Any retail managers/workers or people good at shop stuff on my M and S dilemma?

[KateMuddletine]

I’m getting an M and S gift card as part of switching bank account to them.

I have my eye on a coat there. It’s just gone on sale and so seems to be selling out on the website.

My gift card has not arrived (it’s nit late, due over next month)

In the meantime, people are buying and wearing this coat which I love. I am on a tight budget for next few months, not on breadline.

So. AIBU to buy the coat on my bank card, not wear it, keep in bag with tags on, then take it back for a refund and buy it straight back on the gift card when it arrives?

Would particularly welcome the opinions of any retail managers/workers as to whether I’d be told “do one you CF” if I tried this stunt.

(M and S have had a reasonable amount of my dosh over my adult life and will continue to do so in future, FWIW)

If M&S will continue to get plenty of your dosh in the future, why not just buy the coat yourself and use the gift card on the other, everyday stuff?

I tried to do that once and was told hey couldn’t, I was wel come to pick up another off the shop floor but the one is just returned had to go back on the shop floor first

As to wether this was limited to my cashier or was store policy, I don’t know

I was at m and s when a customer picked up an order. The 20% off deal was on that weekend but hadn't been when they placed the order. The staff refunded the items then scanned them out again for the 20% off. I was surprised but apparently they do this all the time!

You run the risk of the offer having ended by time you get your gift card.

If you are hard up, don't buy a coat

You could ask the staff to put it by for you.

Buy the coat, use the gift card for groceries or whatever. You will obviously regret not owning the coat, and if it’s equal value to the gift card it’s swings and roundabouts.

I’ve did this before with bedding which was reduced a week after I’d bought it. I picked up another set of the shelf. Paid for it and returned the one bought previously. The woman commented to say is that not the same one and I said yes but it’s reduced. She never batted an eyelid. I wouldn imagine it happens a lot.

If I worked in a shop I wouldn’t think you were a cf. do you care if strangers will think you are a cf?

Not the same but I was once told in m&s that if the dress I was buying at the time went further into the sale I could bring it back for a refund and buy it again.

It was actually a bridesmaid dress my friend was buying me and someone else, it was reduced from £240 to £200 and a few weeks after buying it went down again to £160 - we did indeed take them back and buy them again. in my experience m&s have good customer service in that respect but you could always call up customer services to ask first?

Pending you keep all the receipts I don't see why not I worked for a retail company for many years. But if you loose the receipt if it gets lowered in price that is all you will get back and on a store card and I think it is only valid for 30 days in some stores. Hope that helps