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AIBU?

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Is my maths wrong? (Shop refund)

182 replies

GertysBestShoes · 26/07/2026 13:17

Big supermarket near me, closed off its changing rooms during COVID. Went in to buy something important that needs to fit correctly (swimming costume for a pool party booked the next day).

I asked a staff member near the clothing if the changing room was open any more, she confirmed no (I think they're now used as stock storage, you basically can't get beyond any barrier at the entrance). She advised of a 100 day refund policy and confirmed if was okay to buy a few, try them on that day, then refund (with all labels and hangers) the same day.

Bought a few costumes in different sizes (size 12, 14 and 2 different style 16s) along with my £20 ISH food shopping. Paid on a credit card and some vouchers I'd got (think something like clubcard voucher or Asda rewards, a specific £value). Total was £69.

Went back within thr hour (hurrah, 1 costume fitted) and attempted the return at customer service desk. 3 returns to process.

They were:
£9 costume on sale
£10
£20

I expect a £39 refund.

The customer service rep says it is a £39.43 refund that I'm entitled to, because I used a £1 voucher it influenced the refund value as it applies to the costume too.

I asked if the 57p will go back onto my loyalty voucher value, she said no.

What would you have done in that situation? What's a reasonable refund value?

A - be happy with £38.43
B - er, you returned £39 of goods so they need to make it right to £39 value even if it's on a gift card
C - £39.43 refund due back.

I won't drip feed, I'll share here that the customer service desk lady insisted on A. I insisted on B and asked to speak to a manager. Management was called who tried to give me a £38.43 credit card refund then give me a £1 gift card (which I explained was too much).

Aibu?

OP posts:
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MrsPositivity1 · 28/07/2026 10:01

Did you buy anything else at the time?

Empress13 · 28/07/2026 05:57

You are quibbling over 43p??? FFS first world problems!

thestraycathouse · 28/07/2026 05:32

Anywhere I go now they pro rata a discount voucher on a refund. I assume it’s to stop the people who buy an extra item to get the shopping over x value to get a discount and then just return one but still get the full discount.

it is a bit frustrating when it’s a genuine return but I see why they do it…..

SuddenlyBecoming · 28/07/2026 04:49

Jeez life is too short for all of this.

Bobloblaw84 · 28/07/2026 04:42

I have a friend like you. I dread splitting the bill with her.

ZanyBlueZebra · 28/07/2026 03:19

inkgirl · 26/07/2026 13:34

Happily expect as they arent usually meant to be able to expect returns on anything that touches private area due to hygiene reasons regardless of whether the label is still on it

My thoughts exactly. Gross 🤮.

WimbyAce · 27/07/2026 23:16

I think it depends what kind of voucher was used tbh. In Lidl for example if you used a £10 off voucher then they take the pro rate amount off each item. So instead of paying say 2.99 for loo roll you would pay 2.75. Then if you took loo roll back for a refund you would only get 2.75, not 2.99 the value of the item.
Sounds to me like this is what happened. If you used a £1 voucher you have had say 20p off each item. So if the costume was say £10 then you are only going to be refunded £9.80.

Lilrubes · 27/07/2026 22:20

Whaleandsnail6 · 26/07/2026 13:37

I have read this so many times and I can't make it make sense! Where does the random 43p come from?!

I feel a bit stupid as everyone else seems to get it!

I don't get it either, lol

thefourthbeatle · 27/07/2026 22:04

ShowOfHands · 26/07/2026 13:38

M) write to the local press

N) sell your story to Hollywood

O) rob a busker

P) sign up to do surveys online until you've clawed back the 57p

Q) go for a walk and let it go

N) 😮‍💨

jessr1990 · 27/07/2026 21:54

The voucher you used would have likely been spread off everything, so to simplify, if you bought 10 items and had a £1 voucher, you'd get 10p off everything.

Initially I was very confused because it seems in your first paragraph you got back more than you expected. I think that was maybe a typo.

Anyway... if you took back everything on the receipt you'd get back the exact value paid- the cost, minus the voucher. But because most people dont do that they spread the voucher over everything.

Mumbear10 · 27/07/2026 21:17

I wouldn’t have given it a second thought.

DedododoDedadada · 27/07/2026 20:53

The voucher presumably had conditions attached so when you returned items you no longer meet the conditions and it was reduced. The first assistant was correct but as you complained the manager made the decision to refund the voucher by giving you a gift voucher. She was probably well aware that the first person was right but in the interests of customer service giving the pound makes more sense than an unhappy customer. She won't get into trouble as she will have leeway to make such decisions.

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 27/07/2026 20:45

They offered you a £1 voucher that would have put you in credit.You clearly shop there so what's the problem? You gained.

ShelleyCarpenter · 27/07/2026 20:37

Please stop, OP

Sheepsmellnice · 27/07/2026 20:14

How ridiculous I wouldn't be stressing over a few pence

namethisbird · 27/07/2026 19:57

Who would even notice 57p let alone spend time creating a thread about it.
However Asda are correct if you’re using a voucher, you haven’t specified the type of voucher on here but H&M for example operate a similar policy. At H&M if you’re using a voucher and buying say three items the value of the voucher is split across the three items therefore if returning one of the items it would reflect the cost of the item with a portion of the voucher deducted which is reflected in the refund amount . If that makes sense.

caringcarer · 27/07/2026 19:55

Who cares that much about a few pence.

HappyToSmile · 27/07/2026 19:54

They are right about being refunded £38.43 in cash, and yes, a voucher for 57p. But they don't do those, hence being offered £1.

YoQuieroVino · 27/07/2026 19:51

catlover123456789 · 27/07/2026 19:38

I can't believe I read all that OP over a £1 difference.

57p!

Bunny2607 · 27/07/2026 19:48

Good grief is this all you have to worry about?

catlover123456789 · 27/07/2026 19:38

I can't believe I read all that OP over a £1 difference.

Mackerelfillets · 27/07/2026 19:04

Really? Are we really having this discussion over a few pence. FFS!

Fatandknowit · 27/07/2026 18:20

It's like ordering on the mcdonalds app for delivery - if the item you ordered with points is missing, or the delivery is cancelled, you dont get the points back.
I guess because they can withdraw benefits / rewards at any time and they ALWAYS say in the t&cs thay they have a cash value of 0.0001p...?
Tough titty, as they say.

DeeDoyle · 27/07/2026 17:52

GertysBestShoes · 26/07/2026 16:08

Wow this has clearly hit a nerve with some people. To be clear, I paid for the swimsuits along with my food shopping. The transaction was on a bank card and I used a £1 voucher.

The swimwear had hygiene labels on the crotch and I tried them on over my underwear. The payment and refund were processed within the same hour.

The store manager saying I was due the £1 voucher back was rejected by me because I didn't want her to get into trouble for giving me too much back (I think she thought I was entitled to the whole value back, and I thought she might have trouble with the numbers not tallying later if she needed it to).

If there were a swimsuit exclusion policy when I spoke to the member of staff about if the changing rooms were open, I didn't know about it and the clothing department staff member didn't mention it when I asked about trying on the swimsuits on my arms.

To those of you saying you'd have let Asda off with the 57p, can I DM you my bank details? I would love 57p from all of you please.

OP can you honestly not see how ridiculous it is to call a manager and kick off over 57p? Seriously? And then come on here and write a full explanation and breakdown, get a hobby or something, honestly life is way too short, this stuff doesn't matter and ill happily send you 57p if you are in that much need of it. x

Cooooold · 27/07/2026 17:46

RobertaFirmino · 26/07/2026 13:24

I'll send you 57p myself if it helps.

This cracked me up 😂

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