To ask for a refund on period pants?

[Gingerkittykat]

I bought some high absorbency period pants from M and S and they are utterly useless, they leaked badly with my light to medium flow in less than 3 hours. I washed them and tried again and the same thing happened.

The problem is the design, the absorbent bit at the front of the knickers stops before the end of the vulva.

I'm really annoyed that I have spent a lot of money on period pants for them to be useless and don't want to just write the money off.

I obviously don't want to be sending used underwear back in the post, and I'm sure whoever deals with returns also doesn't want to handle them.

AIBU to ask for my money back?

Wash them, seal them in a ziplock bag and send them back to head office. You can write in detail why they're faulty...draw a diagram if you can...explain that you're sorry to send such a personal item back and that they do not function as advertised. They may pull the "We do not refund on underwear' but you can argue that they're not ordinary underwear.

Otherwise, you could try tweeting...tweeting them usually gets attention.

I agree that period pants are useless..to me at least. You would be unreasonable though to bring them back, after all they’re used and they might work for other people. I use mine together with a pad during heavy flow days to ensure no leaking or staining nice underwear. You could use them for the same purpose.

@Diddumz

Wtf is that meant to mean? OP asks a perfectly reasonable question and acknowledges that it's a bit gross...but she's also correct. Why should she pay out for something that's badly designed??

Just take them back to the shop. There will be no dissent from them- your money will be refunded very quickly, especially if there is a queue.

@LaBellina

I agree that period pants are useless..to me at least. You would be unreasonable though to bring them back, after all they’re used and they might work for other people. I use mine together with a pad during heavy flow days to ensure no leaking or staining nice underwear. You could use them for the same purpose.

This is a good idea but I do also think OP should tweet her findings to M%S so they can give feedback to whoever designed them.

That’s definitely a good idea @FortunesFave

Wouldn’t be surprised btw if the designer is a man…

@LaBellina

Wouldn’t be surprised btw if the designer is a man…

I thought that but then thought....no...surely not!? But....well. Probably.

Yeah ask for refund. They didn't drink the job.

I've now asked for a refund from their online help pages.

Tweeting is also a good idea.

I'd complain about the design, not try to take them back - grim.

Period pants should be treated same as sanitary towels. If your towel last more than 3 hours so should pants.

They're not fit for purpose so they should issue a credit note

I don't know what they are like, as don't need them, but can you not wear them as normal pants, when you don't need them for periods.

I wouldn’t advise wearing them as normal pants @1forAll74 esspecially not if you’re sensitive to getting thrush. The period pants I have at least, have the ‘crotch area’ of the knickers so to speak, made of very thick synthetic material to aborb menstrual blood.
This makes it hard for the skin to breathe and like all synthetic underwear increases your chances of getting trush. I never wear them unless I am actually on my period and want extra protection from any accidents like during the night or when I am away from home.

@FortunesFave

Wash them, seal them in a ziplock bag and send them back to head office. You can write in detail why they're faulty...draw a diagram if you can...explain that you're sorry to send such a personal item back and that they do not function as advertised. They may pull the "We do not refund on underwear' but you can argue that they're not ordinary underwear.

Otherwise, you could try tweeting...tweeting them usually gets attention.

If OP bought them in a shop, she can return them to the shop. Will be much quicker and they accept faulty good easily.

Don't send pants back in the post or return them, just email first and complain.

I would send an email and complain, it's likely they won't ask for the offending used pants to be returned and will refund you anyway.

Hope you get a refund. Period pants are brilliant, it’s frustrating that high street brands are trying to cash in, but making an inferior product, which will inevitably lead people to think it’s a poor concept. I hope this doesn’t put you off trying one of the specialist brands (Wuka and Modibodi would be my recommendations).

I'm sure they will refund in a flash, and not really want/need you to return the item. THe annoying thing is that they will carry on flogging something not very good and rely on most people writing off the cost of a poor-value purchase.

The absorbent bit needs to go from the front waistband, down and under, and up to the back waistband.
Anyone who has leaked in bed on their front or back knows this.
Who the hell is designing these things, people who don’t have periods ?!!!

They don't refund on underwear and will probably just say you bought the wrong pants for your flow. I'd chalk it up to experience.

Please leave a review on their website too. My DD uses other brands like Wuka, Modibodi and Cheeky and none leak. M&S were out of stock luckily! I hope you get your money back.

@girlmom21

They don't refund on underwear and will probably just say you bought the wrong pants for your flow. I'd chalk it up to experience.

So she shouldn’t even try? Seriously?!

Of course they refund, if the product is not fit for purpose. It is their legal obligation.

REstrictions on returning underwear only apply when the product is fine but the customer has changed their mind.