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.

Couldn’t be arsed to RTFT, you didn’t have a receipt, you could have nicked them. HTH.

That’s the point, Primark won’t even swap with a receipt after 30 days, so they’re unusual in the retail sector.

The other thing about Primark is they refuse to accept a bank statement as proof of purchase.

You said "if she was a thief she'd stolen the correct size".
I was saying that the common scam is not to literally steal an item and stuff it in your bag but to take an item directly off the shelf, go to the till, say you bought the wrong size but haven't the receipt but want to swap for correct size. Staff member agrees. The item you want in your correct size is placed in a bag, you now have a receipt (because you get a new one) and you walk out the door passing the security guard with an item you DID NOT PAY FOR.
That's why "just exchanging for a different size" is frequently refused.

It's very cheap, high turnover, and they get a lot of shop lifting. They have to keep exchanges to a minimum.

No, you DO NOT get a receipt when you do an exchange without a receipt!

So your whole scam premise falls down.

It’s about (1) stock control (2) discouraging refunds/ encouraging more purchases.

It's literally to stop fraudulent returns.
I don't get why your friend would mind you exchanging for a bigger size?
As your friend I'd be annoyed you'd wasted my tenner!

Urgh are we really doing this to retail workers?

Agreed no one should be annoyed at retail workers just for following the rules.

Walk into shop.
Pick up item.
Walk to cash desk.
Ask to exchange the item you have just picked up pretending you brought it in with you.
Take new item with security tags removed and possibly collect a receipt.
You now have the item and a receipt.

Usually you do.
Pretty much every shop I know of does that because a transaction has to physically go through the till.
Primark tills print out two pieces of paper.
One is for store use to show a refund/exchange was made and the customer is asked to sign (and could just scribble Jane Bloggs) and a second piece which is a new receipt.
If the customer does have an original receipt the returned items are crossed off and you get it back.
But you always get a new receipt.
Edit:
I started working in retail in 1993. The scam existed then and probably for decades before.
I'm out of retail now.... thankfully.

This seems to be the problem.

They can’t afford to help honest customers because they’ve set it up to assist dishonest ones.

Can you name which shops give you a receipt for an exchange without a receipt?

Give them to a charity shop. Primark will chuck them in the bin.

They should do what H&M do, every single item has its own individual code.

This is why H&M are relaxed about exchanged after 30 days

You where being out of line to even try and return them without a receipt, everyone know thats not allowed. Why should they believe you or risk their job, you could have just picked them up from the shelf and claimed you bought them.

You didn't ask for the receipt because you felt it was cheeky to return them and it would upset the gifter but where trying to sneakily do it behind their back anyway.

You then spat your dummy out and acted like a brat storming off and leaving your 'gift' behind.

Now you are being rude about the gift with the spoiled attitude of 'I have so many of these anyway'.

All round multiple cases of bad behavior from you. Primark is not in the wrong but you have some brass balls I'll give you that.

I understand why they wouldn't refund without a receipt, but I agree that they might be more lenient with exchanges if the item is apparently unworn and the tags are still on. (Even if you HAD shoplifted the item, or bought it elsewhere, they're likely no worse off letting you swap a pristine in-stock item for the exact same item in a different size.) The issue might be that they have a time limit for exchanges (pretty standard - otherwise they might be expected to accept back merch they that no longer carry) and because of no receipt they can't establish that you're within the exchange period.

For clothes....
Primark for one.
All the supermarkets I buy clothes from.
Peacocks.
Pep and Co.
Possibly H+M... can't remember.
Bon Marche
M+S possibly? Rarely shop there but I am sure they do.

@nomas if you are swapping goods without going through thr returns procedure then you do not have the correct receipt Therfore if you get stopped on June 1st and your receipt is dated May 28th you very much risk being accused of shop lifting. Especially if the receipt is dated before the 30 day refund window

Ah, now I get it. Thank you. 😊

Sigh.

Primark do not even exchange an item without a receipt, let alone give you a receipt for an exchange without a receipt.

It’s clear you have no idea what is being discussed here and have got yourself confused.

I didn’t know you could return or exchange anything without a receipt!

They will at the managers discretion.
Unfortunately the OP couldn't be bothered to actually speak to the manager and just went off in a huff.

You could have given them to someone else rather than leave them. A charity shop for example.

H&M return policy, from their website, attached.

Not sure what you think you're on about. H&M