Returning an item recommended by staff member - unfit for the intended purpose

[smigglepiggle]

Hi,

I bought an external microphone to use with my iPhone for my job (I'm self employed). Had a long discussion with the staff member about what would be suitable, what I would be using it for etc.

After testing the piece of equipment and searching online, purchasing adapters (lightning to 3.5mm female jack) it transpires that unless I get another, super rare, adapter (of which I cannot get in the time frame available) it won't work.

I've now got to go and buy another microphone from another shop which DOES work with my iPhone (I've tripled checked!!!) but need to return the original mic.

Obviously because it was purchased in store my rights are different but can I return it for a full refund as it was incorrectly sold and not fit for purpose? I wasn't sure if the consumer act only means that in a "it's broken" type of way rather than being sold under incorrect advice.

Thanks in advance!!

Sorry if I'm being daft but how are your rights different? When did you buy it and have you still got the receipt?

I'd just bring it back and see what why say. Was it a high street place?

Because it was bought in store I don't have the right to change my mind per se. So ASOS offers things like free returns if you change your mind/doesn't fit etc - same with tech.

However because it was purchased IN store, and it's an independent retailer, they can usually refuse a return or even just order store credit.

The item itself isn't broken or faulty - it just doesn't have the capability to do what I need and what I was quite clear about at the time.

@WipsGlitter it was the London Camera Exchange which I believe is a franchise.

Taken from Money Saving Expert...

DO check suitability before buying

The "as described" part of the Sad Fart rules is crucial.

Imagine you buy speakers for your TV, take them home and they don't connect to your specific television.

If you've proof (take notes if possible) the store said "it'll work with your telly", then it's not "as described", so you can return it. Yet if you didn't ask, and it's not in the literature, and the speakers still work if correctly plugged in, it's your problem – not the store's.

Here

Shit

I did specifically ask and was in there for a full bloody hour talking about it as well.

I'd take it back to them, from previous experience with them (albeit an online purchase) they are pretty good, DS got camera equipment from them and then discovered it didn't do what he wanted it to do and they were good with refunding him. The MSE advice seems to come down on your side too, have you called them to ask?

I've tried phoning them all afternoon and nobody is answering the phone. Going to head down there tomorrow morning and have a chat. Thing is I have a lot of camera equipment to by in the future and I'd rather deal with a company like this than fanny about online. It was such a lengthy conversation as well, went into my full requirements and ended up changing my original set up (discovered my DSLR didn't have a mic port and he convinced me my iPhone would shoot good enough quality but just needed an external mic).

@Haberpop only issue with that is because it's distance selling you have the right to return stuff but in store you don't. Can't for the life of me find this particular store's returns policy either.

Interesting development - managed to source one of these 3 to 4 pole plug adapters and it STILL doesn't work. I'm thinking it's faulty now.