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AIBU?

Sainsburys Clothing Exchange

34 replies

WannabeNigella · 22/04/2011 21:35

Ok, will keep this brief. Bought a top at Sainsburys, was too small but couldn't find receipt.

Rang ahead to say I would like to exchange it, still had all tags etc but I couldn't find my receipt anywhere and they have said they won't exchange without it.

I explained that I didn't want a refund just the bigger size but they said it's a no go. I know they're not legally obliged but I am stunned a retailer of this size won't help.

As an alternative I could damage it, say it was faulty and get a full refund! That's not my style at all but I am astonished they are virtually encouraging this behaviour rather than having a perfectly acceptable item they could sell on!

OP posts:

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VivaLeBeaver · 23/04/2011 14:04

Ah, never thought of that. So it would be a way of discouraging people from buying stolen goods.

Buzzybritches · 23/04/2011 14:00

Because it may have been stolen, passed on, sold on

VivaLeBeaver · 23/04/2011 13:57

But why would a thief want to change the size of something? They'd just nick another one?

Buzzybritches · 23/04/2011 13:54

Its a pain but unfortunately necessary these days. The shop where i work, in just 1 week, caught 3 thieves who have come in, taken things from the shelves and taken them then to the refund desk to attempt refund without receipt. We are obviously being targeted at the moment, but when you take into account those are just the ones who have been caught, just in 1 store, it is a massive problem! Our store would always refund with bank statement proof or if we can find the transaction in the records. Unfortunately its a pain in the ass for us honest souls.

Collision · 23/04/2011 12:24

It's a new thing I think.

Happened to me the other day will-teach-me-to-keep-receipts but very annoying!

HeidiKat · 23/04/2011 12:23

Sainsburys clothes are crap anyway I wouldn't buy anything from there again, DD got a few things in 0-3 months size from Sainsburys when she was born and they were tiny, barely lasted her until 2 months old and she was 8lb 5 when born so not exactly huge. Asda clothes are much more generously sized.

WannabeNigella · 23/04/2011 10:51

I tweeted Sainsburys this morning and they have replied saying that their policy is I need a receipt even for an exchange! That's Head Office so must be new rule.

What a shame. Never thought I'd get better service at ASDA than Sainsburys! They exchanged a clothing gift I didn't like this week without a receipt.

OP posts:

WannabeNigella · 23/04/2011 06:21

Thisisyesterday. I like your style!

That's a plan!

OP posts:

doley · 23/04/2011 04:05

Why don't you just get the gift card ,and use that to buy another one -fixed !

They will give you a gift card right? :)

mippy · 23/04/2011 01:20

Habitat have the same policy, which is really irritating because I have a bad eye for measurements.

bleedingstill · 23/04/2011 01:18

OP, your tale is a sad one and yet another example of how the world is starting to set its rules to accommodate the bad people. Bummer for good folks like you and i but you have to see Sainsbury's point of view

HarrietSchulenberg · 23/04/2011 01:15

Islandlady - I used to know someone who nicked large items from M&S every single week, then took them back and asked for a refund, which was only given on a giftcard due to the lack of receipt.

She then popped down to the food hall and did a week's shopping!

She was on the dole at the time and had a cupboard full of M&S food. The store staff either never picked up on it or just didn't care (was a very big shop in a city centre).

Islandlady · 23/04/2011 01:10

M&S had to change their refund policy as people were stealing stuff and bringing it back to exchange for money I think they lost a lot of money so they had no choice. sainsburys may have the same problem so need to put procedures in place to protect their revenue.

Like everything else the consequences of other peoples actions make life difficult for the majority of shopperswho are honest - but no-one has a neon sign on their forehead that says nice honest person so we all get treated the same

Shakirasma · 22/04/2011 23:21

My employer is now cracking down on refunding without proof of purchase. Too many incidents of people nicking stuff then bringing it back to store asking for a refund.

BeerTricksPotter · 22/04/2011 23:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 22/04/2011 23:10

They have only introduced this fairly recently.

I have bought most some of my clothes from Sainburys in the last three years.

They used to take them back no question. I had to take a shirt back because it was on the wrong hanger so massively wrong size. They did exchange it but with 'we are not really allowed to do this anymore'.

I always keep receipts but its easy to lose them when you do a big shop.

squeakytoy · 22/04/2011 23:02

the clothing obviously came from Sainsburys, it's their own brand... so it surely doesn't matter if there is a receipt or not?

It does if you nicked it.

Or you could have got it off eBay.

Or bought it in a charity shop...

Just common sense to try something on when you get it home and before you throw the receipt away really.

thisisyesterday · 22/04/2011 23:02

actually

i would do this:

go and buy another one in the correct size.

use the new receipt to return the old one and get a refund/gift card

thisisyesterday · 22/04/2011 23:01

no, they don't have to exchange it by law.

but if they DO exchange it, they cannot insist that the proof of purchase is a receipt, it can be a bank statement etc.
tho, bearing in mind they only sell their own brand clothing it seems rather pointless

IloveJudgeJudy · 22/04/2011 22:59

But in law they don't have to change it, do they? If they will only accept a receipt (probably for the bar code on it) then you have to comply.

thisisyesterday · 22/04/2011 22:19

they can ask for proof of purchase but they cannot insist on it being a receipt.

the clothing obviously came from Sainsburys, it's their own brand... so it surely doesn't matter if there is a receipt or not?

squeakytoy · 22/04/2011 22:10

They haven't got a changing room.. so i do think it's really bad that they won't exchange

But they WILL exchange, or refund....if you have the receipt.

When buying clothing, surely nobody throws the receipt away until they have tried the item on?

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sillybillymummy · 22/04/2011 22:05

It is rubbish isn't it!
I have to leave them in the car (as they run in opposite directions) walk into the store, wait at customer services (which always has a queue). Then they say they can't find one! I have done this a few times, but i hate leaving the kids in the car.

It just makes the whole food shop so stressful because they are just banging into each other, bouncing around in the trolley, squashing all the food!

I told them last time, there are LOADS over at asda's! But i don't want to shop there!

thisisyesterday · 22/04/2011 22:00

sillybilly ours had TWO double seaters for a giant "superstore"

i wrote and complained, and they ordered... wait for it.... two more! wahhoooo

Now if i can't find one when I get there I go to customer services and ask them to locate one for me.

thisisyesterday · 22/04/2011 21:59

they can ask you for proof of purchase, but as they do not legally have to give you a receipt they cannot insist that you bring one with you for a refund,

they CAN however, refuse a refund just because you changed your mind etc

#i really would go ina nd try, and if they still refuse then call trading standards.

take a bank account if you have one, to show that you spent money there on that day

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