To return something to purchase it again on sale?

[polka14]

DOI: I haven't actually done this.

WWYD if you bought X, it has just delivered and you go to leave a review and notice it is now on sale. Would you return your full price item to re-buy at the discounted price? Are there any rules around this?

This isn’t legally correct info for the OP who bought online.

Ha, this is going on with me at the moment. A dress bought last week is reduced. I'm not sure it's worth the hassle to return it though. And another dress bought in a 3 for 2 is half price, but considering it was 3 for 2 it's definitely not worth bothering with.

If the store offers a refund policy eg 30 days, and you return the goods within 30 days then it is the consumers LEGAL right to be given that refund. The store cannot suddenly change their mind and say a 'big fat no' . The consumer bought the product under the legal contract that they can get a refund within 30 days for changing their mind etc.
And just to add, I'm not sure retail is for you as you sound very aggressive and I'm not sure you have the right attitude for a customer service role.

True that people do this all the time, but as someone who both loves a bargain and has worked in retail, I think it's horribly tacky and I would never do it. My colleagues and I would privately judge people who did this and I'd never do it myself.

When you buy things at full price, you're not just paying for the item, you also (in a way) pay a premium for buying them while they're current-season, "fresh", and at a time when stock is still being delivered so all sizes are easily available. At a later date, the above is no longer true so the item may be reduced to account for that.

You paid the current-season price during the items current season. If you missed the reduced window by a week or so, it's annoying but that's just life! My time, travel and effort (and dignity) isn't worth the tenner or so I might get back.

I can't tell people what to do with their time or money, though.

I've worked in retail for years and I don't judge a customer who does this, why do you think it's horribly tacky? It's common sense to get your money back and save the extra. I'm a keen shopper and if I were to take an item back and get a refund 9 times out of 10 I'll probably spend the additional cash in the sale anyway. If I came across a sales assistant like you who judged me and thought I was 'horribly tacky' I would most definitely stop shopping in the store you work for, and I'm very brand loyal so that would be quite a loss over the year.

Thank you! This was my point exactly. If a store offers a 30 refund policy if you change your mind (which most do nowadays to be competitive) then thats the contract you enter into when you buy something. The shop cant then change the goal posts when they bring it back and say oh no, we've changed our minds! now you cant have a refund. if they have worn it and lost the receipt then fair enough but if the customer abides by the refund policy thats set by the shop then they have done absolutely NOTHING wrong, legally or morally.

Thanks! This thread is beyond frustrating and I'm not surprised the high street is dying judging by the comments from individuals in front facing retail roles.

Who in their right mind cares whether you or your colleagues think it’s ‘tacky’?

Shop staff wonder why people prefer to buy online. They need to take a hard look at their own attitudes.

I recently bought a dress (last one in my size) at full price that was on a 3 for 2 offer, I didn't have time to look for 2 other items, when I had more time (without my son), I took the dress with me and its receipt, I tried a few bits on, decided I liked 2 other things and kindly asked if It was okay to return the dress and repurchase as a 3 for 2, guess what? He said yes. I was so pleased and I'll happily shop in there again and recommend it to friends too.

Shop staff wonder why people prefer to buy online. They need to take a hard look at their own attitudes.

The reason most staff get pissed off at constant refunds/returns/exchanges is because they get pulled up on it when they process too many. Company policy may be "You have to refund in x, y and z circumstances" but that doesn't stop managers pulling you up and disciplining you for "processing too many refunds" and "not getting enough upsells".

I worked in retail and got pulled up on more than one occasion because we had a customer who was notorious for returning 15+ items she bought online in the sale. She did it every single time. She would buy it all online and then demand a refund (she'd buy multiple items in different colours in different sizes) and you'd have to refund her £500+, which was often nearly a quarter of the day's takings.

My manager pulled me up on it because my figures were "awful" that day - when I explained it was "Mrs Smith" back again, I was told that wasn't good enough and that I should have had better figures - ignoring the fact my figures were fine until she came in demanding a refund at ten to six 🙄

As with most things, it's not the fault of the shop floor staff.

I don't understand this at all. If you offer a, refund policy then what decision do you need to make quickly? If its 'as sold' you give a refund according to the policy on the receipt. It sounds like you had no idea what that policy was. The shop probably wrnt bust due to breaking consumer laws if all the sales assistants had your lack of understanding.

