Charity shop refusing refund

[BlazeMonsterMachine]

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.

[kowari]

@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 😂

It's crazy if they don't mind them touching people's necks, close to their mouth and nose, if they don't have a problem with that then you should just be able to try them on. My mum tried on jeans on the shop floor once, before covid, as the changing rooms were full.

[SpottyFleece]

We've never even had a fitting room in the charity shop I volunteer in. Never offered refunds, and exchanges are case by case.

We're still booming in trade right now. Donations are selling the moment they hit the floor.

[Seymour5]

I volunteer at a BHF shop, we do give refunds if clothing is returned with tags and receipts. Even before the pandemic we did, although there was an opportunity to try on.

[SpottyFleece]

It's crazy if they don't mind them touching people's necks, close to their mouth and nose, if they don't have a problem with that then you should just be able to try them on. My mum tried on jeans on the shop floor once, before covid, as the changing rooms were full.

We do mind trying on on the shop floor all the time. In many charity shops, it's in full view of the till, and we don't especially want to see your pants. We see enough of them in donation bags!

[ichundich]

The law needs updating IMO. Yes, legally the shop doesn't have to give a refund for something that was bought in store (rather than online), but consumer rights are being curtailed if you can't try on clothes in a clothes shop (which is what most charity shops are primarily), yet you won't get your money back if they don't fit. I buy most of my clothes in charity shops and even if each item is only a few quid it adds up if you can't return them. It's not right and most charity shops do give refunds for clothes currently. I would point this out to the shop where you bought the jeans and then take my business elsewhere OP.

[PurBal]

I do treat charity shop mistakes as a donation, it is just how it goes this is how I feel to be honest.

[ragged]

Find a charity shop that does give refunds is my suggestion. I've done this hunting game myself.

Also don't shop in Sports Direct if you don't like credit-slip only policy.

I only risked 50p-£1.50 /pair of jeans on no-refunds charity shops.

[kowari]

@SpottyFleece

It's crazy if they don't mind them touching people's necks, close to their mouth and nose, if they don't have a problem with that then you should just be able to try them on. My mum tried on jeans on the shop floor once, before covid, as the changing rooms were full.

We do mind trying on on the shop floor all the time. In many charity shops, it's in full view of the till, and we don't especially want to see your pants. We see enough of them in donation bags!

Which is why no changing rooms is ridiculous. Though people trying on clothes on the shop floor is better than them giving up on charity shops until the rules are changed isn't it? I would only buy something like a jacket that I can try over clothes.

[Ragwort]

I'm surprised at that, is it a large, 'High Street' charity shop? I manage a charity shop and we have always offered refunds if something is returned within 28 days (or longer at our discretion). I know that legally shops do not have to offer a refund but it is good customer practice to do so .....especially when items can't be tried on.

Personally I never take things back to charity shops but many people do ... even for £1 or £2 ....

[kowari]

Personally I never take things back to charity shops but many people do ... even for £1 or £2 ....
I buy second hand where I can because I'm a lone parent on a lowish wage. I want the £2 back to buy food with.

[SpottyFleece]

but consumer rights are being curtailed if you can't try on clothes in a clothes shop

They're not. Assuming the only problem is fit, the clothes are still fit for purpose and non faulty, even if they don't fit an individual. If I bought a tablecloth that was too small for my table (measurements clearly stated, I just didn't check), it wouldn't be curtailing consumer rights to refuse me a refund.

Even Marks and Spencer, Next, etc don't have to offer refunds. It's a courtesy.

[toolazytothinkofausername]

@drpet49

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

The Sports Direct where I live is doing refunds whilst the changing rooms are closed.

[poppycat10]

It's interesting, because the reason you have more rights when you buy online is because you can't try before you buy. So it would make sense to extend the refund rights if you can't try on.

Anyway, the easier option would be to allow you to try things on. A lot of shops are now, and there was never any good reason not to anyway.

[AbsolutelyPatsy]

but second hand clothes are not necessarily true to size so it is understandable that they might not fit despite saying they are such and such size

[TableFlowerss]

It’s a charity shop and they were £10 so any sympathy is out the window I’m afraid.

As been explained, not fitting you isn’t a legal reason they need to give you a refund. You knew their policy she said no refund, so you shouldn’t have bought them if you knew you’d feel like this.

Had it been a normal shop then you could have got a different size in same jeans but obviously you’re not going to be able to get the same jeans in a different size. Again, you knew this.

[SpiderinaWingMirror]

I think the charity shop has lost sight of its purpose tbh.

[RedcurrantPuff]

As others said they don’t have to but I’m going to go against the grain and say its pretty poor. Especially if it was a shoo for Ocfam or Cancer Research who are bloody minted.

Beside the fact it’s a bit crap when you can’t try anything on and determine suitabilty there and then It’s hardly comparable to a high street store when you can either readily swap for a different size or are almost guaranteed to find much else you like. It’s also not like charity shops are all that cheap these days.

[TableFlowerss]

@SpiderinaWingMirror

I think the charity shop has lost sight of its purpose tbh.

Helping the vulnerable of society whilst many staff are volunteers to keep costs down? OP was told no refund, it’s the same in other shops so no different.

She knew the situation, it didn’t work in bed favour and now she’s annoyed. Not their fault.

[hoorayforharoldlloyd]

Charity shops often remove changing rooms if there are high levels of shoplifting in that particular shop. Not because of 'not nice' motivations.

[ShanghaiDiva]

I volunteer with BHF and we offer refunds as our changing room is still closed.

[Mandalay246]

I wouldn't dream of expecting a charity shop to give a refund, and I never try anything on before I buy. If it doesn't fit then I donate it back to the shop. The clue is in the word 'charity'.

[Ragwort]

Spider ... what exactly do you think is the purpose of a charity shop? Surely it is to raise funds for the charity it represents?

There seems to be a view (sometimes) that charity shops exist to provide 'cheap' clothes etc for people who can't afford to buy 'new' items. That may be true in some cases but in my experience (many years involved in charity retail), most of our customers are looking for the quirky, original, vintage type items (which they frequently go on to sell on other websites etc... nothing wrong with that at all) rather than something because it's 'cheap'.

We have lots of lovely, brand new children's clothing from a well know High Street retailer ... almost impossible to sell even at £1 each.

[RaspberryCoulis]

I volunteer in a charity shop, one of the big chains. Despite @AbsolutelyPatsy seeming to think that every charity shop has the same policies, these do vary between shops.

As others have said there is no legal right to a refund when you change your mind or something doesn't fit, whether you're in Harrods or Cancer Research. Shops offering refunds are doing so as a gesture of goodwill only.

Our shop has a poster by the till detailing the refund policy - we will refund clothing within 14 days (or is it 7, I don't remember) as long as you take it back to the branch you bought it from and have the original receipt, and the swing tag has not been removed from the item. This is to cut down on fraud - our swing tag on the item will say M&S red dress size 12 or whatever, and we can check that's what's being returned.

With homeware and bric a brac we label differently with just a price sticker and your receipt will say something like "homewares" or "children's toy". So how do we know you've not bought a crystal vase for £20 and are returning a £1 vase from Ikea?

Even before Covid we had to remove our changing room from the shop floor as there was so much theft and swapping going on.

[hoorayforharoldlloyd]

They were clear about no refund so that's reasonable. But I also think wanting a ten pound refund is reasonable and quite a big spend in a charity shop.

[Lalliella]

Caveat emptor. You choose to buy, you accept the Ts&Cs. No statutory right to a refund unless the goods are faulty.