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AIBU?

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Original poster

Exchange at full value?

65 replies

Exchange101 · 10/01/2022 21:56

I’m not sure if my thinking on this is correct - AIBU?

I purchased an item of jewellery from an independent online business with their discount last year. It was quite delicate so I asked about quality before purchase. They replied to say there was a year’s guarantee (replacement) and they could offer a repair outside that time.

A year in, it breaks, I ask about a replacement but it is no longer stocked and a repair is not possible. A credit note has been kindly offered but for the price paid rather than the value of the item (15% difference)

Should the full price value of the item be credited as this is what is being ‘replaced’ in lieu of the actual item? If I was to be given a refund I would expect the value I actually paid

I am looking to purchase an item which is of higher value of the original full priced item. The 15% makes quite a difference

What do you think?

Thanks

OP posts:
pollygartertidywife · 10/01/2022 22:41

I completely understand you OP. If it were simply that you got something on a discount and were asking for the full price back - then I would agree with the other posters that the return price should be what you actually paid .. however . You and this is the difference. You bought it with a warranty. That warranty was for the item ... which they promise to repaid or replace. They are not able to fulfil that part of the contract of warranty . Therefore they need to find you an item of the same value as the one they are not able to replace.

It's the warranty that makes the difference. If it didn't then no one would buy a warranty. It is meant to guarantee the quality of your product . The price you paid is irrelevant.

haribofiend · 10/01/2022 22:41

No I get what you mean OP, and you’re not being unreasonable for asking.

If you were asking for a refund, you get what you pay.

However, you made this purchase and they said they would offer you a like for like replacement. What you had was an item worth £220, so you’re not unreasonable to ask for a credit note to that value, seeing as they can’t offer the actual item as promised.

However, I think in this circumstance it would be more sensible for them to give you a refund of the money paid, than a credit note.

mediumbrownmug · 10/01/2022 22:45

I think I understand what you’re saying, OP. It sounds like you had a coupon for the initial purchase, and it broke, so you’d like to transfer the coupon to its replacement so you don’t lose the discount you would have had if their jewelry had held up the way it should. That way, the discount doesn’t get wasted and you don’t feel like you’re losing out just because their item broke and they no longer carry it.

That doesn’t seem too unreasonable to me. In your situation, I would probably ask if it’s possible to transfer the coupon, and if they decline I would request a cash refund and wait for another sale to come along to purchase the next item. Good luck!

pollygartertidywife · 10/01/2022 22:46

Yep. Very cheeky to offer a credit note. They are the ones unable to fulfil their warranty contract.

Law of Contract 101. The contract is in breach if the seller cannot fulfil the terms of the contract (warranty) agreed at the time of the sale with the buyer.

pollygartertidywife · 10/01/2022 22:49

If you do decide to settle in the lower price . .. it needs to be cash /bank transfer so you are then at liberty to buy from a retailer with worthwhile warranties and good quality products.

Slowboiledfrog · 10/01/2022 22:53

Law of Contract 101. The contract is in breach if the seller cannot fulfil the terms of the contract (warranty) agreed at the time of the sale with the buyer.

But the contract might say, if unrepairable after 3 months, credit will be issued.?

pollygartertidywife · 10/01/2022 23:18

@Slowboiledfrog

Law of Contract 101. The contract is in breach if the seller cannot fulfil the terms of the contract (warranty) agreed at the time of the sale with the buyer.

But the contract might say, if unrepairable after 3 months, credit will be issued.?

That is not the information provided in the OP.

'They replied to say there was a year’s guarantee (replacement) and they could offer a repair outside that time.'

TheGoldenWolfFleece · 10/01/2022 23:22

You're outside the 1 year period in their terms and conditions so they could just say nope. They're being pretty reasonable to offer you the price you paid back as a credit note.

PurplePansy05 · 10/01/2022 23:28

No, there is no logic. You are being reimbursed for what you paid. You were lucky the first time round tobsave yourself 15% off the full price. You've already made that saving. Thrir reimbursement now gives you the top up to the full price of the item.

You seem to think that you can save twice, once through the 15% discount, and second time through them reimbursing you the non-discounted price of the same item. It's obvious it would make the shop worse off and you'd be unjustly enriched.

