or are Mothercare?

[BedPig2013]

About 3 weeks ago I bought a coat for dd from our local Mothercare, at the time I asked if they'd be getting any winter hats and gloves in and the lady serving me said they wouldn't because they were closing down. No more was said after that.
I got the coat home and decided that it's just not right for dd and will be too big for her when she's in her pushchair. I tried to return the coat, in original condition, on Monday for a refund but the staff said they couldn't do it because they're closing, they said I'd need to return in to our next nearest store, 20 miles away.
I emailed customer services when I got home and when I got a reply the next day they wouldn't budge on the policy but did offer me a £5 voucher which I politely declined as it will cost me more than that to travel to our nearest store.
I haven't had a reply yet and our local store closed yesterday.
AIBU to think it wouldn't have been too difficult for them to simply process the refund at our local store and send the coat with other stock to another shop?
Sorry it's such a long post

Legally if not faulty the store doesnt have to give your money back if its not right for your dd. however most stores allow this. Not sure what to suggest. They did tell you they were closing down pre to the sale. Hopefully someone wiser on this will be on soon.

They did tell me they were closing but they didn't say that would mean I couldn't get a refund and I didn't think to ask. I know you're right about them legally not having to offer a refund but the returns policy on the back of the receipt does say that they are happy to refund items in original condition if you have a receipt.

Can't you post it to the other store?

Well they said they can't refund to my bank account because I didn't buy it online. I'll just have to travel there this weekend I suppose and thanks for the idea

I think neither of you are bu. it would be much easier for you to have had just exchanged it there and they're correct to not accept it. Just an unfortunate situation.

They told you they were closing down!

I think they were being unreasonable really. And not generating any goodwill towards the company as a whole. Maybe I'm naive, but it wouldn't have occurred to me that they wouldn't refund the coat if they were still open at the time.

Yes as I've said they did tell me they were closing down but not that I wouldn't be able to return the coat, I just think they're just being a bit unfair not to let me return the coat in a place that's convenient for me, after all it was a full price item and I do still have the receipt

It could be more that they don't want to take stock back?

Would have been nice if they had said something at the time, but it's not as if you are unable to get a refund, it's just not as easy as you'd hoped!