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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU, re Primarks - returns policy

40 replies

Greenkit · 05/02/2011 19:01

A few weeks ago I bought DS some new pants; two packs costing £6 each.

Took them back to Primark today to exchange them, as they were too small, apparently the policy is not to exchange any underwear, unless it is damaged in some way.

Ok great I said but I wasn?t aware of this, it was explained that there are signs around the underwear section (Mens) and it is also on the bottom of the receipt. PLUS the checkout person should have told me when I bought them, that there were no returns on underwear.

Oh said I, but they didn?t. Sorry cant do anything about it!!

So I am £12 down with pants I can?t use.....I move on

DD need some stuff so we carry on shopping, we go get her some pants, no signs around about no exchanges.

So I ask, oh said the lady they were here but we don?t have them anymore. They are over there ?points to the pants in packs section? but not here ?pillars with pants on? oh and its on the bottom of your receipt and the check out person will tell you......

Finish shopping and go pay, NO they didn?t tell me you can?t return underwear at the checkout. Yes it is at the bottom of the receipt, bit late once you have paid though.

So should I write a letter to complain??

OP posts:
bubblewrapped · 05/02/2011 19:03

It fairly standard that shops dont exchange or refund underwear unless it is faulty.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 05/02/2011 19:03

Yes. Complain. I do, its fun.

I hate bad service.

cocoachannel · 05/02/2011 19:06

Is it not standard in any shop that knickers/pants/boxers can't be returned? Same goes for swim suits and bikini bottoms if the hygiene lable is removed.

I think YABU as it's common sense not to allow people to return underwear that may have been tried on.

PrincessScrumpy · 05/02/2011 19:06

Would you want to buy pants/knickers that someone had taken back (and possibly worn)? Unfortunately there are some unsavoury people out there.

sunndydays · 05/02/2011 19:07

If they had told you, would you not have bought them? As bubblewrapped said, it is standard practise not to take back underwear....You could complain about the shop assistants though as they weren't doing their job..You might get some money off vouchers! Grin

MrsGrahamBellForTheSkiSeason · 05/02/2011 19:08

Yes, complain, but move on and give them to smaller person and check the sizing next time...
Funnily enough I was in Primarni a few years ago, exchanging something, and there was an old lady in front of me trying to get a refund on some knickers and telling the assistant that had been 'hardly worn..' Grin I looked around 'cos I assumed it must be Dom Joly/Candid Camera...

bubblewrapped · 05/02/2011 19:09

You could always go to another branch (different staff) and say that the stitching is coming undone on them (its Primark after all, so that is perfectly plausible)..

And then you will be able to get a refund...

Wink

And rule of thumb with Primark, always get a size larger than you need, as they are notorious for being skimpy in their sizing..

HappyMummyOfOne · 05/02/2011 19:10

YABU, shops have no legal obligation to refund any item that doesnt fit. Its standard across every retailer I know to exclude underwear from being returned except online stores.

strandedpolarbear · 05/02/2011 19:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Olessaty · 05/02/2011 19:53

Deja vu. LOL.

Flisspaps · 05/02/2011 19:57

YABU

Firawla · 05/02/2011 20:12

my sister worked in primark and she used to have to tell everyone purchasing underwear about no returns, so it is true thats their policy to tell @ the tills but maybe your staff are just lazy. anyway as others said its standard in all shops! so i think yabu. if the packs have been unopened and unused pass them to someone with a younger dc?

BuzzLightBeer · 05/02/2011 20:25

nobody lets you return underwear, and IME there are signs behind the till and where you pick up the pants.
YABU.

worldgonemad72 · 05/02/2011 20:35

YABu i thought it was common knowledge you cant return underwear, same with earrings etc because of personal hygeine.

A1980 · 05/02/2011 21:48

When I am buying underwear in M&S they say to me, under pants are non returnable. That's fine and I see why.

It is the same with earrings and I am glad to see it being strictly enforced.

When I was doing my Christmas shopping I saw a young couple come intot the shop and the girl said he just bought me these earrings and I don't like them. The shop said they didn't refund pierced earrings. Even though the receipt showed that they'd been bought only 15 minutes earlier. Once they've left the store that's it, they wont take them back.

QueenStromba · 05/02/2011 22:05

I bought pants in Primark the other day and they didn't tell me I couldn't return them but then I'd never expect a shop to take pants back. I bought a bra in Asda the other day and specifically checked that I'd be able to return it if it was the wrong size.

ValerieLe · 05/02/2011 23:06

I had exactly the same experience in the Harrow branch on Thurs. There were no signs by the underwear, I wasn't told at the till and when I tried to return them I was told to look at the bottom of the receipt. I was fuming. At M&S you can return them if they haven't been worn. Surely they should tell you before you buy as if they had, I wouldnt' have. I'm a fiver down and wont buy from there again.

spongebobsquareknickers · 05/02/2011 23:11

Unpick the stitching, shouldnt take much with primark knickers. In fact, my "not leaving the house" primark knickers broke earlier!!

Thought it was common knowledge that stores didnt take back knickers though? Its not a new policy, I remember having underwear that didnt fit as a kid that I couldnt exchange.

Legally though, an item has to be fit for use or a refund must be available. I suppose you could try writing and complaining that small sizes arent fit for purpose...?

Original poster
Greenkit · 06/02/2011 11:28

My argument would be that I wasnt told at the till that they were non-exchangeable, if I had I would have bought the next size up.

OP posts:
Ineedacleaneriamalazyslattern · 06/02/2011 11:34

YEs they should have told you and I don't think i've ever bought pants and not been told but it is pretty standard practice everywhere though so not sure you would get very far, maybe an apology and told they would step up staff training on this matter so is it really worth it?

traceybath · 06/02/2011 11:36

Shudders at thought of returned underwear.

It wouldn't occur to me that you could return pants/knickers - you take the risk really.

soggy14 · 06/02/2011 11:38

YABU - this is Primark not John lewis or M&S :). You get what you pay for and at Primark prices you are not really paying for customer service are you :)

megapixels · 06/02/2011 11:39

YABU. I thought everyone knew that you can't return underwear.

eviscerateyourmemory · 06/02/2011 11:46

YABU

Would you want to buy pants in a shop that had been worn by someone else?

ZillionChocolate · 06/02/2011 12:13

YABU, you're not entitled to return anything because you bought the wrong size. If it's likely to be an issue, I always check (and how long they allow).

I'm disgusted at the suggestion of unpicking the stitching, it's no different to shoplifting the desired size.

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