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Original poster

Manager called security on me in Primark!

175 replies

spanieleyes22 · 10/08/2024 15:08

So what happened is I bought 2 tops the same a couple of weeks ago in primark: one size large and one size xl. Paid on different receipts as I bought large then walking out I saw they had an xl so went back and bought that too.

Decided to keep xl.

Went to return large today. Presented receipt and top. Girl calls manager. She says that's the the receipt for that top: that's a receipt for an xl.

Explained that I had bought 2 tops and must have brought the wrong receipt with me.
I tried to argue and said look it's the same top same price please can you give me refund: nope nope nope.
She starts saying that they have cameras in the store. And then she calls security!! At that point I just left. I left the top and receipt there I was so scared. She thought I had picked up the top in store and tried to return it using an old receipt. I thought I was going to be arrested. So now I'm down 12 pound and don't have the top. Maybe I should have stayed and argued but I felt I couldn't prove I had bought it. Don't think I will be buying anything there for a very long time. I will be scared to show my face there. And I haven't done anything wrong! Very shaken by it

OP posts:
Positivenancy · 10/08/2024 15:10

yes you should have stayed or at least taken the top back!

LakelandDreams · 10/08/2024 15:11

You should have gone away and returned with the correct receipt. The shop assistant was in the right.

2dogsandabudgie · 10/08/2024 15:11

Sorry but all I'm thinking is £12 for a top in Primark? Their prices have gone up, although haven't shopped there for years!

DreadPirateRobots · 10/08/2024 15:11

You need to have the receipt for the item that you're actually returning to return an item. Else you look like you're trying to run a scam. All you had to do was accept it, go away, and come back with the right receipt. Nobody was going to arrest you; you've overreacted hugely.

BrownBirdWelcomesWhiteWave · 10/08/2024 15:12

You argued
You should have accepted it, with 'bugger, wrong reciept, I'll have to come back'

Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 10/08/2024 15:13

DreadPirateRobots · 10/08/2024 15:11

You need to have the receipt for the item that you're actually returning to return an item. Else you look like you're trying to run a scam. All you had to do was accept it, go away, and come back with the right receipt. Nobody was going to arrest you; you've overreacted hugely.

Why did she call security on me then. I said ok look I'll go home and find the correct receipt but she held onto it and started calling security

OP posts:
TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 10/08/2024 15:13

You acted like you were guilty of theft…

Hectorscalling · 10/08/2024 15:13

I don’t understand why you started to argue. It was the wrong receipt.

You just needed to leave and come back with the right one.

2dogsandabudgie · 10/08/2024 15:14

I think it's the fact that you tried to argue and asking for the refund which made you look suspicious.

Deserthog · 10/08/2024 15:14

Why didn’t you say “feel free to check your cameras” ?

Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 10/08/2024 15:14

BrownBirdWelcomesWhiteWave · 10/08/2024 15:12

You argued
You should have accepted it, with 'bugger, wrong reciept, I'll have to come back'

Yeh just seemed in the scheme of things not that big of a deal. Same top same price. To be honest it didn't say the size on the receipt so I should have brought both of them with me as I didn't know which was which!

OP posts:
Hectorscalling · 10/08/2024 15:15

spanieleyes22 · 10/08/2024 15:13

Why did she call security on me then. I said ok look I'll go home and find the correct receipt but she held onto it and started calling security

Show quote history

Because you were trying to convince her to do something she couldn’t and started to look like a thief. She called security because she didn’t want to continue to argue with you.

Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 10/08/2024 15:15

Deserthog · 10/08/2024 15:14

Why didn’t you say “feel free to check your cameras” ?

Yeh I did say that actually! She said we have cameras and I said great I haven't done anything wrong?

OP posts:
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 10/08/2024 15:16

£12 is a lot for primark! I’ve worked in retail and you should have had the right receipt but also I’m sorry you had that experience.

Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 10/08/2024 15:16

I was very polite

OP posts:
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 10/08/2024 15:17

I do think they were hasty calling security on you

HeyTalkToMeGoose · 10/08/2024 15:18

Well she called security....they could look at you and then check cameras

They need a visual to know who to look for

Are you usually this scared?? Security cannot arrest you anyway

JaneTheVirgin · 10/08/2024 15:19

I worked customer service in primark many years ago while at Uni. Our policy even then was to call security for anyone arguing with us about wanting a refund with no proof of purchase.

The return with an old receipt is actually a known scam, so as soon as you tried to argue, which is ridiculous by the way, you made yourself look guilty. A non scam reaction would have been 'Oh I'm sorry, I must have picked up the wrong receipt, I'll be back!'

Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 10/08/2024 15:22

I think I'm so honest I look guilty. It always happens to me!! I explained what happened but she obvs didn't believe me. Has turned me off that shop I think. She was very aggressive to me.

OP posts:
MagneticSquirrel · 10/08/2024 15:22

Why did you argue? Most systems won’t let them refund if item doesn’t match the receipt, for both fraud and stock control.

If the shop accepts a L refund when receipt says XL, then they will think they have more XL tops in store than is actually the case.

And accepting a refund when someone doesn’t like an item is something shops don’t even have to legally offer although many do.

Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 10/08/2024 15:23

Well primark made 12 pound off me. They can resell that top now.

OP posts:
Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 10/08/2024 15:24

MagneticSquirrel · 10/08/2024 15:22

Why did you argue? Most systems won’t let them refund if item doesn’t match the receipt, for both fraud and stock control.

If the shop accepts a L refund when receipt says XL, then they will think they have more XL tops in store than is actually the case.

And accepting a refund when someone doesn’t like an item is something shops don’t even have to legally offer although many do.

Yeh I know better now. Should have said nothing. To me it seemed a small thing. It was just a trek for me to get there and I didn't want a wasted trip as that's the reason I went over there. Anyway lesson learnt.

OP posts:
amoreoamicizia · 10/08/2024 15:25

I think you'd better get the other receipt and top and go back with a friend/you husband and sort it out today while they still have the top and the receipt. Maybe don't go into the store but show the security guard at the door and explain what's happened, so the same thing can't happen again.

TooMuchRedMaybe · 10/08/2024 15:26

spanieleyes22 · 10/08/2024 15:23

Well primark made 12 pound off me. They can resell that top now.

That's on you though. You chose to just leave the top and receipt there and walk off. Your actions were rather suspicious to be fair.

Onelifeonly · 10/08/2024 15:29

You just had to say, whoops must have brought in the wrong receipt, and stayed calm. Maybe asked someone at home to WhatsApp a photo of the other top or receipt.

But I imagine theft is rife and they have no way of knowing that you are innocent.

For any shop, you always need the right receipt. They scan the returned item back in from it - well they do in M&S anyway.