Then your manager is rather stupid.

Not at all - he was just doing what he was told by HIS manager.

The issue with retail, is they have to make money, but they also need policies in place to please the customer, which is why many offer refunds/exchanges beyond the statutory minimum. But unfortunately those policies (normally made up by people who have never worked in a shop) put huge amounts of pressure on the front-facing staff.

Simply speaking - shops have to make a certain amount per day/week/month to cover their outgoings - staffing costs, stock, utilities etc, and make a profit on top - lots of in-store refunds (especially from online purchases) mean shops don't hit their targets and that puts them at risk of closure.

So managers have to push their staff to upsell and have good figures - to show THEIR managers that they're doing as much as possible to make money in spite of the company policy that makes it difficult to do so.

It wasn't your fault Mrs Smith wanted her refund, and it was her right to get one (not according to some on here though). I do understand retail, I've spent most of my working life in it, that and customer service. The only way to get good sales is to have great staff and a decent product. 🤷‍♀️

fairylightsandwaxmelts

You are taking issue with customers requesting refunds as per the store policy and you are saying they shouldn’t do this.

The real issue is with the company policy and their treatment of staff.

Why do you think it’s acceptable to berate customers for asking for a refund when you should be speaking to management about their policies and treatment of their staff?

I worked in retail and if someone returned a sale item it would be ‘held’ behind the till for 24 hours and then put out at the reduced price to stop cheeky fuckers like you doing this. I guess you could get lucky if we had your size already on the floor in the sale

This thread just highlights the ease of shopping online with free delivery and free returns.
Its a shame really as the same people name calling on this thread will be the the ones without employment at the eve of the day.

You are taking issue with customers requesting refunds as per the store policy and you are saying they shouldn’t do this.

Well, the last time I checked, retail staff are allowed to think customers are a pain in the arse, regardless of whether they're technically in the right or not.

The real issue is with the company policy and their treatment of staff.

I don't disagree.

Why do you think it’s acceptable to berate customers for asking for a refund when you should be speaking to management about their policies and treatment of their staff?

I never berated anyone to their face.I got promoted three times in as many years when I worked in retail and I was damn good at my job, but that doesn't mean I can't think some people behaved utterly ridiculously when it came to saving £2 on a multi-pack of socks😉

As for speaking to management - been there, done that, got the t-shirt - it made absolutely no difference, so I left.

I'm gobsmacked at the utter nastiness towards customers on this thread. What a bunch of misery gits. I'm going to start returning more stuff in the future just to piss you lot off, I love a 'sucking on a lemin' face! 😂. I know retail is a pretty shit job but honestly it wouldn't hurt to do it properly, take a bit of pride in it.
My most memorable return was a set of boys pants in Primark, a pack of 5 pairs, age 10 years. Went to get a coffee after, quickly checked the pants were nice to realise that 4 pairs were a different size. Swiftly took them back to be told by the highly intelligent member of staff that under garments were not returnable. I then told her that they were misold and only one pair was the correct size. She wasn't having it until I gently explained the situation in terms she might understand, to which she said 'just this once' a prime example of totally shit customer service. Pretty much like a bunch of people on here.

Yep! well its hardly any wonder that the high street is dead is it? and online shopping has taken over.

Agreed, I love going into actual shops though. Its such a shame.

With the exception of shoe shopping and make up, I much prefer online shopping tbh.
i despise searching for the right size, queuing etc. There is a bigger selection online, frequent discount codes and free delivery and returns, and the added bonus of not putting up with rude retail staff.

I remember making a complaint about a staff member in a well known shop who was very unprofessional about accepting a return. The area manager rang me to apologise and offered me a ‘personal shopping experience’ with the same shop. I couldn’t think of anything worse. That chain has now unsurprisingly closed down.

I prefer shopping online as you have more rights if you want to return something, if you buy something in some shops returns can be difficult especially if you change your mind about the item.

I have sent a few emails when it's literally gone straight on sale. Even one where there was a sale on but I didn't put the voucher code on, they refunded the difference before the thing was even delivered. I really don't see how it's CFery if you can sell it at that price then do. I don't haggle or try to underpay small businesses because I know their situation but Debenhams didn't go bust because people returned stuff to buy in the Sales.