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?

Definitely contact them about a refund. They don't do their job. This is different from normal underwear.

I bought some from Primark the other day and was told at the till that they don’t refund them.
Perhaps M&S is the same.

Leave a review online. Email customer services.

Modibodi are definitely worth every penny. They are designed properly

@phishy I'm saying what I would do. Why is that such an issue for you? It's a bit early to be getting worked up on Mumsnet isn't it?

This is why i didn't order the M&S ones... a number of reviews mentioning a design fault.

I have wuka and cheeky and they're great, but I use them as cup backup and end of period. I'm not sure I'd want to wear them free flow for hours. I wouldn't give up completely, just try somewhere else and maybe a cup too? I hate changing my cup but I love it when it's in. Period game changer.
I'd be surprised if they don't refund as they don't do what you bought them for and a happy customer is worth more than a pair of pants.

My DH bought some pjs from M&S that shrunk in the wash, it was during lockdown so he emailed them and they sent a full refund without having to return the item, so emailing is worth a try.

They aren’t fit for purpose. It’s a design flaw. Email them.

Another endorsement for modibodi. They’re fab and well worth the cash.

I would also expect the ‘no refund for underwear’ to only apply to ‘I’ve changed my mind’ not ‘they don’t do the job they’re advertised to do’. Email and ask for advice on how to get a refund or go to shop and speak to customer services. I expect it’ll be easier than you think.

I use Cheeky period pants as pretty much my only san pro. Occasionally a tampon on first day if I know I can’t change them as regularly but otherwise with my (medium? I use Regular Tampax…) flow they are enough to handle the whole job! I love them.

They need to be refunded as "not fit for purpose" due to a design fault.

There was a good AIBU thread a few years ago about the placement of crotch lining on pants and whether it was sufficiently placed and proportioned. A large proportion of women need more coverage towards the front. Not so bad for the majority of the mentral cycle (although at times of increased discharge it can reqiuire use of pant liners) but if that design logic is being applied to period pants, it will be inadequate for doing its job effectively.

I’ve had a refund on some Brazilian knickers I’ve got before that were a completely different shape than the previous Brazilian ones I’ve had, I returned them (washed obviously!) and complained and was refunded. So it’s worth a go!!

I get on OK with the M&S ones, but I use them as backup rather than actual protection.
I want to get the cheeky ones because they seem to respect "front bleeders" and that's what I need to be honest

@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.

You are entitled to a refund (not just a credit note) on any retail item that is faulty or not fit for purpose. The M and S policy on not accepting underwear refers to their policy where you change your mind on a product. Its possible on this item M&S will say you just brought bought the wrong size, you'll have to argue the design makes it faulty.

Go on their FB page and say 'did a man design your useless period pants?! Or a woman with a penis perhaps?'

@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.

That's for a change of mind or wrong size on underwear. They can't refuse to refund on faulty underwear.

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.

This!!
Every period when I'm asleep on my back I leak

@GoodnightGrandma

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 ?!!!

Same person who decided to add scent to sanitary pads.

They have asked for me to put them in a plastic bag and send them back to be refunded. Sending them back seems a bit weird, but I'm really annoyed so will probably do so.

I'll check out some of the other brands people here have mentioned. I've heard a lot of people rave about period pants and since I've got light flow I thought they would be good to try overnight.

@ManifestDestinee but as I said, they could claim she just ordered the wrong size/absorbency rather than the pants not being fit for purpose.