Asking for a refund from a CHARITY shop?!

[Guyfree]

I was out shopping yesterday and, whilst in one of the local charity shops, overheard a woman at the till demanding for a refund for a top she had bought. She said she had bought it, tried it on in the shop, but once she got home she decided she didn’t like it. Admittedly, I don’t know how much the top was, but I can’t imagine it was a lot as it’s not an upmarket charity shop or area particularly.

The staff kept saying that they didn’t give refunds, only credit notes, but the woman insisted she wanted a refund.

I just found the whole exchange really bizarre. When I buy something from a charity shop, I make sure it’s a considered purchase, and would never ask for a refund! On times I have regretted purchases I just take the hit in the knowledge I’ve at least donated some money to charity.

YABU - asking for a refund from a charity shop is fine.

YANBU - asking for a refund from a charity shop is tight and strange!

There is NO seven day cooling off period for items bought in a shop and you DO NOT have the legal right to return items if they are not faulty if you just change your mind. Although most shops do accept returns and give refunds, they are NOT legally obliged to do so if items are not faulty. It is easy enough to google your consumer rights.

I just wouldn’t feel comfortable asking for a refund from a charity shop to be honest. It unsettles me and would make me feel miserly.

The charity shop in question is not a national chain, it’s a small charity with three shops that supports local hospice care for young people and children. I wouldn’t want a refund from any charity shop to be honest, ‘rich’ charity or otherwise.

I suppose it’s her attitude that’s the worst part. She kicked up such a fuss about the suggestion of a credit note as she ‘may not find something else’, and just kept insisting and demanding a refund. Just felt so uncomfortable and out of place in a charity shop.

She was rude plus it's not that particular shop's policy.

However not being able to refund would put me off buying from a charity shop. As PP have highlighted lots don't have fitting rooms, you might be buying for someone else, looking for a colour match etc.

I spend quite regularly in my local charity shops and refund maybe 20%. If I couldn't refund when needed I wouldn't buy anything, so ultimately they would lose out. I don't see it as cheeky.

most charity shops charge almost as much new. You don’t know that persons financial situation and can’t afford to lose ££ on a top that they don’t want to wear

It feels like asking for your donation back (because in essence, it is!)

But there IS no donation! By definition, a donation means giving something away, which this woman was not doing. She made a purchase! The specifics of the refund policy of the shop is another issue - whatever those are, the woman was not a donor and should not expect to be judged as such.

You and a few other posters seem to believe that people only buy from charity shops to get a warm fuzzy feeling from helping raise funds. That’s why most people donate to charity shops, but not why they buy from them. You’re trying to present yourself as very lovely and caring because you wouldn’t dream of asking for a refund from a charity shop, but your compassion doesn’t stretch to consider that many buyers might not have a choice.

Our local charity shops all give receipts even for items costing as little as £1 and would be quite happy to refund if there is a problem. One of the local charity shops has a rack of reduced items for £1 each and I have got some very good items including a turquoise lace dress and I don't always take the receipt because I can afford to donate it back if the item doesn't fit.

Hmm, surely most people don’t do this and the charity shop won’t be massively out of pocket for just giving her a refund. It’s all very well if you’re reasonably well off and just hunting around for a bargain or 2 but maybe this lady was desperate for the money back to pay a bill or buy food.

Maybe she shops there because she can’t afford anywhere else then realised she didn’t have the money to spend in the first place.

Why shouldn't they give refunds? They get ALL of their stock for free - people just walk through the door with armfuls of it! And it's a gesture of goodwill - I'm sure that woman will be back in there to buy more stuff.

For every handful of donations made there is a fair proportion that will never make it to the shop floor.

As far as refunds go the charity shop I volunteer in does give refunds but sometimes it’s obvious that the item has been worn and the tag reattached. I once had someone return a mug which cost 99p.

We do sometimes accept offers but ask the manager but there are some customers who will haggle over everything.

You can if the shop decides to offer refunds in such cases, but you’re not entitled to it.

Exactly. You have no legal right to a refund for store bought goods unless the goods are faulty. Many retailers have generous returns policies but this is above their legal obligation.

My local charity shop does refunds if you change your mind. No issues.

Oh wow that is awful, it’s a charity! Doesn’t sit right at all….

It’s morally wrong to ask for a refund for an item purchased from a charity shop.

I have bought clothes from CS and it’s not suitable. So it goes into a bag which I fill for charity shop donations. Once it’s full, I take it to a charity shop. So two charities benefit from the same item of clothing.

"It’s morally wrong to ask for a refund for an item purchased from a charity shop."

No it's not.

No, even though it's for charity, they aren't entitled to anyone's money. How can it be morally wrong to return an item you paid for?

What if it's faulty or stained? Broken?
What if someone paid £20+ for it?
Even if they just don't like it, I don't see the issue in returning. Someone else will buy it

It’s morally wrong to ask for a refund for an item purchased from a charity shop

Don't be daft

i havent got spare money to lose
against my better judgement i sometimes buy things that I cannot try on, no changing rooms, but sadly they dont fit.
and i establish whether i can get a refund before I buy them.
it has led to awkward conversations in the past which is offputting,
but if they claim to give a refund, they should

It’s morally wrong to ask for a refund for an item purchased from a charity shop.

No it's not.

Of course it’s not morally wrong to return the item for a refund. Someone else will buy it. We process refunds every day at BHF and only ask the reason incase the item is faulty.

My local market town has 5 charity shops, and ALL of them will accept things back as long as you have the receipt. (Even if you change your mind - and the item is not faulty.) I find it odd, and bad customer care to point blank refuse. Most people will not be demanding their money back, so it won't hurt to allow it for a few.

The people who run the charity shops just need to be be decent and let people take stuff back if they wish. If they don't then people will stop shopping in there, and tell others to stop too.

And yes I am fully aware that they don't HAVE to do a refund. It's just my opinion that they should give refunds even if people just change their mind, as it shows good customer care.

She's not being unreasonable to ask I suppose; the charity shop I use most frequently gives refunds on returns within 7 days as they don't have fitting rooms.

Hmm I suppose technically it's okay if they offer refunds, but I wouldn't. I'm always asked if I want a receipt from charity shops but I just tell them no, I'll just donate it back if it doesn't fit/I don't want it anymore. I don't see it as a waste of money or a loss as the charity have benefited from the purchase, so I wouldn't think of asking for a refund.

It’s interesting that almost every response from posters who actually work/volunteer in charity shops has been that it’s not a problem.