Returning to a charity shop

[pestov]

So a new charity shop has just opened near me, and I bought a bunch of stuff, including an electronic toy for the baby. When I got it home the batteries had leaked and it doesn't work with brand new batteries. AIBU to return it? The battery compartment required a screwdriver so I couldn't check in the shop.

Take it back. The stuff they sell should still serve it's purpose! I once counted jigsaw pieces before I bought it!!

If you return something they'll learn they should check the stuff before they sell it maybe?

Yes I'd take that back. It's not in working order and they should have checked.

I can see your dilemma because it does feel a bit wrong. When it happened to me I just wrote it off as a donation to the charity but it put me off buying at this shop again incase there was a repeat. They 100% should be checking things work.

I buy lots of books and games from our local charity shop. I will happily buy things that the kids want that I would never buy new, on the grounds that I can donate them back again in a couple of months. I will tolerate the odd missing piece, or a bit of damage in a book, if it's still basically useable. I would absolutely return a completely non-functioning toy, and expect a refund. I'm sure that they would prefer that I do that, and keep using the shop regularly.

I wouldn't hesitate to return it.

I volunteer in a charity shop and we do always check that toys are working - within reason. We don't have spare batteries, for example so if an electronic toy isn't working or a clock has stopped ticking, we'll assume that it is fine, but that the batteries have run out. We haven't got screwdrivers or other tools to start taking things apart, and certainly don't have time to count pieces in jigsaws.

Having said that, we'd be happy to refund someone in this situation.

How much was it? I kind of think that is one of the perils of buying second hand. I'd just think of it as a donation tbh.