To return clothes to a small struggling business for a refund?

[TisTheSeasonToBeDrunk]

Dh surprised me with some clothes from a mutual friends small business. She has her own 'boutique' of crappy quality and overpriced clothes, I never shop there for this exact reason.

I don't like any of them, I said thank you but I just won't wear them and that I'd rather have a refund and buy clothes more to my taste, of a better quality/more ethical than mass produced crap.

He's saying we can't return them, as she's struggling financially after multiple lockdowns this year and far less people on the high street. He said it's plain rude to return them at Christmas. It's £80 worth of clothes that I'll never wear! He said to find something else I like and I don't like anything, it's all just overpriced naff crap.

AIBU?

I probably wouldn't return them no. I would donate them to charity to give him a lesson not to do it again though.

He bought them for me as I'm a different size post baby and have been complaining none of my clothes fit so I'm not keen to just take the loss when I could return and get clothes that I need and will actually wear with the money

Are you wealthy enough to take the £80 hit?

I don't think I'd return them if they were a real friend - not sure you respect her business though - unethical cheap crap?

Flog them on Facebook? Give them to a friend to return for you buy some new clothes say you got them from her

As it was a surprise for you rather than a birthday or Christmas present, I’d go with what your DH wants. But tell him it’s up to him if he wants to make his donation to the charity shop and the friends business and to leave you out of it.

If your DH is telling you that this is part of your Christmas present, then he can give you another 80 quid to spend on something you want.

Not a close friend, we've just both known her for a decade and are friendly. I respect her hard work but naff quality fast fashion just isn't for me.

Apart from anything else what is her return policy? I don’t think you have a right to return things just because you dont like them

Legally you're not entitled to a refund just because you don't like them. Any refund would be on a goodwill basis only. I'm not sure you're entitled to any goodwill after calling them "overpriced naff crap" but I guess it depends how much you need the money and whether that is more important to you than the mutual friendship perhaps.

Personally I'd just suck it up and donate them to charity.

Return them but if it’s a small boutique it’s likely that you’ll just get a credit note or exchange -legally they don’t have to give you a refund.

Will she give you a refund?

What's the shops return policy?

Certainly return them if they do returns for not liking items but I don't envy you what will be a very difficult explanation. Have you thought about what you'll say to her? I'm assuming "I want my money back cos your stuff is shite" won't be top of your list.

If you can take the hit I would, I expect for change of mind she’d do a credit note especially at the moment, she doesn’t have to do cash I don’t think? But you need another £80 for clothes now and dh needs to be ok with that or take them back himself.

He probably asked her what to pick so expect her to ask if you liked them!

Agree with checking the store policy on refunds. Often small stores don’t allow change of mind

Return policy just says 28 days with receipt and tags. I obviously wouldn't say anything to her face about the quality just that they didn't suit me. I'm not being mean I just don't like fast fashion especially when it's thin cheap feeling materials and inflated prices.

Eighty pounds worth of stuff and the OP should just suck it up?

Also: as long as the OP hasn't worn the items or damaged them since when is not liking them not a reason to return them? They're unsuitable, end of. There will be some policy and yes it might be a credit note. In that case OP just decide what you can live with...maybe she sells scarves??? Otherwise instead of giving the OP a present the DH has basically gifted the friend a contribution to her business. That's crap. Let your husband deal with it though.

Can you say they don’t suit you/don’t fit and exchange for something you can tolerate (pyjamas or basic vest tops or something you can regift...?)

I’d go with what @Canwecancel2020 says & return for something less hideous that you can regift. She doesn’t lose out & DH saves face.

Plus @TisTheSeasonToBeDrunk DH sounds like a keeper!

It's a present and the person who has given the present has asked that you exchange only. The shop policy is most likely exchange only so your entire question is probably pointless. You should spend less time talking about cheap fast forward fashion and more time finding out the return policy.

@TisTheSeasonToBeDrunk but she’s under no legal obligation to give you your money back. She could opt for store credit instead if she’s struggling. (Not where I’m from anyway.)

So I’d keep that in mind and not get my hopes up for a cash refund.

As an aside - DH would never buy clothes for me! He’d give me cash or whatever to buy clothes but he’d never risk picking them out! 😅

You sound very snooty, OP. I wouldn't blame her if she won't refund if you come across in real life as you come across here.

@Canwecancel2020

Can you say they don’t suit you/don’t fit and exchange for something you can tolerate (pyjamas or basic vest tops or something you can regift...?)

I second this.

Wait wait is this your actual Christmas present or just a random gift?

@IToldYouIWantedTheUnicorn

You sound very snooty, OP. I wouldn't blame her if she won't refund if you come across in real life as you come across here.

No she doesn’t, why do people here make such unwarranted personal remarks? It’s not snooty to not want £80 worth of cheap fashion and it’s unlikely you’d actually speak to someone like that!

I’d ask her if you could exchange them for something else then she doesn’t fully loose out and you can have something slightly better. With regards to them being expensive I’d say it’s your husbands choice as he bought them, and if he wants to leave that money were it is (as it was a gift) then that’s his choice.

Plus @TisTheSeasonToBeDrunk DH sounds like a keeper

What, for wasting money on poor quality clothes that the OP doesn't like and now either has the hassle of getting rid of, or having to wear things she doesn't like?

I'm unlikely to wear anything I haven't chosen or tried on first.