Returning something to a charity shop

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So I have never done this before

but

I was in a charity shop day before ystrday, I bought 3 jackets which I could try on and 3 dresses which I couldnt (no changing room) I was going to leave the dresses but the lady running the shop was like 'you can return them no problem just keep the tag on' so I thought I'll OK I'll get them.

Anyway they didn't work for me. Too big/too small etc.

So I took them back. While I was at the til a customer walked past me and she said 'returning something to a charity shop?! Absolutely disgusting' I was taken aback by her rudeness but replied 'they don't fit and there's no changing room in here'.. She slammed the door and left the shop.

I then turned to the women at the til who was same women who served me the day before ystday and encouraged me to buy and return the items and she said nothing. I asked if ppl don't often return and she said no it wasn't the done thing? To which I highlighted I wouldn't of returned them if there was a changing room where I could of tried them first and they would of gone to waste otherwise. She passed me a form and said nothing but made me feel really bad.

Aibu???

I wouldn't personally, I'd just re-donate.

@AllOfThemWitches even if the items came to over £20? Its not like I didnt contribute to charity by buying 3 jackets..

I work in a charity ship. It happens, and it's no big deal.
Sometimes the changing room is occupied, sometimes people buy things for others, sometimes they change their minds.

Our local Cancer Research always say you can return and to keep the receipt but I probably wouldn't as it doesn't feel right. I sell on via Vinted or just put in my next donation pile.

With clothes is quite normal to return to charity shops for refunds because very few have changing rooms.
All charity shops I go in have this policy.
Don't give it a second thought.

Well I wouldn’t be going back there in a hurry, or donating to the shop. That was very poor customer service, charity shop notwithstanding.

No. They don't have a changing room so you can't try things on. So you took them and had to return them...they get the chance to sell them again.

of course they expected you to return them and NOT as for the refund. I think it's strange and possibly a deliberate policy not to have a changing room, a couple of curtains cutting of a corner of a room. I don't think you we're unreasonable

I was just quite embarrassed and upset by the rude customer and then didn't understand why the lady who encouraged the return in the first place would them make me feel so guilty

I wouldn't but, at the same time, it also means I'm far less likely to buy something I'm not certain on so I'm not doing the charity shop any favours either way.

Oh wow I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with returning stuff! Charity shops are blooming expensive now! It’s cheaper to go to Primark. They should be grateful you even went in. What awful service you received. They get massive tax cuts for prime rental location, they are a business at the end of the day, with CEO’s that get paid £££. Stuff them.

I would have taken it back too op.

Personally I don't return things to charity shops. I wouldn't buy three dresses if I couldn't try them on and wasn't confident about the sizing. Maybe one.

All the charity shops round here reopened their changing rooms ages ago.

And £20 ish for three dresses is cheap!

I wouldn’t have bought if unsure and, if there was a problem, would have re-donated.

Charity shop staff are very variable, since they are volunteers. Some can be very unpleasant. Don't take any notice.

nothing wrong with taking stuff back Ive done it

The other customer was very rude and the charity shop lady who served you was being almost as rude by backing her .
honestly don’t feel bad , you tried them and they didn’t fit , so returned them as advised to , end of story

I would definitely return items that don't fit where they don't offer a changing room. I must admit i avoud buying from shops without a changing room because of the time / effort / travel costs of going back again.

I've never thought about returning things to charity shops ( mainly because I don't buy much I them,) but honestly it makes sense, charity shops aren't always that cheap and if they have a returns policy then they clearly expect returns.
Don't let that rude woman get to you.
If you are wealthy enough to not get a refund and think if it as a donation then fair enough but not everyone is in that situation.

Of course it's ok to return. It's literally merchandise they get for free, of which a portion goes to charity. What ridiculousness coming from the customer and the employee. Presumably the staff who work for charities should turn down their paychecks too?

Depends how much you really need the money ?

If money is very tight then do it.

If its not going to make any difference to your household budget....I'd just re gift to the shop.

The rude customer had no right to comment.

I would have turned to the shop woman (who’d told you that you could return them no problem the day before) and said something like, ‘oh goodness, I didn’t even think of returning them until you told me to yesterday!’

I think it’s fine to return to charity shops. You never know someone’s financial situation and a charity shop item could be a large purchase relative to income, you should absolutely be made to feed comfortable with returning. Please don’t feel bad.

I work in a charity shop and I would love our customers to re donate rather than get refunds. It’s completely normal.

I don't buy things from charity shops because I can't try them on. If I knew they allowed returns I'd be more likely to.

My mum returns things quite often to charity shops. I always felt it a bit off in the past. However, given how expensive charity shops seem to be these days I would now no longer give it a second thought. It was rude of both of them to act like this.