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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

That shop won't swap dress?

49 replies

BlingBang · 12/12/2013 09:39

I'm annoyed, bought a dress a few months ago that is still in the wardrobe unworn with all the tags etc still on. I've lost some weight and tried the dress on the other day and it's now too big. Was in the shop yesterday and tried the smaller size which fits perfectly and looks a million times better. Explained and asked if they could do a straight swap and they've just called to say no. Now I'm left with a dress (cost much more than I'd normally pay) that doesn't fit. AIBU to think that it wouldn't have hurt them to swap, I'd be grateful and delighted and would happily continue to shop there in future especially given the great customer service?

OP posts:

betterwhenthesunshines · 12/12/2013 14:04

A few months ago is too long. I woudn't want to buy a dress that someone had returned after that long, especially if it had been in their wardrobe - it woud smell of their home / clothes/ washing powder etc - not the same as buying a new item of clothing.

Original poster

BlingBang · 12/12/2013 14:09

Fair enough, I just don't see it any different if hanging in my wardrobe to possibly hanging in the shop and perhaps tried on countless times. Just checked the receipt and it was bought on the 10th Oct - so two months ago. Will take to another store and see if they will exchange. Thanks for all the tips.

OP posts:

HyvaPaiva · 12/12/2013 14:22

OP, I think it's too late to do that. You have a month to return and you're way beyond that. Anything else will involve lying about the purchase.

Something related that has always bothered me:

If stores do a straight-swap (e.g. the same dress in a different size) without a receipt, what's to stop someone taking a dress without paying (i.e. stealing it)? Enter store, pick up dress, go to till and say 'I bought this but don't have the receipt and want to swap it for a different size' and the staff agree. In larger stores especially it could happen. It's why I don't like non-receipt returns.

OHforDUCKSchristmasCake · 12/12/2013 14:25

As far as I know you can swap if its within 28 days.

After that, your screwed.

OHforDUCKSchristmasCake · 12/12/2013 14:26

OP if Im really honest Id find another store and claim I lost the receipt and that I bought it 2 weeks ago.

specialsubject · 12/12/2013 14:33

sell it on ebay. You didn't need it anyway, as evidence by the fact it has never been worn.

Killinascullion · 12/12/2013 14:44

OHforDUCKSchristmasCake Thu 12-Dec-13 14:26:31
OP if Im really honest Id find another store and claim I lost the receipt and that I bought it 2 weeks ago.

How's that being 'really honest' ?

PeterParkerSays · 12/12/2013 15:15

I think she's being honest to the OP, about what she'd do, rather than being honest to the shop.

Vix1980 · 12/12/2013 15:15

Would it work to buy the smaller one and return the bigger version with the receipt? Yep it should do, Ive bought a dress from warehouse once then visited an outlet store to see the same dress on sale for less than half price, i bought it there and then then took the original back.

Maybe being dishonest but they still get their dress back and i save a few pound!

TinselTaTas · 12/12/2013 15:17

Can't you take it back to a different say it was bought for you hence no receipt and it's the wrong size? They might swap it then

SledYuleCated · 12/12/2013 16:31

A different size may well have a different barcode. They certainly did in the shop I used to work in. Same line numer, different barcode. We would refund a different barcode.

WooWooOwl · 12/12/2013 16:34

Can't you just take it to a seamstress and have it taken in?

Original poster

BlingBang · 12/12/2013 16:41

Sent an email off to customer services - nothing ventured, nothing gained! The smaller size just looked right, I doubt it woud look as good altered though that would be my last resort (after all the other devious suggestions).

OP posts:

Spaulding · 12/12/2013 16:58

In the store I work in, all clothing is security tag. So if the person wanted to do the above, they would need to equipment to take off the security tag first and without being spotted. However, the jewellery in our store isn't tagged and I suspect some of the exchanges I have done on jewellery without a receipt has pretty much been a case of the customer stealing it and then getting an exchange. But you can't prove it. It's just a suspicion. So you have no choice but to let them exchanged the £18 necklace and walk out the store with a brand new t-shirt!

SledYuleCated · 12/12/2013 17:59

Sorry, meant to say above we wouldn't refund a different barcode. Couldn't, actually, due to the way e computer systems work.

GingleBells · 12/12/2013 18:37

I agree they probably won't as it's been in your home for two months and could have had exposure to different things such as perfume and other fabrics and so on, or just got dusty, or anything really.

No disrespect - our house is tip but yours is probably lovely! But I can see why they won't, because they just don't know, iyswim?

It's like if I sold something on ebay and two months later someone wanted to return it. I'd be concerned that it had been out of my control for that long. Though it would probably be safer in their house than mine

I understand your frustration though, I have some baby clothes that ds hasn't ever worn with tags on and thought of trying to return those but I like Boots and wouldn't lie to them (or anyone actually, I don't feel good doing that).
So I'm saving them for someone else's baby.

Caitlin17 · 13/12/2013 13:26

I'm mildly shocked at the various suggestions of ways to fool the shop in to giving an exchange the OP has no right to have.

As for saying, well I'll shop here again if you do, to quote Mandy Rice-Davies".You would,wouldn't you? "

Unless the dress is fantastically complicated, like Vivienne Westwood dresses often are which if it's from LK.Bennett it won't be, a dress maker will be able to alter it.

Original poster

BlingBang · 13/12/2013 16:21

Frankly, I'm shocked that you ae shocked - you from Tunbridge Wells or something?

OP posts:

LightastheBreeze · 13/12/2013 16:38

Two months isn't that long. I've got something from M&S to return and I can take it back up until January, I bought it in October.

I would just take it back with no receipt and ask for exchange for different size.

I also, if something goes down in price buy it again and take it back with original receipt as long as it is in date. i think there is always a big queue for refunds after a shops flash sale day .

DontmindifIdo · 13/12/2013 16:58

meh, when I worked in M&S about a million years ago so probably changed I had to put through a return on an item bought 5 years previously.

Take it to another branch, don't mention how long you've had it, say you've lost the receipt. If its still current stock, they aren't losing out doing this for you.

LightastheBreeze · 13/12/2013 17:12

Dontmind I used to to take old stuff back to M & S, usually my sale mistakes that lay in the drawer for years, I always used to keep receipts just in case. Then they shortened their returns policy, its about month now, probably because of all the years old stuff that kept coming back.

Original poster

BlingBang · 19/12/2013 12:55

Yay! Just got a email from customer service saying that they have spoken to the branch and of course will exchange the dress and apologies for any inconvenience. So result and didn't have to do an sneaky shenanigans!

OP posts:

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 19/12/2013 13:07

I too would take it back without a receipt and ask for an exchange. If it's current stock they will probably do it.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 19/12/2013 13:08

X-post - that's good news :)

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