Page 4 | To return a toy we bought 2 days ago just because it's AWFUL!

heyhey11 · 2025-07-27T07:01:34+00:00

What the title says really, Bought DC a toy from smyths he'd been saving up for, for ages.. it was £50 so not cheap for a toy and it's just shocking. He's been so looking forward to it and even he's saying I don't want it anymore, it's broken etc which isn't like him. It transforms into a few different things and it's just awful, held on by latches and keeps coming open so when he's playing with it in a certain mode it just falls apart! Plus it's not user friendly at all. All the characters have like holes in feet and back so they can sit on the chairs etc (like Lego characters do) but the chairs and stuff don't have any connectors. In turn the toys just go everywhere and fall off. He's trying to carefully play with it bless him but as you can imagine one slight move and they all fling off. Meltdown central 🙃 Anyway I'm kind of pissed off, 1. He was so looking forward to it and it's awful, 2. It was £50! And now it's sat in the corner of my room. Should I take it back and explain? Or will they just tell me to bugger off because it's not actually faulty I guess. Just poorly designed? Try to Return? Or sketch it down to a waste of money and hope he plays with it again

AllHoityToity · 27/07/2025 11:07

cyvguhb · 27/07/2025 10:41

You're wrong about them having no way to analyse returns, I worked for somewhere tiny in comparison to Smyths and when something was returned the reason had to be recorded as part of the transaction and reports could be run

If a huge chain like Smyth's doesn't do the same id be amazed, it's key information for the buyers

Certain lines where I worked could also be returned to the supplier for refunds.

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I agree with you.

I once watched a programme about the buyers at John Lewis and they were bumping a washing machine off their website because people were returning them.

BlankBlankBlank14 · 27/07/2025 11:11

User9784754 · 27/07/2025 10:26

If people just keep them then Smyths have no clue that they are rubbish

I don't think you have any experience with retail. Smyths is a giant conglomerate and their buying department is entirely separate from individual stores. They may have a list of returned products but realistically, there is no way they analyse the reasons for each one. The most common reason people return things to Smyths is due to wrong presents rather than quality. Even if there are complaints about one product, they will not stop buying everything from that brand (Playmobil, Lego whatever) because the scale at which they operate is far too big. A family-run indie toy store might take things like that into account but definitely not Smyths.

Yes, all toys eventually get dumped but in an ideal world, children get to play with and it forms a valuable part of their childhood memory. The OP didn't actually specify if her son genuinely hates the toy or if he's just a bit frustrated at clasps coming open. I find it hard to imagine any child would voluntarily insist on taking a big toy they really wanted back to the shop and get their pocket money back.

I don’t think you’ve read the OP thoroughly!

Idontpostmuch · 27/07/2025 11:13

Definitely take it back. Don't know if shop is independent or chain store, but first of all go back to shop. If no joy, contact customer services if there is one. They usually give customers the benefit of the doubt. If it's a small shop and they refuse, mention Trip Advisor. Often enough to terrify. If none of this works, contact the manufacturer. You have a good chance. It's surprising what you can achieve when it looks unlikely. I should know. I'm an expert at returning toys, and with 100% success rate 😄

Iloveloveisland · 27/07/2025 11:18

Well good luck with getting a refund. I think the things you describe make it a little shoddy, rather than unfit for purpose

hellotomrw · 27/07/2025 11:18

Is it an imaginex toy?

Catwoman8 · 27/07/2025 11:18

Take it back if it's not fit for purpose. I bought an archery board from smyths last year and it was shit, the bows wouldn't even stick to the board . Looked online after and saw terrible reviews for it.

I decided to return it and just explained to smyths what the issue was and they refunded me without issue.

Original poster

heyhey11 · 27/07/2025 11:19

Hi everyone! Sorry i've not replied, literally just now returned it.

Just to clear a few things up, it genuinely was a rubbish toy. My son has (along with most kids probably!) never said he wants to take a toy back to the shop haha! Until he got this! I think that just explains how bad it was.. Yes I know some toys don't have the connectors for the characters to sit etc but the characters all had the holes and every Bluey toy we own has the connectors! So it was unexpected for this toy in particular. Like they'd just cheaped out on it. In turn the characters didn't fit on the seats etc so I guess you couldn't really use it the way it was intended and advertised either.

