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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to take something back to a charity shop

104 replies

SquareholeRoundpeg · 27/04/2016 23:32

And asking for a refund?

I do regularly donate to charity and have been involved in various fund raising events-just to set the scene!

I was in a charity shop recently and found a beautiful designer shirt for DH for £15. I took it home for him but it did not fit unfortunately. So the following week I took it back.

They said they did refunds but I was made to feel most unwelcome and the manager doing the refund even made a comment on my ring - but not in a nice way.

It made me think I was out of order to return it, given that it is a charity.

Wibu?

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 27/04/2016 23:34

I wouldn't...

Thebrowntrout · 27/04/2016 23:35

No, you're not being unreasonable.

Samcro · 27/04/2016 23:35

yabu

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 27/04/2016 23:36

Yanbu

Crispbutty · 27/04/2016 23:36

I think I would have asked to exchange it. But I also don't think yabu if you had the tags and receipt, however I imagine it's very difficult for a charity shop to know if the exact item is being brought back really.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 27/04/2016 23:36

You wouldn't be entitled to a refund by law. I don't think I'd try and take something back for a refund to a charity shop. Seems a bit mean.

OutToGetYou · 27/04/2016 23:37

Pretty unreasonable of you, they have no duty to refund, you should have checked the size more carefully.
I'd have just donated it back again.

MarthaCliff · 27/04/2016 23:38

I think it's perfectly ok to return it. It was not nice of the manager to try and make you feel bad. I wouldn't worry about it.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 27/04/2016 23:38

And so was she out of order. Throwing her rattle out of the pram and spitting her dummy on the floor, because you took something back that was not suitable. The fact that you bought it from s charity shop is neither here nor there. You do not insult your customers. How unprofessional is that. If she carries on with that behaviour, she'll be lucky if she has any customers at all.
YNBU. Money is money and you're not going to keep something that is no use nor ornament. No matter who the money goes to.

Xmasbaby11 · 27/04/2016 23:40

Yanbu. 15 is a lot of money. I wouldn't bother with smaller items - I've bought plenty of toys that haven't worked and jigsaws with missing pieces, but I've never returned any as they were so cheap.

missbishi · 27/04/2016 23:41

YANBU. I suspect half will agree, half will not. If the shirt had only been a couple of quid then I'd have just passed it on to someone else or re-donated but £15 is a lot of money to shell out for something you can't use.

Shame on the assistant for being snotty about adhering to store policy. She's completely out of touch if she thinks people can afford to write off that kind of money.

pinkcan · 27/04/2016 23:42

I wouldn't have asked a charity shop for a refund. It isn't really how it works. Compare it with an exchange. You wouldn't go and exchange a donated item for other stuff otherwise the charity wouldn't make money.

However if I was the manager, I wouldn't have commented on your ring either. So that cancels out your refund request imo.

FreyaB84 · 27/04/2016 23:44

Yanbu. I used to volunteer in a charity shop and we were always happy to do a refund so long as the customer had a receipt.

pinkcan · 27/04/2016 23:44

If you spend 15 on something that is an impulse buy of something you have plenty of rather than something that's desperately needed then it's not a lot of money to lose.

Excited101 · 27/04/2016 23:46

YANBU

MidniteScribbler · 27/04/2016 23:49

I think you should have asked to exchange for another shirt in his size for the same value.

notamummy10 · 27/04/2016 23:50

I've volunteered at a charity shop before and there have been refunds given whilst I was there...

I don't see what the big deal is, yes it might be a charity shop but it's still classed as retail and therefore they still operate like a normal shop would!

I'd go back and get the refund!

DonnaHaywood · 27/04/2016 23:50

YANBU. £15 is a lot, and someone else gets to use and enjoy the shirt.

If charity shops are going to charge as much as high street stores, they should expect to provide similar customer service.

AuntJane · 27/04/2016 23:51

In one of my local charitycharity shops, they always say "Keep the receipt, we'll exchange up to two weeks".

Paintandbrush · 28/04/2016 00:01

Ebay is your friend here. I'd balk at getting a refund from a charity shop tbh.

missbishi · 28/04/2016 00:14

What if it went for more than £15 though? That's another moral can of worms.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 28/04/2016 00:24

If a charity shop is ok to get as much as they possibly can for stuff because they are a buisness then it should also be acceptable to get a refund.

A4Document · 28/04/2016 00:27

YABU. If you're going to buy something that might not fit, at least ask the staff first if they'd accept a return later.

TattyCat · 28/04/2016 00:32

I think charity shops really need to decide just where they sit. We have a town full of them and they are now selling brand new stuff, bought in specifically (not donations). If they are to do this then they should act as a standard retail shop. And if they are charging £15 for a second hand shirt, regardless of how expensive it was when new, then they need to step up.

Yes, I know it's for charity but you are also paying the wages of some very expensive 'staff' and their associated perks!! I think charity shops are now relatively extortionate - or at least they are where I am.

A4Document · 28/04/2016 00:34

you are also paying the wages of some very expensive 'staff' and their associated perks

What sort of wages/perks?

I think the charity shops around here tend to have volunteers or assistants paid a modest wage.

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