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Original poster

Charity shop refusing refund

238 replies

BlazeMonsterMachine · 01/05/2021 05:35

This is such a trivial thing I realise, but for some reason it's annoyed me....

I needed a new pair of jeans, so popped to the local charity shop. With covid restrictions, you can't try clothes on at the moment, so when paying I asked about what to if they don't fit.

They told me to keep the receipt and I can exchange them. I queried whether there could be a refund, but apparently not - exchange only.

Now we're talking less than £10 here, and I realise it's charity, but it just doesn't sit right....

Are they allowed to do this? It feels like I'm just throwing money away / making a donation rather than shopping. It just strikes me as bizarre that I have to guess as to whether something fits and tough luck if it doesn't (as there's no guarantee that they'll have anything I want to exchange for).

Just wondering if anyone knows if this is the correct procedure as annoyingly the jeans don't fit.

I'm not planning on kicking up a fuss when I go back, but if they don't have a pair of jeans I could swap for, it would be good to know if i could push for a refund.

OP posts:
ChessieFL · 01/05/2021 05:37

I don’t think they legally have to give you a refund unless the jeans are faulty (and it’s a fault you weren’t aware of when buying them).

picturesandpickles · 01/05/2021 05:40

I think you're in the wrong here, sorry.

A consumer has no legal right to a refund unless the good are faulty. With secondhand goods, items are sold as seen.

I suggest you don't shop there in future.

I do treat charity shop mistakes as a donation, it is just how it goes. An exchange is fair enough IMO.

Myshitisreal · 01/05/2021 05:51

On a side note, zip up the jeans and wrap the closed waist around your neck. This is a usually a good guide if they will fit. Do it with a pair that fits perfectly so you know how it should feel. Almost like a superman cape 😂

SeaTurtles92 · 01/05/2021 05:53

No, they don't have too.

Refund is a good will gesture.

When I worked in sports direct when I was 16 now 28 they didn't do refunds either. Exchange only.

drpet49 · 01/05/2021 05:53

Sports Direct shops don’t give refunds, only exchanges.

Original poster
BlazeMonsterMachine · 01/05/2021 05:55

I love that advice Myshitisreal 😂

I'm totally on board with not being able to get a refund if there's nothing wrong during normal times (or if I change my mind). But I can't try them on. It just seems bonkers that they won't let you check that something is suitable and won't give you your money back if it isn't.

Stupid pandemic.

OP posts:
SweetBabyJebus · 01/05/2021 05:58

People generally don't have a 'right' to refunds, even in normal shops, unless goods are faulty, as PP has said. Refunds are given at the shop's discretion, and you were fully informed of the policy before you bought the item. So this is definitely a case of caveat emptor!

KarmaNoMore · 01/05/2021 06:01

My local Hearth foundation doesn’t do refunds either. I wouldn’t find it irritating and really made a fuss if you wanted to exchange. Yet... they are the one and only charity shop that removed removed access to their fitting room years before the pandemic (they still have it but won’t let you use it) so I guess their motivations were... not nice.

Original poster
BlazeMonsterMachine · 01/05/2021 06:12

You're all such wise Mumsnetters Grin

So trivial it's not worth getting annoy about and certainly not as bad as your shop Karma!!

I guess I'll go exchange them for 10 DVDs (which are running at 50p each, 3 for £1). Might splash out an extra 50p and get an additional 2 Grin

OP posts:
amylou8 · 01/05/2021 06:20

Legally it's exchange only unless faulty. I think second hand goods are excluded from this and sold as seen.

cariadlet · 01/05/2021 06:23

Shops choosing to give refunds for clothes that aren't faulty do so as an act of good will, not because they have to.

Most of my clothes are from charity shops. I hate the hassle of trying on clothes and didn't used to try things on if I was buying from a charity shop, even before the pandemic. If I got home and found that an item didn't fit or I didn't like it, then I treated my purchase as a donation and redonated whatever I'd bought.

Charities have been hit really hard by the pandemic. Demand for their services has gone up but income has gone down. Their shops have been closed for months and they have also had to cancel many fundraising events.

If you can't afford to just to take a chance of spending money on something that's non-refundable, that's fair enough but I think you should appreciate that by offering to exchange them, they are already doing more than they are legally obliged to do.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 01/05/2021 06:28

They are currently now giving refunds, since you cannot try them on

AbsolutelyPatsy · 01/05/2021 06:29

Before Covid it was exchange only, but Now it is refund.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 01/05/2021 06:31

As long as the tag is still on and you have the receipt and it is within a certain timescale

Sittinonthesand · 01/05/2021 06:37

It isn’t their fault you bought a pair of jeans that don’t fit! That’s the risk you took!

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 01/05/2021 06:38

@Myshitisreal

On a side note, zip up the jeans and wrap the closed waist around your neck. This is a usually a good guide if they will fit. Do it with a pair that fits perfectly so you know how it should feel. Almost like a superman cape 😂
I can't puzzle that out, how does that work Confused

When I buy new jeans I have to try on loads of pairs as the cut and fit is different on each pair. I'd love a way to save time but dont get the theory here

Charity shops are being a little short sighted by not giving a refund I think, they are already down on income and this will put customers off coming back imo

SpringtimeSummertime · 01/05/2021 07:02

The problem is that every item is worn and unique. I think they are being very generous offering an exchange.
A person could buy a pair of worn jeans for £10, take them home, replace them for a worn pair of their own and take them to to the shop for a refund. It would becomes a swop shop and the charity would not make money.
If you can’t afford to make charity shop mistakes at the moment, wait until fitting rooms reopen.

roguetomato · 01/05/2021 07:07

I don't get you for even asking this. If you weren't unhappy, you had a choice not to buy it in the first place, when you asked and told it's exchange only.

howmanynames · 01/05/2021 07:14

I can't puzzle that out, how does that work confused

When I buy new jeans I have to try on loads of pairs as the cut and fit is different on each pair. I'd love a way to save time but dont get the theory here

This method is about whether they fit you, not whether they suit you.

If the jeans don't reach to your full width when held against you, they're too small for you.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 01/05/2021 07:19

Yes they can refuse.

If you don't like their policy, don't risk buying the jeans.

swampytiggaa · 01/05/2021 07:21

Barnardos offer a refund as long as the tags are on you have the receipt and it’s within 14 days. Only the manager can do refunds so if they aren’t around you may have to pop back 😊

Used to occasionally wipe out our daily takings if someone bought an expensive item from a ‘better’ area then brought it to us for a refund 😭😭 we were then unlikely to be able to resell something expensive in our shop!

Nith · 01/05/2021 07:22

@AbsolutelyPatsy

They are currently now giving refunds, since you cannot try them on
There's no duty for shops to offer this.
AbsolutelyPatsy · 01/05/2021 07:23

before covid i used to check their policy before i bought, if it was for someone else

Starstruck2021 · 01/05/2021 07:23

I don’t know why you’re surprised as you asked and they told you you can’t exchange. You made the choice to buy them anyway.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 01/05/2021 07:24

i have been to umpteen charity shops during the pandemic, and they all give a refund due to being unable to try on

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