It was the bluey plane set. We have loads of bluey toys, all really good quality so that's added to the disappointment! I'm not sure if we've got a dodgy one or if it is just manufactured like that. However, we took it back. Explained to the guy that it just kept popping open and essentially the front falling off when he was using it etc. he picked it up and saw what we were talking about right away. he did have to ask a manager to come and look at it and then it was okayed ☺️ they apologised it was a rubbish toy to my son (didn't need to so that was nice) and asked if we wanted a refund or credit. Took the refund so DS can have a good look around everywhere to decide, 2nd time lucky!

The guy did say that in his opinion, the quality of like character play sets (peppa, bluey, etc) had gone down massively and they've seen lots of people returning things for similar reasons. Being flimsy etc...

Thanks for everyone's advice, maybe don't buy the Bluey plane 😅 toy recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Overall, glad I took it back. To the poster who told me just to shut up and chalk it down to experience basically. You must have a really patient and understanding 5 year old because mine was not happy 🤣

Also- last point I promise. I did look at the rating on different websites very briefly! And we bought it because they were pretty much 4-5 stars! However on closer inspection today. There's a few dodgy ones on different websites. And a LOT of them are where they've been gifted it for free in exchange for a review! I somehow don't think people would be leaving 5 stars for it if they'd paid the 50 quid for it!

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 27/07/2025 11:20

Take it back, take your receipt or be prepared to pull up a bank statement.

Be calm, non-emotional and polite but firm (as in, don't be too appeasing). Explain the toy is not fit for purpose.

If you have no luck with the store, try the manufacturer's customer service and failing that, their social media - hopefully you'll get a resolution.

BertieBotts · 27/07/2025 11:21

Ah xposted - great result, well done and what a nice staff member!

cyvguhb · 27/07/2025 11:21

Good result @heyhey11 , pleasing to see that most of us were right to say it would be no problem at all

EasternStandard · 27/07/2025 11:24

Well done op, really pleased it worked out

Leapintothelightning · 27/07/2025 11:25

heyhey11 · 27/07/2025 11:19

Hi everyone! Sorry i've not replied, literally just now returned it.

Just to clear a few things up, it genuinely was a rubbish toy. My son has (along with most kids probably!) never said he wants to take a toy back to the shop haha! Until he got this! I think that just explains how bad it was.. Yes I know some toys don't have the connectors for the characters to sit etc but the characters all had the holes and every Bluey toy we own has the connectors! So it was unexpected for this toy in particular. Like they'd just cheaped out on it. In turn the characters didn't fit on the seats etc so I guess you couldn't really use it the way it was intended and advertised either.

It was the bluey plane set. We have loads of bluey toys, all really good quality so that's added to the disappointment! I'm not sure if we've got a dodgy one or if it is just manufactured like that. However, we took it back. Explained to the guy that it just kept popping open and essentially the front falling off when he was using it etc. he picked it up and saw what we were talking about right away. he did have to ask a manager to come and look at it and then it was okayed ☺️ they apologised it was a rubbish toy to my son (didn't need to so that was nice) and asked if we wanted a refund or credit. Took the refund so DS can have a good look around everywhere to decide, 2nd time lucky!

The guy did say that in his opinion, the quality of like character play sets (peppa, bluey, etc) had gone down massively and they've seen lots of people returning things for similar reasons. Being flimsy etc...

Thanks for everyone's advice, maybe don't buy the Bluey plane 😅 toy recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Overall, glad I took it back. To the poster who told me just to shut up and chalk it down to experience basically. You must have a really patient and understanding 5 year old because mine was not happy 🤣

Also- last point I promise. I did look at the rating on different websites very briefly! And we bought it because they were pretty much 4-5 stars! However on closer inspection today. There's a few dodgy ones on different websites. And a LOT of them are where they've been gifted it for free in exchange for a review! I somehow don't think people would be leaving 5 stars for it if they'd paid the 50 quid for it!

That’s so interesting, the way you described it I thought it was the Bluey plane! I wonder if you had a dodgy one as ours doesn’t pop open like that, if anything it can be a bit stiff to get the sides to open up! My 5 year old got it for Christmas after seeing an advert last summer and obsessing over it. My 2 year old plays with it more than she does 🙄 so either way, dodgy or not, I don’t think it’s worth the price tag!

