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AIBU?

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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:
Original poster
WinterKitchen · 25/05/2025 15:53

Muchtoomuchtodo · 25/05/2025 15:37

YABU and leaving the items was extremely childish. It’s standard practice in all shops that I’ve returned things to recently to need to have a receipt.

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

OP posts:
SENSummer · 25/05/2025 15:52

I’m surprised at all the people saying YABU
Ive worked retail extensively in the past at many different shops and it was always standard practice to offer an exchange or credit note without receipt as so many people received items as gifts.
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!

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:51

TY78910 · 25/05/2025 15:50

Huh!! That’s ridiculous. It messes up their inventory and systems think they have X amount of stock when they don’t and staff can’t account for it. You’re making someone else’s job harder / managers can’t meet their targets for discrepancies. The entitlement is nuts.

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Then they should let people swap for the correct size.

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:51

Stellaris22 · 25/05/2025 15:45

Clearly never worked in retail and doesn’t understand how stock ordering and counts work 😡

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Blame Primark for a stupidly inflexible business model. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Everything will get sold.

TY78910 · 25/05/2025 15:50

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:44

YANBU. We’ve taken to just swapping for the correct size / colour ourselves in the aisle.

Primark loses no money this way so my conscience is clear.

Huh!! That’s ridiculous. It messes up their inventory and systems think they have X amount of stock when they don’t and staff can’t account for it. You’re making someone else’s job harder / managers can’t meet their targets for discrepancies. The entitlement is nuts.

FanofLeaves · 25/05/2025 15:50

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:50

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

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Then just go through the proper channels?!🤦🏻‍♀️

ButteredRadish · 25/05/2025 15:50

Stellaris22 · 25/05/2025 15:48

Nope, it’s because people buy rubbish they don’t need from sites like Temu and Shein.

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But that’s not what we’re talking about here is it?! PPs are calling OP childish for allowing them to go to someone else rather than her taking them home, presumably to either throw away or store in her home for X number of years before then throwing them away.

Original poster
WinterKitchen · 25/05/2025 15:50

GoldLash · 25/05/2025 15:35

Shops don’t refund or exchange without a receipt these days so I’m not sure why you have grr in your title

you’re being completely unreasonable

I'm not very well and I'm just feeling grumpy.

OP posts:
nomas · 25/05/2025 15:50

Shatteredallthetimelately · 25/05/2025 15:47

Would you not be worried that you might get stopped at the door by security and asked for a receipt?

Or am I not understanding.

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

GreenApplesRedApplesYellowApples · 25/05/2025 15:49

When it comes to shopping, we've all had times of acting a bit irrationally when we think we're right about something.

On this occasion you were a bit irrational. I understand though, as things have changed from the days when 'the customer is always right' used to be the prevailing standard and you could just hand things back to the store and get a full refund or exchange.

Unfortunately the rise of internet and increasing rise in shop lifting means this is no longer a given and you often must prove receipt now. I couldn't even get an automatic refund for a stolen Amazon item the other day. I had to wait nearly a week to get a refund over their mistake. It struck me how different it was even 5 years ago when I would get an instant refund acknowledgement.

You should have taken them back and asked for the receipt from your friend.
I get your frustration however!

CapitalAtRisk · 25/05/2025 15:49

YABVU OP. Shops accepting returns without a receipt is a shoplifter's charter.

UpMyself · 25/05/2025 15:49

if your friend gives you shoes or slippers for your next birthday, you'll only have yourself to blame.

Stellaris22 · 25/05/2025 15:48

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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Nope, it’s because people buy rubbish they don’t need from sites like Temu and Shein.

HotCrossBunplease · 25/05/2025 15:48

Why would your friend be upset that the size was wrong? You just wanted to exchange for a bigger size, right?

Shatteredallthetimelately · 25/05/2025 15:47

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:44

YANBU. We’ve taken to just swapping for the correct size / colour ourselves in the aisle.

Primark loses no money this way so my conscience is clear.

Would you not be worried that you might get stopped at the door by security and asked for a receipt?

Or am I not understanding.

ThejoyofNC · 25/05/2025 15:47

This is a consequence of the shoplifting epidemic in our country where people are free to steal with no repercussions.

Don't blame the shops.

Moveoverdarlin · 25/05/2025 15:46

Standard practice and has been for years.

ButteredRadish · 25/05/2025 15:46

Muchtoomuchtodo · 25/05/2025 15:37

YABU and leaving the items was extremely childish. It’s standard practice in all shops that I’ve returned things to recently to need to have a receipt.

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

Stellaris22 · 25/05/2025 15:45

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:44

YANBU. We’ve taken to just swapping for the correct size / colour ourselves in the aisle.

Primark loses no money this way so my conscience is clear.

Clearly never worked in retail and doesn’t understand how stock ordering and counts work 😡

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:45

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.

No, supermarkets will exchange clothes without a receipt.

SendBooksAndTea · 25/05/2025 15:44

Pretty standard everywhere nowadays.

nomas · 25/05/2025 15:44

YANBU. We’ve taken to just swapping for the correct size / colour ourselves in the aisle.

Primark loses no money this way so my conscience is clear.

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.

Stripeyanddotty · 25/05/2025 15:43
  • I feel sorry for retail staff if this is the level of stupidity and entitlement they have to put up with!*

Same.

Blackcountrychik83 · 25/05/2025 15:43

I used to work in Argos and the amount of petty people who leave their items when they can’t get their own 🤣🤣

One guy tried to say his tv had a line down it for the whole 12 months he had it and kicked off when we wouldn’t replace it so he stormed out and left the faulty tv 🤣

I shall stamp my feet lol
You could’ve just donated them to a charity shop .