Is this breaching the trade description act (Oliver bonus)

[NOTANUM]

I bought a necklace in Oliver Bonus for £26 entitled “Barbara Rose Pendant Snake Cha Gold” and the person on the till gave a warning about no returns on jewellery.

But it’s clearly not gold plated - I was itching within minutes and the website for the same product says it’s brass. The website calls the same product “Barbara Gold Tone Rose Pendant Necklace” - no mention of brass there either.

If they’re going to refuse me a return, can I say it’s not as advertised given its brass and not gold?

Well you can't really expect it to be real gold for that price and with no carat indicated, and it doesn't say gold plated either. It is, I assume, gold coloured. You haven't been mislead, it doesn't have to say what the composition is. If you are allergic to specific materials then it would be on you to ask before purchasing.

Gold tone clearly means the colour not the metal it is made from, I looked this up online and the product description clearly says it is made of brass. You don't have a leg to stand on.

entitled “Barbara Rose Pendant Snake Cha Gold”

Where on there does it say gold plated though? It’s gold in colour, hence it saying gold, it’s a description.

Where does is say you can't return it? Earrings can't be returned but if the necklace is in a resaleable condition I think you can return it. Do you still have the packaging?

www.oliverbonas.com/returns-and-refunds?srsltid=AfmBOorsJ2wFIDAtq9SvrIQ17XuCo_CteTZ1ZVcxbLXPXa2l6dmVQX2r

@Choux it’s in the op. She was told at point of sale there were no returns. Online selling has different conditions.

Come on OP, you can't seriously have thought there was actual gold in a £26 necklace?
The word gold in the description clearly refers to the colour, just like with a pair of gold shoes, the material is leather the colour is gold.

You bought it in store, have worn it and it is not faulty therefore you have no right to a return.
Chalk it up to experience and drop it off at the charity shop.

On the website, in product details under the material and care heading it clearly says brass.

Yep, if something of that size was gold or gold plated it would be more expensive than £26. Oliver Bonus do sell gold and silver plated jewellery but it is labelled as such and usually in a cabinet that staff access for you. The stuff on general display is basically costume jewellery.

Oops I read that as 'no warning'!

I did think the way round it was look in store and make your choice but then order online as it's then returnable. Particularly useful if you have allergies to some metals as you can wear it for a few hours and see how you get on.

It was optimistic to think a £26 necklace would be gold plated.

‘Gold’ here refers to the colour. ‘Gold’ and ‘silver’ are commonly and legally used to refer to colours as well as the metals themselves. So no, it’s not a breach of the Trades Descriptions Act.

For future reference, if it was gold-plated it would say ‘gold-plated’ not just ‘gold’.

I bought in store so only saw the label which says “gold” rather than the online description which is much clearer! The label says “made in China” but no mention of brass.

I recently bought a different chunky piece of jewellery elsewhere for £40 that was gold plated but I do accept £26 was cheap for gold plated in fairness. The price seems a lot for gold coloured brass though!

Thanks all - I will chalk it up to experience and will give it to someone who can wear brass or Nickel and avoid Oliver Bonas jewellery in store unless I’ve looked online too.

Have to disagree about gold plated jewellery being more expensive - realistically the plating is microscopically thin and not of any real value, it's certainly possible to get cheap gold-plated jewellery (eg. Some 14ct plated pieces here from £15 from Accessorize)

https://www.accessorize.com/uk/jewellery/shop-by-product/necklaces/14ct-gold-plated1/?srsltid=AfmBOor0QkM6pDji-cuPKrRiOxRQWz6TccysKGsZrUP2NZSd1fKfEe

Something that does bug me is websites selling gold plated silver jewellery for crazy inflated prices, named to sound as though it's solid gold. Sellers on Etsy and Not on the High Street are the worst for this. No way would I pay upwards of £100 for a piece of jewellery that will discolour after a few wears!

That’s useful @GoldenKitty36 - thanks

Contact their customer services. I bet they will allow you to return it.