Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why people don’t return the BNWT items

110 replies

Singlebutmarried · 10/08/2018 10:06

Especially those that are still in store.....

.......or am I a cynical old bag and think they may have been obtained with a five finger discount? 🤔

OP posts:
LostInShoebiz · 10/08/2018 10:07

BNWT?

SneakyGremlins · 10/08/2018 10:08

Burp Now Wiggle Tonight?

ExFury · 10/08/2018 10:09

If you don’t take them back within the right timescale it doesn’t matter if it’s still in store.

Original poster
Singlebutmarried · 10/08/2018 10:09

Ha ha.

Brand new with tags

I cannot fathom why they’d sell for example a £50 dress for £10 when they could take it back and get a refund.

OP posts:
PolkerrisBeach · 10/08/2018 10:10

Brand new with tags - common abbreviation used on Ebay.

I'm a charity shop volunteer and we get a lot of BNWT stuff, mostly bought in the sale. My theory is that someone buys a winter coat in March or some beachwear in September, puts it away until the next season and when the time comes round decides they don't like it after all, or it doesn't fit.

Also we're in the suburbs quite a way from town. If you've paid £5 for a top in the sale, it'd cost you more than that in fuel/parking or train fares to get back into the city centre to exchange the item.

I do think though that when you've got someone on an auction site selling the same top in a size 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 all "bnwt" then that's more likely to be dodgy.

TheMaddHugger · 10/08/2018 10:11

I buy clothes online and it's cheaper for me to on sell them than return and wait for the impossibly long refund ordeal

BossWitch · 10/08/2018 10:11

I'm with you OP, have always assumed they've been nicked!

Ok, there might be the odd thing of bought it a year ago, never worn and too late to return now, but that seems the less likely scenario a lot of the time!

JenBarber · 10/08/2018 10:11

BNWT means stolen.

That's why they can't take it back.

WaxOnFeckOff · 10/08/2018 10:12

I sometimes buy stuff and then don't get round to returning within the timeframe or it's not free return postage and if it's a heavier/bulkier item it's cheaper to sell on FB selling. Or I guess sometimes people may have got a sale item that they think they can charge a bit more for when selling on. Or may have been a gift. I wouldn't automatically assume it was stolen but of course, that is another reason for selling a new item. :)

EnglishGirlApproximately · 10/08/2018 10:13

Lots of retailers won’t refund unless there’s a fault - they might refuse anything or offer an exchange or voucher. I guess a lot of people would rather have a smaller amount in cash than a voucher they might not use. I agree though, loads will be stolen and people buying them are either naive or don’t care. There’s a woman on my local FB selling page who has a near constant supply of brand new Converse in various sizes.

WaxOnFeckOff · 10/08/2018 10:16

There’s a woman on my local FB selling page who has a near constant supply of brand new Converse in various sizes.

These are more likely to be fake than stolen. We have similar sellers full of Nike, Adidas etc etc don't mind so much if people actually know they are buying fak but I'm not convinced that a lot do.

Less likely to be fakes if it's non branded/shop branded.

LooksBetterWithAFilter · 10/08/2018 10:16

It happens a lot on my local Facebook sometimes because it’s too late to return but mostly because we live a fair distance from the shops and the round trip particularly if you have to get bus or train makes it better value to take a hit on a reduced cost than to take it back.
Some items I’m sure must be stolen but the other option is that people are just lazy. Once the money has been spent they see it as gone so just sell to get rid of it and get something back b

LostInShoebiz · 10/08/2018 10:16

Of course! Given I sell things BNWT all the time I should really know that. I’m not a thief though, just a loser of receipts and someone who buys things from shops miles away then doesn’t trek back to return them.

Maelstrop · 10/08/2018 10:17

Cheeky, @JenBarber! Currently I have 3 things selling on eBay, bnwt, all bought by me in the normal manner! I had a sort out of clothes and due to weight loss/gain, I have a crazy range of sizes. Some stuff I buy from eBay discount sites or has been stuck in my ‘hopeful’ cupboard for years.

I also filled 6 bin bags for charity, also containing lots of unworn/bnwt clothes. I’m a bit of a sod for buying then regretting. eBay is my default shop and I often just shove stuff in a cupboard and forget it.

Tessellated · 10/08/2018 10:17

Unwanted gift
Lost the receipt
Don't live locally to the shop
Didn't return in time - some online shops are only 14 days, and some shops will only let you return for store credit.
Some shops overcharge for return postage and if you bought it cheap it's not worth returning.
I recently had a return of some shoes refused because of a tiny bit of dirt on the bottom of the sole of a pair of shoes. I'd only tried them on in my house but they insisted they were "used" despite the tags still being attached to the top. So they sent them back to me and I flicked off the dirt Hmm and they're on ebay.

Maybe I'm naive but I never suspected it was stolen stuff. I mean I'm sure it happens but I wouldn't expect the majority to be!

WingingWonder · 10/08/2018 10:18

This is me, and it’s usually because fecking Zara are awful for returns and I live so far away from store

ShirleyPhallus · 10/08/2018 10:18

BNWT means stolen.

No it fucking doesn’t Hmm

Darkstar4855 · 10/08/2018 10:18

Most shops have a 28 day limit or similar for non-faulty returns. I’ve sold things BNWT because by the time I’ve decided I don’t like it enough to wear it’s too late for a refund.

Original poster
Singlebutmarried · 10/08/2018 10:19

I’m not saying it’s everyone, there’s a few people in our local FB sites that repeatedly sell new items.

The decider for me is that they advertise on one site yet live a good 15 miles away (where the shops are)

OP posts:
Weedinosaurus · 10/08/2018 10:19

I’ve never thought stolen. Glad I don’t have such a dim view of humans.

Weedinosaurus · 10/08/2018 10:20

That came out more snarky than I intended...

FlotSHAMnJetson · 10/08/2018 10:20

Because i can't find the receipt or I can't be bothered to drag two children back into town, I tend to just donate mine to charity though.

BunsOfAnarchy · 10/08/2018 10:20

Ive had a few items with tags left on that found their way into that dark corner of the wardrobe never to be worn. Thats why i wouldnt assume it was stolen when seeing it on ebay. Plus stores have a 14-30 refund policy only. After that its exchange only at discretion of the store/chain.
If that item then goes into sale in the interim then youll most likely only be allowed to exchange it at the sale amount too and not original price u paid...better off on eBay then!

FlatPackFurnitureCompAnyone · 10/08/2018 10:23

Some people buy things in places like Sri Lanka (where the factory outlets are) and bring them back here to flog. Genuine branded items, not fakes, but WAY cheaper over there.

Breaks the tax laws obviously.

I’ve seen at least one seller where it was clear to me that either she/her husband travelled frequently for work and stocked up on items to sell on.

molifly · 10/08/2018 10:23

I've now realised that shops take things back and exchange for store credit with tags on since having a baby but before I always thought they wouldn't take it so I never bothered!