Manager called security on me in Primark!

[spanieleyes22]

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

It happend to me once at Banana Republic, it was the correct receipt for the item but the system recognized it as a different size. They ended up refunding as store credit at the end.

You should have taken the top with you and gone back with the original receipt. There’s nothing to be scared of with security; they could have checked the cameras or given you the opportunity to bring back the right receipt. By leaving it, they’ll assume you’d stolen it and that they were correct.

I can understand why you are shaken OP. Please take care, you have done nothing wrong

Should have just waited for security, explained, maybe pulled up your bank statement showing 2 payments just the same day and left with your top and the wrong receipt. You over reacted.

I know I looked guilty of a scam that's why I left. I couldn't prove I was being honest. And the manager had hold of the top and receipt and was on the phone thingy to security saying come urgently. I was scared . Silly really I guess

The bar codes are different for the different sizes and colours so if she scanned the top and receipt they wools not match and she can’t process it.

its a common scam where people buy something, then come back pick the same item from the shop floor and return it using the receipt so they end up with a free item.

Yes but would they even believe they. I had other things on the receipts. I didn't think of that tbh. But not sure how I could have proved the payments were for the tops as there was other items on there

They can't accept the wrong receipt for a refund. You could have just taken the top off a hanger and strolled up to the till demanding a refund. I realise you got embarrassed when she called security but they could have quickly ascertained you were not a shoplifter, if you had let them.

Head back there right now with the correct receipt. It's not like she isn't going to remember you.

I’m sorry you had this experience.

Having worked at primark a decade ago I can confirm you sound MUCH less argumentative than many of the people we were dealing with regularly.

I would just stop shopping there. The culture at primark is terrible. Everyone is treated poorly including the staff. It may have changed but when I worked there they were so suspicious of staff stealing you weren't allowed to buy anything unless you were served by a manager and then they would staple the bag shut so you couldn’t steal anything on your way out.

When they scan the receipt it shows the items on their till screen. All the different sizes have different codes, so the item number on the receipt (often a long number) will match with the price tag on the item. So even though it might say "yellow t shirt £12" on both receipts, so to you they looked the same, the code number will be linked to the size.

The manager sounds a bit heavy handed about it, but it's normal to need the correct receipt. I am sorry you felt scared.

The problem is that you started arguing instead of just admitting you made a mistake. Returning items on the wrong receipt/without a receipt is such a well-known scam that she'd have been putting her job on the line if she just took your word for it.

I do understand that you were embarrassed but she was just doing her job.

The scam doesn't make any sense though. Surely the fact that it was a top in a different size makes it less likely she’d be doing this scam? This would mean anyone returning anything could have just picked it up off the shelves.

They could probably have looked up the transaction in their system and seen what items were bought (though maybe not at that moment on the shop floor). But more to the point, security could look at the security cameras the shop assistant told you about for today and seen that you went straight to the counter and didn’t stop to nick a top.

As someone else posted - take the right receipt back now and get your money refunded.

Is there a reason you have no faith that you could have justified your actions, had them put the top aside until you brought the right top/receipt back, etc? You sound like you were afraid to stand up for yourself, thought they could just accuse you of theft, have everyone believe them, and that would be it.

I would do this.

That would be incredibly embarrassing for her and you should get the refund and an apology!

Go back tomorrow with the correct receipt / correct receipt and top you've kept worn or not and explain what's happened today

You acted guilty! Just say oh flip I brought the wrong receipt. They wouldn't have any proof because you didn't do anything wrong. If you had been more savvy you probably could have logged jbro online banking and shown then the transations

I am still confused as to why you left. You say you didn't steal the top so security would be able to check it and let you go with apologies. Why did you decide to just walk out? It makes no sense to me.

Don't worry Op. Its the downside of being honest and having respect for authority. Its a reminder that authority is sometimes wrong (and security have zero actual power to do anything in shops).

Could you email them and show them the top and receipt you have at home? You may not get anywhere but if you explain what happened and how mortified you were you may get lucky.

The scam makes sense because normally they would take the same colour and size. In this case it just comes across as OP was careless and accidentally picked the wrong size.

No that’s not fair on you. Have you got the other receipt. If you do, then I would email head office or go back into store explain what happened. Show them the two copies of receipts. Tell them you left the top because you were worried of being accused of stealing. Let them check the cameras. Get your money back.

Are you aware that you now look guilty of what she accused you of, because you didn’t just calmly wait for security to arrive and check the cameras?! What a bizarre reaction from someone who had nothing to hide.

The fact that you walked off without the top is what made you look guilty.

When done by competent shoplifters, they don’t make the mistake of getting the wrong size to return. But a lot of shoplifting that shops actually catch aren’t the competent shoplifters, they’re the people who don’t know all the ins and outs and make mistakes.

If the item and the receipt don’t match it will obviously be a concern to the store.

Yes, anyone returning anything could have just picked it up off the shelf. It’s a risk that shops have to manage along with the need to accept returns. Which is probably why the shop assistant mentioned the CCTV when she saw the discrepancy between the receipt and the item.

This is what I would do.

Leaving just made you look guilty, at least go back with the correct receipt and get your refund.