Grrr Primark

[WinterKitchen]

A friend gave me a birthday bag with lots of stuff in which included some slippers and flip flops from Primark both of which were too small. I took them back today obviously unworn and they refused to change because I didn't have receipt.

After explaining several times that no I don't have a receipt because someone else bought them for me they asked did I have a gift receipt or a photograph of one. Of course not. I wouldn't ask for that and I didn't tell my friend I was returning the items as I didn't want to upset her or ask for a receipt.

I know the assistant can't do anything, and she offered to fetch a manager but I didn't see the point as they clearly wouldn't change the items. I told them to keep them as they're no good to me and that I would not be returning.

Just frustrating really. Only talking about £10 maybe, and I've already got far too many flip flops and slippers anyway. But I'm just annoyed.

Shops don’t refund or exchange without a receipt these days so I’m not sure why you have grr in your title

you’re being completely unreasonable

That’s annoying but Primark get shoplifted from constantly so I understand why they wanted proof of purchase. It was a bit petty to just leave them there.

YABU and leaving the items was extremely childish. It’s standard practice in all shops that I’ve returned things to recently to need to have a receipt.

I'm not sure why you wouldn't tell your friend they are too small and did she have the reciept so you could exchange for bigger. It's not rude.

I don't see why you can't just tell your friend you'd like to exchange them for a bigger size. Why on earth do you think this will upset her?

Slight over reaction leaving the items in the shop.

how hard is it to ask for the receipt to be able to change the sizes? Not difficult at all.

For all
she knew, you or your friend could have stolen them…did you honestly think she was just going to refund you with no proof of purchase?? They’ll be delighted you won’t be returning. I feel
sorry for retail staff if this is the level of stupidity and entitlement they have to put up with!

Things have been this way for years now, as said due to those that felt it not only their rights to shop lift goods in the first place but do so knowing they'd then return those stolen goods and in doing so want money out of the shops tills that they had never and had no intention of putting in.

I'm sure your friend would prefer you to ask for the receipt so you can exchange the goods rather than have their money wasted.

As someone who processes fashion returns, YABVU. No receipt no exchange or return. Most stores have a time limit to return items and there are things we need to check on receipts. Stop being childish.

I used to work in Argos and the amount of petty people who leave their items when they can’t get their own 🤣🤣

One guy tried to say his tv had a line down it for the whole 12 months he had it and kicked off when we wouldn’t replace it so he stormed out and left the faulty tv 🤣

I shall stamp my feet lol
You could’ve just donated them to a charity shop .

• I feel sorry for retail staff if this is the level of stupidity and entitlement they have to put up with!*

Same.

What was the point of telling her that you wouldn't be returning? She was only doing her job. Every shop i have ever returned something to needs some priof of purchase. It seems a bit childish to announce you won't be back.

YANBU. We’ve taken to just swapping for the correct size / colour ourselves in the aisle.

Primark loses no money this way so my conscience is clear.

Pretty standard everywhere nowadays.

No, supermarkets will exchange clothes without a receipt.

Clearly never worked in retail and doesn’t understand how stock ordering and counts work 😡

How is it childish?! What can OP do with them if they don’t fit? At least this way they can go to someone else rather than ending up in the bin.

No wonder the planet is fucked with attitudes like this

Standard practice and has been for years.

This is a consequence of the shoplifting epidemic in our country where people are free to steal with no repercussions.

Don't blame the shops.

Would you not be worried that you might get stopped at the door by security and asked for a receipt?

Or am I not understanding.

Why would your friend be upset that the size was wrong? You just wanted to exchange for a bigger size, right?

Nope, it’s because people buy rubbish they don’t need from sites like Temu and Shein.

if your friend gives you shoes or slippers for your next birthday, you'll only have yourself to blame.

YABVU OP. Shops accepting returns without a receipt is a shoplifter's charter.

When it comes to shopping, we've all had times of acting a bit irrationally when we think we're right about something.

On this occasion you were a bit irrational. I understand though, as things have changed from the days when 'the customer is always right' used to be the prevailing standard and you could just hand things back to the store and get a full refund or exchange.

Unfortunately the rise of internet and increasing rise in shop lifting means this is no longer a given and you often must prove receipt now. I couldn't even get an automatic refund for a stolen Amazon item the other day. I had to wait nearly a week to get a refund over their mistake. It struck me how different it was even 5 years ago when I would get an instant refund acknowledgement.

You should have taken them back and asked for the receipt from your friend.
I get your frustration however!