🙄 Not enough eyerolls for this one!

FriendshipsAreHardForMe · 10/01/2022 23:31

You are owed what you paid. You can then take your money elsewhere or reinvest it back to that business

Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov · 10/01/2022 23:44

I think if the op was getting a cash refund she'd obviously accept what she paid it's the fact they're offering her credit that she's unimpressed that it's for what she paid rather than the value of the item.

AnnaSW1 · 10/01/2022 23:45

You get back what you paid Smile

Clymene · 10/01/2022 23:50

@Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov

I think if the op was getting a cash refund she'd obviously accept what she paid it's the fact they're offering her credit that she's unimpressed that it's for what she paid rather than the value of the item.
It's an independent jeweller though. There no such thing as RRP - they set their own prices.
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/01/2022 23:54

I actually do see your point Op!

If it was cash, I might say the £187 was fair enough, as you were put back in your original position. But with it being credit, you have to use it in their store. Therefore you want something that’s as good as / the same value as the item you had, not something cheaper.

DogInATent · 10/01/2022 23:59

I don't think you understand value. If you bought something that was (full price) retailed at £220 it's value is probably somewhere between £70-£120. Unless it was from whatever the modern version of Ratner's is, in which case it's probably worth £20 if you smile.

You don't get back as a refund more than you paid. That's not how life works.

Shamoo · 11/01/2022 02:13

Oh I get you Op. You should either get a cash refund of £187 or you should get a credit of £187 but with a discount of 15% to apply. By law of contract that is what you would be entitled to (as they are in breach), I suspect under consumer law you are probably entitled to the cash refund.

I would offer them the two alternatives for them to pick between, but say a credit note of £187 with no discount available is not acceptable. Let them pick but stay firm.

Shamoo · 11/01/2022 02:14

Ps people on here giving you a hard time are either not understanding what you are saying is happening, or are idiots who would accept less than they are entitled to by law!

I don’t get why people don’t understand that you have a one year warranty that they can’t fulfil. It’s not a difficult concept!

Okbutnotgreat · 11/01/2022 06:22

Personally I do think that you will never get refunded more than you actually paid in cash and if they were making a cash refund this would be totally correct. However, you are being offered a credit note that can only be spent with them and it is replacing an item under the terms of their own warranty so that credit note should reflect the full value or the same discount should be applicable to anything you exchange the credit note for.

CircleofWillis · 11/01/2022 06:25

@Okbutnotgreat

Personally I do think that you will never get refunded more than you actually paid in cash and if they were making a cash refund this would be totally correct. However, you are being offered a credit note that can only be spent with them and it is replacing an item under the terms of their own warranty so that credit note should reflect the full value or the same discount should be applicable to anything you exchange the credit note for.
I completely agree with this!
Original poster
Exchange101 · 11/01/2022 08:04

Thanks for the answers - happy to see the warranty aspect is understood as I see it @Shamoo and @Okbutnotgreat (and others)

PLEASE understand, if I was getting a cash refund, for me to spend my money as I wish, I would expect 187, not more! @DogInATent @FriendshipsAreHardForMe

OP posts:
DogInATent · 11/01/2022 08:15

Taking it as cash or store credit makes no difference to the refund amount. It's the amount you actually paid. Why is this so hard to understand?

girlmom21 · 11/01/2022 08:20

I disagree with the people saying you should get more because it's a store credit.
You could just as easily get the next item at a discount.

Idontknowlondon · 11/01/2022 09:21

@Exchange101

Full price = 220 Paid = 187 (15% off) No replacement/repair available Offering a credit note for 187
Seems totally fair to me
Original poster
Exchange101 · 11/01/2022 09:40

@DogInATent
The issue is the warranty which states that a replacement would be given, so a replacement worth 220

They can’t honour their warranty contract so are offering the value of 187

I therefore miss out on 15% of the value as their item was faulty and they can’t honour their warranty

Through no fault of my own I will be left with an item with 187 and not 220

Had the ring not broken/been replaced/repaired I would remain with the full value.

I would have happily had a repair and kept the original item but this was not possible either

They took the ring back and will recycle the gold and stones

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 11/01/2022 09:42

@Exchange101 but the value to you was only ever £187

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