that to the till with the new item so they can do the exchange to keep their stock levels correct?
Also if you’ve got a receipt for the item you paid for that’s not the new item you’ve picked up in primark because they all have their own codes, so it would look like you stole it

tuvamoodyson · 25/05/2025 16:01

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:51

Then they should let people swap for the correct size.

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Then they need the receipt for proof of purchase.

ButteredRadish · 25/05/2025 16:00

Dangermoo · 25/05/2025 15:58

What do you think Primark are going to do with them?

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Yes but how does that negatively affect the environment in a way that’s worse than OP throwing them away?! They’re being reused. That’s a good thing!

FanofLeaves · 25/05/2025 15:59

Doggymummar · 25/05/2025 15:58

I don't think it's petty leaving them behind, depending how it was done. I bought two cycle helmets and when I got round to trying them on, one for me one for OH they didn't fit. Tried to return, with a receipt and we were outside the 28 days. I said to them, they're no good to me, please donate them next time someone asks you for a donation. Having worked in retail we were always bring asked for donations from schools and the like. They were happy to.

I think that’s different. Primark are hardly likely to donate surplus stock to the school fair tombola. It would have just gone in a bin behind the till for all the faulty or broken stuff that can’t be sold.

Coconutter24 · 25/05/2025 15:59

ButteredRadish · 25/05/2025 15:46

How is it childish?! What can OP do with them if they don’t fit? At least this way they can go to someone else rather than ending up in the bin.

No wonder the planet is fucked with attitudes like this

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It’s childish because no one tells a store assistant they are not returning and leaves their items behind with a friendly attitude. Instead op clearly had a strop like a child because she didn’t get what she wanted.

ButteredRadish · 25/05/2025 15:58

MoominMai · 25/05/2025 15:57

Except they won’t. You had a tantrum when they explained totally standard returns practices across most stores and left your unwanted goods there. Trust me with the level of retail bureaucracy that exists, they will have binned your unwanted items as rubbish when you could have just taken the, back and dropped the, off at a charity store 🙄

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Where did OP say or give the impression that she had a tantrum? She never mentioned raising her voice or stamping her feet? Let’s not make things up it doesn’t help anyone.

Dangermoo · 25/05/2025 15:58

ButteredRadish · 25/05/2025 15:56

Primark being paid twice? Huh? What on earth are you on about?!?

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What do you think Primark are going to do with them?

Doggymummar · 25/05/2025 15:58

I don't think it's petty leaving them behind, depending how it was done. I bought two cycle helmets and when I got round to trying them on, one for me one for OH they didn't fit. Tried to return, with a receipt and we were outside the 28 days. I said to them, they're no good to me, please donate them next time someone asks you for a donation. Having worked in retail we were always bring asked for donations from schools and the like. They were happy to.

MoominMai · 25/05/2025 15:57

WinterKitchen · 25/05/2025 15:53

I wasn't being petty. They can resell them. They're no use to me and not worth putting on vinted.

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Except they won’t. You had a tantrum when they explained totally standard returns practices across most stores and left your unwanted goods there. Trust me with the level of retail bureaucracy that exists, they will have binned your unwanted items as rubbish when you could have just taken the, back and dropped the, off at a charity store 🙄

Shatteredallthetimelately · 25/05/2025 15:57

WinterKitchen · 25/05/2025 15:53

I wasn't being petty. They can resell them. They're no use to me and not worth putting on vinted.

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That's your friends money gone to waste.

Strawberrycupcakes · 25/05/2025 15:56

It’s annoying but with shoplifting as riff as it is, it’s not surprising that retailers are getting stricter about having the receipts for returns.

ButteredRadish · 25/05/2025 15:56

Dangermoo · 25/05/2025 15:53

Go to somebody else with Primark being paid twice? It's your attitude that's iffy. Are you every sales person's dream?

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Primark being paid twice? Huh? What on earth are you on about?!?

lovehearts88 · 25/05/2025 15:55

You should have held on to see a manager they might have let you exchange as a gesture of good will.

TY78910 · 25/05/2025 15:55

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:51

Then they should let people swap for the correct size.

Show quote history

They do! with a proof of purchase!!!

Anyone can just walk in, pick up a pair of flip flops and walk over to checkout and get them ‘swapped’ and then get themselves a receipt for an exchange of goods they never paid for.

ButteredRadish · 25/05/2025 15:55

Also, PPs banging on about shoplifting seem to be forgetting that OP is just asking for a straight swap, not a bloody refund. I don’t see what shoplifting has to do with a straight swap for a different size, providing the items are unworn and still have undamaged tags on. Maybe I’m missing something?

Stellaris22 · 25/05/2025 15:54

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:51

Then they should let people swap for the correct size.

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They do. Within a time frame and with a valid receipt. You have no idea how stores manage their stock ordering and inventory. I process exchanges several times a week as part of my job.

Stripeyanddotty · 25/05/2025 15:54

I’m forever returning next/m&s items which have been bought for my kids by our extended family in incorrect sizes and never have a receipt, never had a problem

M&S will exchange without a receipt. They won’t refund.

StMarie4me · 25/05/2025 15:54

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:50

I do have the receipt, for the one I paid for.

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So you can do a normal exchange then, at the till? Why would you mess up their stock and order by doing it in the aisles? Weird behaviour

Dangermoo · 25/05/2025 15:53

ButteredRadish · 25/05/2025 15:46

How is it childish?! What can OP do with them if they don’t fit? At least this way they can go to someone else rather than ending up in the bin.

No wonder the planet is fucked with attitudes like this

Show quote history

Go to somebody else with Primark being paid twice? It's your attitude that's iffy. Are you every sales person's dream?

Gwenhwyfar · 25/05/2025 15:53

rainbowunicorn · 25/05/2025 15:43

What was the point of telling her that you wouldn't be returning? She was only doing her job. Every shop i have ever returned something to needs some priof of purchase. It seems a bit childish to announce you won't be back.

Not my experience. I've been able to exchange without a receipt after explaining it was a gift. This was in January though so plenty of people exchanging Christmas presents.

FanofLeaves · 25/05/2025 15:53

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:51

Then they should let people swap for the correct size.

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But in your case they would? Because you said you had the receipt for the original purchase?

So your issue is not being arsed to queue, not an inflexible business model.