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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

people who return clothes for a refund after wearing them

121 replies

tenpencemixup · 27/09/2017 13:22

Not because of a fault with the item but because they don't to pay to buy it. Is this really a thing? I don't know anyone who has done this but apparently there are people that buy something new from a store/online, keep the tags on, wear to the event, then return to the shop as unworn for a refund? like a hire purchase but without the fee!

I've just seen it discussed online on a fashion/parenting group and the way it was discussed so openly, without shame or remorse made me think that it's more common that I thought.

Apparently
it's not theft because they return the item
stores over price items so why should they pay
other people don't mind wearing used clothes as it's only the same as trying on in a changing room
it's up to the store to decide if it's worn, not the customer to admit it was worn
a customer buying something new isn't getting a pristine product anyway as the manufacturing process means it's been handled by many people already
if it's only going to be worn once it doesn't matter

Aside from the moral and fraud? aspect I don't know how they do it. I wouldn't be able to relax and enjoy the event wearing an item knowing I was going to return it. what if it got dirty? smelly? other people's smoke? ripped? etc

Do stores know this type of behaviour goes on? Do they write it off as losses? Sell on to other customers knowing that it's worn?

other people tried suggesting that if you can't afford a full price item there are other ways of buying fashion. ebay, buying selling sites, charity shops etc. or buy new, but sell on and list as worn once to recoup costs. Just couldn't get through to them. they want new fashion items , but don't want to pay to wear them.

OP posts:

gabsdot · 27/09/2017 17:07

I was at a wedding recently. I admired the bride's granny's outfit. I knew she had made it herself. She said she had bought the jacket in the end because she didn't have time to make one but she planned on bringing it back the next day.
I did judge her a bit. I think it's pretty dishonest.
Mind you, knowing this particular lady, who is very scatty and chaotic she probably lost the receipt.

thiskittenbarks · 27/09/2017 17:08

Yes I agree the shops shouldn't put them back out unless they are actually as good as new. A few weeks ago i did a big online shop for baby from H&M. About half of the items arrived faulty (or the seams on the vests ripped when I undid the poppers for the first time). When I returned them the sales assistant was first very rude to me and then started putting them back on hangers and then I saw her putting them back out to be sold. I pointed out that they had big gaping holes in them and she said "oh yes" as if she had not been able to tell that by the fact I'd just returned them because they had big gaping holes in them.

theDudesmummy · 27/09/2017 17:59

I bought quite a pricey jacket on eBay once, it was supposedly "BNWT" (brand new without tags). The seller did not accept returns, and I knew that, but I just figured that if it didn't seem right I would put it back on eBay and sell it on again as BNWT (it was the kind of thing that sells well). It arrived and as I opened the outer packaging I realised the colour just was all wrong for me, it had looked different on the photo. I knew I would never wear it.

So I didn't even take it out of the inner (see-through) packaging, just sealed it up again, put it on eBay and sold it on, for about the same I had bought it for.

The person I sold it to opened a complaint about me on eBay, the jacket was clearly not new! Apparently it had several stains on the back, stank, and inside there was loads of dog hair. The eBayer who had sold it to me had by then disappeared off eBay. To protect my 100% good rating I had to completely refund the person I sold it to. I was furious!

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 27/09/2017 18:00

I can remember my mum having an enormous strop in a boutique because she'd changed her mind about something she'd bought. The poor shop owner was trying to explain that they didn't legally have any obligation to refund something just because she'd changed her mind. My mum was furious and made a big fuss and in the end I think they gave her a credit note. I was so embarrassed. She wouldn't be told.

theDudesmummy · 27/09/2017 18:02

Sorry that should have read BNWOT!

theDudesmummy · 27/09/2017 18:04

These days most online retailers allow you to change your mind/overshop/get different sizes etc for choice. Because I do a lot of this I tend to choose the retailers who send you a free returns sticker. I don't feel I am doing anything wrong because the shops are getting a lot of business out of me over the years, even if they have to pay for the return postage of about half of what I ordered. I use the same few shops all the time.

Mustang27 · 27/09/2017 18:28

I purchased a top from H&M cut the tag off and then wore it for two hours to realise I was allergic (had alpaca hair in it) they refused to return even though I had the receipt and tag I have never been more embarrassed even showed the shop worker then the manager the hives and rash it had caused. They were utterly horrible to me.

