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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Shop refusing refund - refund policy unclear at time of purchase

113 replies

dryingontheradiatior · 28/03/2023 18:47

I'll spare the details but DH has been asking for something regularly, something that I could only get in an antique shop. So I got him it for his birthday.

DH kicks off saying clearly it was a joke, etc. Baffled that I've actually got it. I didn't realise jokes that nobody laughed at were repeated so many times, starting with "I really want a..."

DH has called the antique shop to ask for a refund who have said no. Item is not faulty.
I was not given a receipt (only got it today) and wasn't told no refunds in the shop.

After a lot of back and forth with DH the shop offered a credit note. He isn't happy with this as we aren't likely to ever purchase an antique from an antique shop and we'd affectively be throwing the money away.
DH asked me to take it back tomorrow, which I can't do, so he's going to do it...and says he will be quite pushy with the owner in the shop for a refund because if I wasn't told they don't offer refunds then that's their issue, and he plans to leave them a bad review if they don't...

I actually think DH IBVU. Firstly, "joking" that he wanted something about 11 times and getting very annoyed when I then purchased it, but leaving the shop a bad review purely because we have changed our minds as purchasers isn't fair.

Does anyone know the ins and outs of this? Should the shop provide a refund if they didn't say that they don't offer them? They didn't give me a receipt either. The item was only purchased today.

OP posts:
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6
AppallinglyReheated · 28/03/2023 19:12

Why would they refund, theres nothing wrong with it, simply he doesn't like it. Not grounds for a refund when buying in person.

I'd leave him to deal with it himself and hope he learns not to repeat unfunny jokes in future.

Ilikewinter · 28/03/2023 19:13

Oh wow...well if I was the shop owner and your DH came in acting all high and mighty then I wouldnt even be willing to give him a credit note..... so maybe your DH needs to consider that before he goes in all guns blazing.
Lawfully he isnt entitled to a refund as the item isnt faulty.

Soontobe60 · 28/03/2023 19:13

Tell him to go on Antiques Road Show!
If he goes into the shop tomorrow all guns blazing I hope he’s prepared for the owner to call the police!

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 28/03/2023 19:13

Yanbu. No entitlement for a refund unless defective or not fit for purpose. Bung it on ebay.

Theluggage15 · 28/03/2023 19:14

Your husband sounds horrible and dim. And no of course they don’t have to tell you they don’t give refunds.

dryingontheradiatior · 28/03/2023 19:14

Thanks everyone. This has just escalated in to a really bizarre argument so I'm just going to try and sell it for what I paid for it.

OP posts:
TheInterceptor · 28/03/2023 19:16

Oh please say what it is, someone here might buy it from you!

IhearyouClemFandango · 28/03/2023 19:16

He sounds horrible. You got him a thoughtful gift. Let him deal with it now and wash your hands of it altogether.

Anotherturnipforthebooks · 28/03/2023 19:16

If he's under a lot of stress I'd let this go but he absolutely should not be going into the shop demanding a refund, he has no legal right to one.

Xarrie · 28/03/2023 19:17

Why did he say he wanted it if he didn't? How much was it?

TimeForMeToF1y · 28/03/2023 19:20

dryingontheradiatior · 28/03/2023 19:14

Thanks everyone. This has just escalated in to a really bizarre argument so I'm just going to try and sell it for what I paid for it.

Why is it your porblem to sort out? He's to blame, you were trying to be nice

Why would stress make a person say they wanted something they had zero interest in, more than once as well? You aren't painting him in a very good light here

Genevieva · 28/03/2023 19:21

Your husband is going to have to accept the credit note and chalk it up to experience. They are under no obligation to offer a credit note instead. Tell him to go along, see what else there is and swap it for something he hates less. Getting angry won't help. He will simply have to chalk it up to experience.

LaughingSomnambulist · 28/03/2023 19:23

So, legally, you are not entitled to any sort of refund or credit note if you purchase a physical item in a shop unless it is faulty. That is the law. You are not entitled to a refund and shops do not need to specify this. It is status quo and fully in line with your statuatory rights.

They do not need to post a sign saying, “No refunds,” because refunds are not a legal entitlement.

Shops which offer refund policies do so as a gesture of goodwill. Refund policies are in addition to your legal rights to return a faulty item. Shops which offer refunds will post details of their refund policy to show customers what additional rights they have in that shop.

Your husband is entirely wrong. Threatening ti he forceful with the shop assistant and then threatening to post a bad review because he isn’t getting something he has no legal entitlement to is totally out of order and absolutely disgusting behaviour. I do hope you show him this reply.

Reddickyouless · 28/03/2023 19:23

So he was laughing at your supposed gullibility that you really thought he'd want it
You managed to find it so now he's cross he's got a gift he never wanted
Fuck me
I keep it somewhere prominent in the house and tell anyone who commented his 'joke'
What a wanker

Fizzadora · 28/03/2023 19:27

It's one of those 70's glass fish isn't it?
Someone's selling one on our local Facebook page for a tenner.😁

Clymene · 28/03/2023 19:28

I don't think you should be involved at all. He doesn't like the present you got him. He can sort it out.

People don't go from nice and normal to arseholes because they're stressed.

the80sweregreat · 28/03/2023 19:29

Fizzadora · 28/03/2023 19:27

It's one of those 70's glass fish isn't it?
Someone's selling one on our local Facebook page for a tenner.😁

Second time this week I've heard these glass fish mentioned !

iklboo · 28/03/2023 19:34

You are not entitled to a refund from a shop simply because you have changed your mind.

OP hasn't. Her DH is being a massive twunt.

dryingontheradiatior · 28/03/2023 19:35

It is not a glass fish! I'd keep it if it was.

He is very stressed out due to stuff going on with close family. He is a lovely guy and this is out of character for him. We didn't need the huge argument we just had over something so silly so I'm just going to sell it on.

OP posts:
Yesthatismychildsigh · 28/03/2023 19:36

Your DH is a knob, and the fact that you weren’t specifically told there was no refund is irrelevant. Did you ask? No. You both sound a bit dim.

Glitteratitar · 28/03/2023 19:37

You’re not entitled to a refund simply because you (well, DH…) changed your mind.

They also aren’t obliged to notify you that they don’t have a refund policy that goes beyond the statutory requirements.

Anotherturnipforthebooks · 28/03/2023 19:38

Sorry op, it's not nice when a thoughtful gesture isn't appreciated. I hope he comes to his senses and apologises to you.

GoodChat · 28/03/2023 19:41

He's not as nice as you think. He's a nasty bully.

dryingontheradiatior · 28/03/2023 19:42

He's not a bully, this is a one off thing. He's a good husband. I just wanted to know where we stood with a refund.

OP posts:
BessieSurtees · 28/03/2023 19:42

Tell your DH to look up basic consumer rights before he makes an even bigger arse of himself. Only the buyer has rights not the recipient, other shops can choose to have a better returns policy but that is a bonus not a right.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/consumer-rights-refunds-exchange/

https://www.gov.uk/accepting-returns-and-giving-refunds

Accepting returns and giving refunds: the law

When you do and do not have to offer a refund, repair or replacement, unconditional refunds for online purchases, and penalties for deceiving customers

https://www.gov.uk/accepting-returns-and-giving-refunds