If you buy something from a supermarket and the box is empty, do you have any recourse?

[Clymene]

Yesterday I bought a box of omeprazole from Asda. Opened the box today and it's got the paper with all the instructions etc inside so feels the right weight but no medication.

Didn't even occur to me to check the box had something in it when I bought it! On the one hand, the person who nicked it probably needs it and can't afford to pay for it. On the other, I've just spent £8 on an empty box.

I can't prove it though. Is there any way I can get a refund?

Considering its a pharmacy item so behind the counter I'd go back!

Id go and try to get a replacement. What's the worst they can do. Refuse. But u don't know unless you try

I had this in my online shop but didn’t realise until after the delivery guy had gone. I just called the customer service line and said it was empty and they immediately refunded.
I’d say they err on the side of the customer- unless they recognised you were doing it repeatedly they’ll probably just refund you if you go in.

Obviously go back and tell them the product had been removed. I've had this with hair colour and apparently it is very common - I don't know why they leave the boxes unsealed.

They will offer you a new pack.

Well its a pharmacy medicine so is kept behind the counter so in ybeory shpuldntbe available to be shopifted ..... however it could be staff, or its just manufacturing packing error ..... either way I bet Asda will just replace it for you.

I'm assuming OP means esomeprazole which is available on the shelves in supermarkets.
Is it not a sealed box?

I once got home with an empty box of Zovirax, Asda swapped it no problem

I do mean that (omeprazole is the brand name but it's the same thing).

Not behind the counter, no. And not in a sealed box which is why someone was able to steal the contents.

Good to know this has happened to other people (well not good but ykwim). I will try and find my receipt and go back.

Incidentally this is a very good lesson of why you should always get a receipt. I nearly didn't yesterday but wanted to see if a discount had been applied to something else.

Agree about taking receipts. I dislike the new 'would you like a receipt?' option at the tills in Tesco. Not just for any issues and required returns, but to get out the door if I'm stopped for any reason!

That's the problem with theft

All the mumsnetters saying they would turn a blind eye , they must need it etc etc

Look at the hassle it causes!

I have noticed some supermarkets now display only the empty box. You have to pay at the pharmacy and they give you a full box.

Could this be what happened?

No it isn't that. Someone has clearly nicked the contents (they're very light)

I'm going to have to rummage in the rubbish bag for the receipt. How bloody annoying

It happened to me once, and I was totally shocked, I can see you must be too.
I couldn't go back straight away, so I didn't, but I would have, if I could.
So, yes, I would go back and explain the situation, asap.

I always check the contents if boxes that are not sealed. Sometimes I ask the checkout person to do it. I Once got caught out when someone had swapped the tube from a box of brand name ointment and put an own brand in. By the time we realised the shop was shut so just had to use what we had.

My dd was in Asda yesterday and witnessed a lady trying to get a refund for some bottles of Coke that were on offer that she was overcharged for.

She changed her story several times and in the end the cashier rolled her eyes and issued the refund, so I'd say you have a very good chance of success!

Not that I think you're lying, I've experienced the same as you in the past.

I always check the boxes now, had this happen once too often!

One time, in Sainsbury's, I realised the box was empty after scanning it (self scan). The cashier refused to void it as I could have taken the contents out myself Needless to say, I left my shopping and went elsewhere.

@Clymene definitely worth speaking to Asda. Maybe try Twitter.

I've bought saffron before, not checked, got
Home and no saffron.

Missing the point but you can buy Omeprazole????

Esomeprazole and omeprazole are not the same thing! Nexium is the brand name of Esomeprazole and Pyrocalm is a brand of omeprazole.
Also just take it back and explain, they will refund or exchange.
As for not printing receipts as standard, lots of people don't want them so all that wasted paper is saved. Just say you want it when asked/pay for your items.

I bought an £8 fumigator for my greenhouse from a garden centre. Got home and it was an empty tin. They replaced it and checked inside that the thing you set alight was in there first. They said that that area wasn't covered by cctv and were going to move them.

I'm genuinely surprised that you're even asking this, what else would you do but go back to the shop and exlain and ask for a full box? Unless the shop is really far away or there's some other reason yo can't return what's the issue?

I guess op is worried the shop won't believe her! I'm a retail manager and the amount of excuses and lies we get told is insane!

We get it a lot unfortunately

Op. Just be polite and they will replace it I'm sure

Happened to me with lightbulbs before. Never went back, as i didnt think they would believe me, and thought it was my own stupidity for not noticing that the box was ridiculously light and on hindsight, was obvious there was nothing inside 😂

i bought a box of wax strips from boots which didn’t have any in, the paper leaflet was though which I why it felt full. I returned them, no questions asked.

Yes that's exactly it! But I did go back today (after retrieving the receipt from the bin!) and they told me a new box and apologised. While I was off getting it, the next person in the queue legged it with £28 worth of tobacco and scratch cards by paying by contactless when they had no money in their account.

So that's why I was dubious they'd refund me. Scammers abound!