WWYD overcharged in sports shop by £20!

[CityCommuter]

Just to start by saying I don't like confrontation of any kind... I bought some runners today in a Sports shop and saw that they were priced at £85... the salesman who is also the manager was really pushy and I wasn't sure about them when trying them on as they're slightly too big but somehow he persuaded me with all the usual stuff like telling me to wear thicker socks etc...

I agreed to buy them and went to the till, where he fiddled with the box and possibly labels for a few seconds, scanned them and then said that's £105 please... I seem to have lost all my confidence lately and was too shy or whatever to say the price on shelf and on the display runner said £85 so just stupidly paid it!

I've since looked at the runners online and they can be bought at a sale price of £65 which has pissed me off big time... they've not been worn so what would you do and what reason could I give to return them or can I just say I've changed my mind? I think they have a notice up saying no refunds given, just credit notes instead but this has put me off this shop completely...

Sports Direct was it?

Well, the time to point out the price discrepancy was when you bought them.

But on the basis you didn't do that and don't like confrontation, just take them back and accept the credit note.

I hope not, they don’t give refunds.

@drpet49

OP said I think they have a notice up saying no refunds given, just credit notes instead but this has put me off this shop completely...

I would go back, find a member of staff with a friendly face, and say that you are returning them as despite the manager telling you they were not to big they very much are - and are therefore not fit for purpose as trainers should fit you properly as they will cause blisters. I would also request a full refund in the manner in which I paid. However, I am assertive. Could you take an assertive friend/family member with you?
Alternatively you could contact them at head office/customer service by email and pretty much say what you have here - you felt pressured into buying them, the manager said they fit you, when you got home you realised they didn’t, you were sure they were £85, when you got to the till the manager charged you £105, when you got home you checked online and they were £65.
HTH.
But please- don’t just write this off. It’s £105. Be strong. You CAN do this.

Sports direct? They don't give refunds unless faulty.

If it is Sports Direct, however assertive you are, they are not going to refund you. You will only get a credit note.

Personally, I'd return and get the credit note. Buy them online for £65 if you like them.

In future, try the "ooh I'll have a think about it and come back" or the old fashioned "I'll have to check with my husband".

Seems odd as they won’t be on commission in Sports Direct. Just take them back but it will be a credit note.

If its sports direct the price is usually on the box. Does the box match the shoes and what price does it say?

@LunaDeBallona thank you for your good advice... I used to be far more assertive so I've got to start being like that again! Out of interest, do you know if a customer can simply change their mind about a purchased product or does a reason have to be given (providing it hasn't been used) for a refund / credit note?

Oh sorry but if it’s a place that doesn’t offer “changed your mind” refunds, you really do need to be assertive and make sure you pay the right price by raising issues there and then. You might have some luck complaining to head office but ultimately you may be stuck here.

Online prices do sometimes vary but why on earth did you think saying "oh the sign on the shelf said the price was £85 not £105, can you double check please" would be a 'confrontation'?
Mistakes do happen in shops - price labels not getting changed in error. Sales assistants usually don't know the price of things - the till tells them so they won't know if it's wrong.
The assistant would have most likely said "oh ok I will check for you".
The whole thing would have taken 5 minutes.

does a reason have to be given (providing it hasn't been used) for a refund / credit note?

No but be aware that, legally, a shop doesn’t have to let you return or exchange anything if you’ve changed your mind. Most will, as it’s good customer service, but see if their returns policy is online anywhere so you know what to expect. The price issue is a different matter though! Good luck.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/changed-your-mind/changing-your-mind-about-something-youve-bought/

Just to add it's not Sports Direct but a smaller type of business with a few local branches...

Can you use a credit note online?

Just to start by saying I don't like confrontation of any kind...

Saying "the label says they're £85 not £105" is not confrontation. Neither is declining to buy shoes that don't fit.

Different shops have different policies, but legally you've no right to anything - not even a credit note. You can try but honestly it sounds like you might come out still with the shoes, plus a pair of socks that you paid another £30 for, so might be safest to contact head office and complain.

Have you looked on their website to see what it says about returns?

No shop ever has to offer you a refund or credit note -unless the item is faulty. You changing your mind has no bearing.

I fear that ‘I changed my mind’ may either be met with refusal, hence I would go with the ‘I felt pressured by the manager who told me these trainers fit me. They do not hence they are clearly not fit for purpose and have been sold to me incorrectly’. I wouldn’t even mention the £85/£105/£65 at this stage. The fact you have been told they fit when they clearly don’t is enough grounds for you to request a full refund.
I really would advise taking somebody who you trust with you and who has an assertive nature. I don’t mean ‘cause an argument’. Just somebody firm and calm who is not anxious of making a clear point. And remember - once you have given your reason why you want a full refund, then be quiet. Let them speak - they often panic when faced with calm, factual, confident behaviour.
If they don’t refund then contact their head office regarding your frustration at being missold something which clearly does not fit you.
If you have no luck there, try trading standards.
I certainly would not be lettimg this go until I had my full refund!
Good luck - you CAN do this.

But if the item has been missold and is unfit for purpose then the buyer is entitled to a refund.
The OP hasn’t simply changed her mind, she was told they fit her and they don’t.

‘I felt pressured by the manager who told me these trainers fit me. They do not hence they are clearly not fit for purpose and have been sold to me incorrectly’.

I’m doubtful this will be successful. Common sense would apply, so if OP has physically tried the shoes on and walked around, she should know whether they fit or not as she tested them to know the fit before purchase. She didn’t blind-buy. Shoes are not fit for purpose if they don’t fit - that’s not an inherent fault of the item, it’s like saying a dress is faulty because it’s not flattering. Everyone has differently shaped feet. Therefore it will be hard to argue it was mis-sold

The shoes are fit for purpose. The fact they don't fit the OPs feet doesn't change that. The OP could try them on before she left the shop and realise they didn't fit.