To think this M & S assistant was wrong?

[MrsGrindah]

I saw a jumper I liked but they didn’t have it in my size. Ordered it to collect next day. Got it home and tried it on..fit fine. So cut off labels . But when I took it off I noticed it had a darker bit ...over each nipple. Tried it back on and this time looked in the mirror...so noticeable!

So went to return it and the assistant said it was just the variation in the material. I said yes but I’m uncomfortable with where it is and I wanted to exchange ( note not refund). She screwed her nose up and said okay “ but next time don’t take the tags off ok.” ! I was so taken aback, but now I regret not saying anything.

Surely it’s not unreasonable to take tags off and then notice a defect? I had all tags , bags and a receipt.

As I retail assistant I can assure you this is dead annoying. I always say this to people when they bring stuff back without the tag. I don’t screw my nose up though usually just ask if they have the tags and just apolite make sure to keep them on next time. I’ve not had anyone get annoyed they are all usually understanding. If you had the tag she can easily reattach. You can clearly see if it’s been excessively worn.

If it had dark patches over both nipples they shouldn’t retap it and put it back out on the floor for another unwitting customer to pick up. It’s a shame it would go to landfill but that’s not suitable and it should have been caught before it got on the shop floor at all. Natural variation isn’t an excuse for “don’t give a fuck what it looks like”.

*retag not retap.

If a garment is faulty it is not a problem to return it without the tags. You may be returning it weeks later if a fault develops for example after it has been worn (such as a seam coming undone).

The shop staff seem to be saying that it want faulty. I would argue that it was if the dye was uneven enough to cause embarrassing nipple marks!

@MrsGrindah you talk of labels in your original post, but later you say tags, so which is it?
Tags is fine, as they can put those back on no problem. Labels is a problem though as it’ll get chucked.

cant you just reposition your nipples?

Ahahaha that's the funniest thing I've read today

Of course you are not being unreasonable.

You don't need to keep the tags on if it is faulty. You don't even need to keep the tags on if you are exchanging it, as far as I know!

Those talking about the environment do realize that shops sell things. They are not responsible for what goes into landfill but long run, it probably all does. If people feel very strongly could they start a clothes library?

The assistant was regarding it as a discretionary you-changed-your-mind exchange, for which the store can set their policies as they choose, and "don't cut the tags off" is reasonable.

You though regarded it as an exchange because the item was faulty, in which case it doesn't matter if the tags are already removed, the item's still faulty!

Since M&S did the exchange anyway, the issue didn't need to be pressed further.

For those who are saying it is faulty and therefore M&S were obliged to do the refund with or without tags, the OP says herself it’s not faulty as such but I wouldn’t want to wear it

If you look at the link the OP posted you can actually see a dark patch on the fabric over the nipple area in one of the photos the model is wearing, so it looks like it might be a wider problem with that jumper and not the OP being weird/snowflake/rude/entitled etc

www.marksandspencer.com/cashmilon-crew-neck-jumper/p/p60272755?source=affwindow&extid=af_a_Uncategorised_78888_Skimlinks&comgp=78888&cvosrc=affiliate.aw.78888&awc=1402_1570342778_8bae78e08694fb666a37f6346f50cfb5

It was the price tags etc that I cut off not the labels inside.

I don’t know why some posters are suggesting I was rude or looking down on the assistant. I think some people are playing out an imaginary scenario!

YABU. The assistant exchanges the item and tells you what you should do next time if your unhappy with an item. Hardly a telling off. Also thought everyone knows not to take labels off until you know your happy with the purchase!

This. You got what you wanted, she advised you for next time, all fine.

Not her place to tell you off. It either fell within their refund policy or it didn't. Clearly it did.
I don't think there is a section in the M&S staff training handbook that instructs you how to be rude to customers....
I would have done exactly as you did OP. We aren't all blessed with perfect eyesight and flaws & marks don't always show up until held in a certain light or way.
I would have said something to her along the lines of "I'm sure you don't mean to sound so rude, but please don't lecture me".

A very minor issue. You got what you wanted? So why are you letting this bother you? Just move on

She was wrong. The item isn’t as expected (how could you expect dark patches on your nipples?) and it’s not unreasonable to assume that you only noticed after taking the labels off. You were well within your consumer rights to return it without the labels on.

As for the shop assistant, she was ignorant and rude, but I really wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. Lots of those kind of people around unfortunately. You know you were right, that’s what matters. You could work on your assertiveness if it bothers you.

You got what you wanted?

Why are your still not whining?

Still whining! Obvs

fgs you got your return, get over it and move on. what are you arguing about here. it's done, it happened and it's over.

I think if its not suitable for wear then its not .Doesnt matter about the tags ,someone else will possibly buy it in the Sale as a garment with a defect !.M and S seem to have a different outlook than previously .Large 3 story branch about 10 mins from home ,changed top there recently .Assistant looked at me and asked if anything wrong with top, after I clearly stated I had just changed my mind ! In the flower dept another Assistant called out "lovely flowers here just reduced! like she was on a Market Stall!

I’m answering the questions people are asking me.

Well, you’ve made it unsellable so it’s going to get thrown away. I’m amazed they let you have your money back tbh.

By taking the tag off? Don't be ridiculous. I bought a pair of trousers from M&S just yesterday and the tag had come off.
The assistant typed in the code off the label instead.

FYI (I asked them about missing tag/returns) if you buy an item with the tag missing, the receipt includes a mark next to the price of the item. This is so they know, if it is returned, that it was sold without a tag.

YANBU OP.

I would have returned it as faulty. It is unwearable as you say.

Unfortunate that the colour variation fell that way but not your fault.

Yanbu

Can't believe the rude responses you're getting at just answering the questions you d been asked not to mention the ridiculous ones about how you're solely responsible for environmental disaster

Have some flowers to make up for the odd mad cuntishness

I agree with you. Variations in the fabric that make the top look distinctly different to others in the same line = a fault. You took back a top that had a fault. Nothing wrong there.

If you look at the link the OP posted you can actually see a dark patch on the fabric over the nipple area in one of the photos the model is wearing, so it looks like it might be a wider problem with that jumper and not the OP being weird/snowflake/rude/entitled etc

I think what we can see ARE nipples! The model is clearly bra-less.

Point is, the OP agreed with the asst that it was a 'variation' of the fabric. I don't see that myself as it's not a marled fabric (where you do get light and dark threads of wool) .

OP ought to have stressed she thought it was faulty, not a variation in the fabric.