to expect my money back when I have the receipt?

[mumnosbest]

I bought a couple of shirts (from Sports Direct) for a birthday present which weren't suitable. On the back of the receipt (after buying them) I read that they only do exchanges or gift cards. I'm not sporty so dont need anything from there and wanted my cash back. The manager pointed out a tinypost card sized notice behind the till saying they don't do refunds unless there's a fault. I left the store feeling really p*ed off with a giftcard for £40 which I don't want and am also £40 out of pocket after buying a different prezzie.

I would have given the gift card as the gift.

They aren't obliged to offer a refund, AFAIK, that's just a courtesy that most other shops offer. But IMe Sports Direct isn't the most courteous of shops ....

You have no right to a refund if you purchased in store, they are not even obligated to allow you to exchange it for store credit though doing so is customary. Had you ordered online you would have benefited from the Distance Selling Directive and would have been able to cancel to order for a full refund within 7 working days.

I feel your pain though - can you sell the giftcard to a sporty friend/on eBay?

Yes, you are, sadly. It's a pain, I know. But legally they are under no obligation to give people their money back unless the goods are faulty or something.

It's nice if they do. It's good service. You'd think that they would, to keep customers happy. But they aren't in the wrong for not doing so.

Can you sell it to a mate or on ebay or something?

Yabu, they have no obligation to refund just because you have decided you don't want the item.

If there is not too long a time limit on the gift card, save it for someone else's birthday.

I would have given the card as a gift had I known but didn't realise untill I'dreplaced the gift. It's valid for 18 months so could always give it next year. I've been in shops before where they have this rule (usually for swim wear or undie) but they usually tell you at the till. They could have at least made the sign a little bigger to warn people. It might be above board but it's certainly not the norm.

You may think it's not the norm but legally shops only have to offer a refund if the item is faulty or not as described. You've actually done well to get a gift card because legally you're not entitled to anything if you just change your mind or decide something's not suitable.

yep, I too have learnt this lesson in sports direct. Some shops have this rule, and unfortunately theres not much you can do about it other than learn from it and check receipts/policies on EVERYTHING you buy from now on! voice of bitter experience

Not debating the legality, although untill today I didn't realise any of this. Just think it was a bit sneaky. They obviouslyrealise not everyone knows this as they did put the 'post card' notice up, so why not make a bigger, clearer notice to help us more ignorant customers.

They didn't break any laws, they didn't try to deceive you and they have given you a credit note which they are not legally obliged to do so.

So, I suppose you ABU.

YABU, sorry.

it is crappy service, though. I run just a measly little charity shop, and still give a full refund with a receipt. And it's a friggin CHARITY!!!

I go in Sports Direct quite regularly (various branches) and the notices advising that they do not do refunds unless there is a fault has always been very prominent at the tills.

Sell it for £40 to someone.

"They could have at least made the sign a little bigger to warn people. It might be above board but it's certainly not the norm."

It's not their responsibility to make sure that you know your rights as a customer or understand the basics of contract law.

I can't believe people are tight enough to take things back to a charity shop lololizzy .

Your item was not fit for the purpose so you should have been entitled to a refund.

"Your item was not fit for the purpose so you should have been entitled to a refund."
she says they weren't "suitable" presume she means size/style/preference wise rather than being faulty

You can spend your giftcard a bit at a time - I buy ds's sports stuff from there - trainers, shorts etc as prices are so reasonable, so it would get spent eventually!

They sell loads of stuff I am sure you will use it somehow

Your item was not fit for the purpose so you should have been entitled to a refund

Of course it was "fit for purpose" if it wasn't faulty.

OP are you my friend?.

Only today my friend asked me if I wanted a sports direct card which she'd been given instead of a refund .... I took it as I'll use it for my boys and gave her the full amount.
I'm sure you'll be able to find someone to do this.

Every day, Darkling. Sometimes for 50p or £1 ! One of the old ladies I work with gets so fed up with it (and doing all the paperwork that a refund entails) that she often gives them the money out of her own purse with a 'here you are love, if £1 is really that important to you, and I'm a pensioner...' (nothing like a nearly 80yr old grandma to make you feel guilty!)

I know a woman who picked the stitches out of a pair of trousers so she could take them back and get a refund. Thrifty.