I phoned H&M customer service as soon as I got home and they said to take it back to another store with a customer service return number, the staff in the other store were lovely. I’d never do this deliberately but I can see if maybe I bought something it felt ok but after wearing it for awhile realised it was not right I’d take it back I’d be happy to accept a store credit in this though.

I’m impressed at the sheer brass neck of the people that do do it then.

PoppyPopcorn · 27/09/2017 18:36

These days most online retailers allow you to change your mind/overshop/get different sizes etc for choice.

Different rules apply when you're buying things online, because you don't have the opportunity to try something on, and colours may not be "true" when seen on a computer screen.

When buying in a high street shop though you have the opportunity to try something on, so refunding for something being the wrong size or because you've changed your mind is purely a goodwill gesture.

Also I think that the "shops shouldn't be putting it back on sale if it's been worn" argument is not the right view - shops shouldn't be giving refunds if something's been worn in the first place!

Urubu · 27/09/2017 20:44

I saw a woman try to return a dress and shoes at M&S. Tags on but won, especially visible on the shoes soles. The shop assistand called a colleague and they finally said no, but to to try at another branch as this obe wasn't selling shoes so they couldn't judge if they were still in a sellable condition.

I have bought a dress full price, worn it, bought the same one again in the sale shortly after and returned the second one with the first one's receipt (=getting myself the sales price for the dress I bought before the sale)

CoffeenoTea · 27/09/2017 20:55

Part of my job is to let customers know that we know you have worn the clothes/made them "faulty" and you will not be having a refund or exchange,account credit or any other form of compensation.

I then normaly get abused (i work for a world wide fashion brand at there customer service team) we deal with excalated complaints mainly 8/10 times the customer is lying or wrong.

There is boxes apon boxes of clothes custo.er have sent in via the post with a note expecting refunds with no contact details,every now amd again i get an email or call and have to search a box and look for a "black dress" no more information drives me crazy .

RainbowPastel · 27/09/2017 21:20

I know someone like this on Facebook. Her sons were due in court. She ordered suits from her catalogue and then sent them back.

She ordered a tent and went camping then sent it back.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 27/09/2017 21:35

standandwait

Yabu

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 27/09/2017 21:37

I work in a clothes shop and our customer service department roll over and play dead at the drop of a hat

Keeps the customers happy though [smile{

tigercub50 · 27/09/2017 21:43

I don't know anyone who has done it with clothes but you see people returning allsorts at Asda customer services & you do wonder. Someone returned a karaoke machine just after Christmas & you could bet they'd had it for a party then brought it back

KC225 · 27/09/2017 22:04

I used to do it a lot. Marks and Spencers this is my confession. I would buy a good quality suit. Leave the labels on wear to interviews and take it back. Not really a suit person. I would tell the customer services people I had an interview and they cancelled to get my money back.

blackteasplease · 27/09/2017 22:08

My ex boyfriend did this. Not frequently but he did. It was nearly 20 yrs ago and I still think of it as despicableAl!

BorisTrumpsHair · 01/10/2017 21:35

I returned some clothes to House of Fraser yesterday and the guy asked "do you mind if I check them?" Which I thought odd - you bloody should mate!

I hadn't worn them though - dresses were too short.

RonSwansonsMoustache · 01/10/2017 21:40

We've had people return stuff for all sorts of ridiculous reasons.

One man tried to return a jumper completely covered in dog hair - he said he'd tried it on (it was a present) and it didn't fit. Fine, but at least then put it away and don't let the dog sleep on it!

I've had people return stuff covered in make-up, stained, or clearly worn on nights out and returned the next day/the day after.

The company I work for generally has a very generous refunds policy and if it's unworn, we don't have a time limit on returns. Likewise, if you get it home and change your mind, you're fine to bring it back even without the labels. But don't take the piss and bring back dirty clothes, or stuff you've clearly worn and washed! We might be on minimum wage but we're not stupid!

RainyDayBear · 01/10/2017 22:11

A young lady I used to work with openly admitted to doing this for nights out every weekend. I'd quite liked her until that point but she dropped massively in my estimation after that! It just seems so grabby and cheap.

NameChangr678 · 04/10/2017 12:53

I've done it, with a skirt I wore to an interview (I didn't get the job).

Why not?

lucas161212 · 04/10/2017 13:31

I ve been on the other side of this. Refused a refund as they thought I d worn it when I hadn't.

Worse thing I ve heard is my sisters friend would buy expensive designer bags and then copies of expensive designer bags and then return the fake one to the designer shops. Can't believe she got refund.

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