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.

The manager won’t help you. Their policy is extremely strict, no exceptions. They will not exchange without a receipt and they will not exchange after 30 days, even with a receipt.

You're great at creating a scenario that didn't happen.

Ask friend for receipt to change for larger size? Give them to a charity shop?

Do you work for Primark?

That does not say they will not exchange after 30 days. Ime, H&M do exchange without a receipt, if the item is not too old.

No, I’ve just been shopping there for a very long time.

So have I.
And on the very rare occasion I needed to exchange something without a receipt I have had managers use their discretion to allow it.

I don’t believe you, sorry.

It’s not a new thing not being able to return items in any shop without a receipt. That’s been a rule in retail for literally years. Those poor minimum wage staff having to deal with that

2025 in all its glory.

Ok.
You don't have too.
Whatever 😂
It's happened in other stores (on the rare occasions I haven't got a receipt).
Maybe my body language and the way I talk to the staff has helped (ie being polite and calm).

Well shoplifters would have a field day nicking stuff and returning it for a refund if they refunded without receipts though.

… and getting very worked up about it too!

You stated that Primark is one of the stores that not only gives an exchange without a receipt, but also gives you a receipt for the exchange. This is so patently false and devoid of reality that it makes me disbelieve anything you say, including your purported charm, which I also disbelieve.

That's why it can depend on how a person talks to the staff - despite what some people on this thread think - managers can make a rare decision to allow an exchange if they believe it's genuine.
99% of the time it will be "no receipt no exchange" but occasionally it is permitted.

If I could be arsed to rummage at the bottom of my bag I could quite easily find a Primark receipt that's for an exchange. When I return or exchange something I always get a new receipt.
Oh I said at the managers discretion they may refund/exchange without a receipt. Rare...but if circumstances seem ok to the manager they MAY do it.

Again, I don’t believe that you have a receipt for an exchange without a receipt. Your posts have consistently shown you don’t know how Primark operate.

Whatever my dear 😂
(I guess you don't know how modern tills work. Any transaction that goes through the till generates a receipt)

Nice try, though.

Yes, I'd much rather someone did this than just wasted the money.

For what?

Do you really think Primark will put them back out for sale??
they could be from last years stock!!

@nomas I don't quite know why you are being defensive about this.
Primark policy is (the usual retail rule) that they will refund or exchange within a certain timeframe providing you have a receipt.
If you exchange you get a new receipt with your replacement items on.
If you refund you get a receipt showing the refund.
Their policy is "no receipt, no refund or exchange".
Ok. Fine.
But on RARE occasions the store manager could use their discretion and permit the exchange.
At that point the transaction goes through the till.
And "ta da" you get a receipt.
It's not complicated.

Why couldn't you message your friend and tell her you loved the slippers & flipflops but they weren't quite the right size so could she please let you have the receipt so you could get the correct size?

Surely its common sense to know that you are not going to get an exchange or refund without a receipt, or anybody could just pick something off a shelf and say it doesn't fit.

Leaving the stuff there and saying you won't be returning is just embarrassing, Primark won't notice and the shop assistant will just be cheering inside that they won't have to deal with you again.