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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Loopdela · 26/07/2026 22:09

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?

I can't believe I just wasted some of my life reading this drivel ... 57p? Are you taking the piss?

florenceandthemac · 26/07/2026 20:14

Youremylobster86 · 26/07/2026 13:22

Option D: Forget about the 0.57p and enjoy the rest of my weekend.

This

PuzzledWatermelon · 26/07/2026 20:13

Greywizardpirate · 26/07/2026 19:53

You sound just like the bus driver years ago, who use to owe 1 or 2p, then when you asked for at end of journey they would twist. It happened often because I was about the second person on the first bus and he was saving his change. No they wouldn’t let me off the 1p or 2p of my fare and at that time every penny counted!

Bet the bus driver loved saving up all those pennies!

Driving Bus Driver GIF by Moonbug
Greywizardpirate · 26/07/2026 19:53

PuzzledWatermelon · 26/07/2026 17:30

I can believe the OP wanted to see the manager over 57p 😂

I used to work in retail and once had someone quibble over being charged 2 pence extra. And yes, she wanted the refund. I just opened the till, took 2 pence out, shut the till, handed her the 2 pence coin and walked away without saying a word. I handed my notice in very soon after that - couldn’t be dealing with pathetic-ness like that.

You sound just like the bus driver years ago, who use to owe 1 or 2p, then when you asked for at end of journey they would twist. It happened often because I was about the second person on the first bus and he was saving his change. No they wouldn’t let me off the 1p or 2p of my fare and at that time every penny counted!

Greywizardpirate · 26/07/2026 19:44

LauraNorda · 26/07/2026 14:11

This all happened during covid and you are moaning about it 5 or 6 years later?

They haven’t re opened the changing rooms!!
It’s amazing on Mumsnet that people don’t care about change.
But I would have taken the refund and the gift card.

nomas · 26/07/2026 19:34

GertysBestShoes · 26/07/2026 13:51

Apologies for the typo, the first lady insisted that the computer said I should get a £38.43 refund. I accidentally wrote £39.43.

I just wondered if I'd been subject to this before/ if it was normal or if my expectations were unreasonable. I genuinely think the value isn't the point here, if I or others are doing that regularly... A huge shop like Asda seems to have an unreasonable process.

To be honest, you getting the price wrong in your post makes me think you have probably made a mistake somewhere.

The £1 voucher was probably Asda thinking let’s get this over with.

YoQuieroVino · 26/07/2026 19:22

I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just take the offered extra £1 voucher. The store manager would not be in any trouble, they have discretion when dealing with this sort of situation.

ThreeplusI · 26/07/2026 19:16

Badbadbunny · 26/07/2026 16:35

A customer has a right to try on clothes to see if they fit. Even things that touch intimate areas, hence why they use those sticky strips. But even underwear needs to be returnable if it doesn't fit and they tend not to have the sticky strips.

No shop has to refund anything if you change your mind. Most have a returns policy, but these are goodwill gestures, not law. You are only entitled to a refund if the item is faulty or not fit for purpose. In 99.9% of store, underwear is not returnable. Swimwear has the hygiene strips attached and you will be told that will need to be attached, either by a staff member or the strip, if you require a non statutory refund.

CountryMouse22 · 26/07/2026 18:47

MasterBeth · 26/07/2026 13:23

I would not give a flying fuck.

Well said, Dame Edith!

peachie82 · 26/07/2026 18:15

Oh dear lord get a grip. I honestly couldn’t have cared less never mind ask to see a manager and then post on number about the few pence.

daisychain01 · 26/07/2026 18:05

This is a wind up.

well done OP I thought it was going to be a brain buster for the maths geniuses on here.

Cyclingmummy1 · 26/07/2026 17:58

I had the same last year, returned a duvet and didn't receive a full refund. I rang CS who credited me the difference back on my loyalty card.

I'm also annoyed that I have 61p about to expire but I can't create a voucher as I need £1 to do so.

mollibu · 26/07/2026 17:41

What’s your bank details, OP? I’m sure we’ll all be happy to split the 57p that you’re owed!

thisfilmisboring123 · 26/07/2026 17:41

LostNFoundSV · 26/07/2026 17:02

I’d happily accept a couple of Freddos in lieu! 🤭😆

Couple? Oof you’d be lucky with the price of them these days 😂😂

ACR7 · 26/07/2026 17:37

This should not have got to the management being called.

chocoluv · 26/07/2026 17:31

The next time someone says that working in retail is easy, I will direct them to this thread.

It’s a well known fact that using vouchers can cause issues with refunds.

The store were kind enough to give more of a refund than was necessary and still even that wasn’t good enough 🙄

PuzzledWatermelon · 26/07/2026 17:30

I can believe the OP wanted to see the manager over 57p 😂

I used to work in retail and once had someone quibble over being charged 2 pence extra. And yes, she wanted the refund. I just opened the till, took 2 pence out, shut the till, handed her the 2 pence coin and walked away without saying a word. I handed my notice in very soon after that - couldn’t be dealing with pathetic-ness like that.

thisfilmisboring123 · 26/07/2026 17:26

BlushingBrightly · 26/07/2026 17:20

Yes, and maybe the OP can bear the loss of 57p but they'll be doing this to people where it has an impact on their shopping too. It's not as if you could go to the till 57p short and they'd say 'ah, it's fine, it's only 57p!' It would matter then.

But there was another option given to OP.

BlushingBrightly · 26/07/2026 17:20

Malinia · 26/07/2026 13:27

It's interesting how many replies are quite happy for a huge multinational corporation to take their money.

I would have accepted the option with the gift card even though it was too much

Yes, and maybe the OP can bear the loss of 57p but they'll be doing this to people where it has an impact on their shopping too. It's not as if you could go to the till 57p short and they'd say 'ah, it's fine, it's only 57p!' It would matter then.

inappropriateraspberry · 26/07/2026 17:14

Jeez, get over it! You should have just taken the £1 if you were so concerned. The company won’t miss a few pence and it would tally as it all goes through their till systems. But the cashier can only do what the till will let them, and if that’s how the computer has worked it out, that’s what it is.

tonotcare · 26/07/2026 17:13

RubyQueues · 26/07/2026 16:44

Who has this much time on their hands?! I can’t believe you made a thread about it

This☝️I couldn’t get my £1 coin out of a Lidl trolley yesterday,have I stewed over it? Nope !

thisfilmisboring123 · 26/07/2026 17:08

Bananacrepewithnuts · 26/07/2026 16:57

Am I understanding this right?
You have time in your life to write that long winded post out cos you are arguing with Tesco about 57p

Just no.

Not only that.
Also offered an overpayment of £0.43 too!
Still not good enough.

Pathetic.
Honestly, hat goes off to retail workers at times.

IveNameChangedObviously · 26/07/2026 17:04

I can understand why you want the 57p. I'd be a bit hmph about that too (although I have to say, I wouldn't bother arguing about it). But what was the issue with £1 voucher? Just keep it until you shop there next or if you'll never shop there ever again, just buy some pasta or something else that you use that is happy to sit in a cupboard until you use it.

LostNFoundSV · 26/07/2026 17:02

ScrambledEggs12 · 26/07/2026 13:40

Is a Freddo more than 57p these days?

I’d happily accept a couple of Freddos in lieu! 🤭😆

Bananacrepewithnuts · 26/07/2026 16:57

Am I understanding this right?
You have time in your life to write that long winded post out cos you are arguing with Tesco about 57p

Just no.

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