MinnieGirl · 27/07/2025 11:28

Smyths customer service is brilliant. Phone them up, tell them what you’ve told us, and they will probably refund you in the spot.

Edit;
Just seen you’ve returned it.

BusterGonad · 27/07/2025 11:31

Is it a transformer? They are very expensive and do tend to break of not transformed with a delicate hand.

MuddlerInLaw · 27/07/2025 11:31

.

Inertia · 27/07/2025 11:33

User9784754 · 27/07/2025 09:57

Of course I know the law but I'm using common sense. What's illogical is the entitlement of some people who think they deserve their money back for making a poor purchasing decision and everyone else and the environment needs to pay the price.

The reality of returning a bulky opened, plastic toy is that all those pieces will end up in a bin. No other child will get any enjoyment out of playing with it, which at least justifies the purchase of most non-recyclable toys. A retailer like Smyths would absolutely not repackage an opened toy or contact the manufacturer with feedback. They will just refund the money and dump it straight in the bin.

I would of course (and have) returned unopened toys. Things like duplicate birthday presents with a receipt is absolutely obvious. However once a toy has been opened, I don't expect a poor toy store staff to attempt to fit all the pieces back and reseal it, and neither do I feel comfortable with the entire thing going in the trash just so I can get my "consumer rights" in.

The more realistic solution here would be to resell the toy second hand so you can recoup some of the costs. This also means another child gets to play with it. It's also assuming the son hates it and wants to get rid of it as well, and not just a parental decision. Considering it came out of his pocket money, if he genuinely hates the toy, I would offer a "fake return" in the sense he's allowed the pick out a replacement toy, but I still keep the old one and just gift it or sell it.

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Trading standards laws exist to protect customers when they’ve spent their money on goods or services which are not fit for purpose. Customers should not have to pay the price for shoddy manufacturing standards - it’s the responsibility of the shop and manufacturer to dispose of the faulty goods responsibly. The landfill guilt trip shouldn’t be used to force the customer to accept goods not of merchantable quality.

BruceAndNosh · 27/07/2025 11:39

Thanks for letting us know what the toy was - I was going to buy that Bluey plane set for my husband for our wedding anniversary but I'll have to think of something else! 😁

Member984815 · 27/07/2025 11:50

Pinty · 27/07/2025 11:05

I have always found Playmobil great quality. Has it been taken over, changed?

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Some sets just are not the quality of the older ones now , it's sad because they were great toys

Coffeeishot · 27/07/2025 11:52

That is a good result op , i wonder if popular toys end up being churned out and the quality slips?

Member984815 · 27/07/2025 11:53

heyhey11 · 27/07/2025 11:19

Hi everyone! Sorry i've not replied, literally just now returned it.

Just to clear a few things up, it genuinely was a rubbish toy. My son has (along with most kids probably!) never said he wants to take a toy back to the shop haha! Until he got this! I think that just explains how bad it was.. Yes I know some toys don't have the connectors for the characters to sit etc but the characters all had the holes and every Bluey toy we own has the connectors! So it was unexpected for this toy in particular. Like they'd just cheaped out on it. In turn the characters didn't fit on the seats etc so I guess you couldn't really use it the way it was intended and advertised either.

It was the bluey plane set. We have loads of bluey toys, all really good quality so that's added to the disappointment! I'm not sure if we've got a dodgy one or if it is just manufactured like that. However, we took it back. Explained to the guy that it just kept popping open and essentially the front falling off when he was using it etc. he picked it up and saw what we were talking about right away. he did have to ask a manager to come and look at it and then it was okayed ☺️ they apologised it was a rubbish toy to my son (didn't need to so that was nice) and asked if we wanted a refund or credit. Took the refund so DS can have a good look around everywhere to decide, 2nd time lucky!

The guy did say that in his opinion, the quality of like character play sets (peppa, bluey, etc) had gone down massively and they've seen lots of people returning things for similar reasons. Being flimsy etc...

Thanks for everyone's advice, maybe don't buy the Bluey plane 😅 toy recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Overall, glad I took it back. To the poster who told me just to shut up and chalk it down to experience basically. You must have a really patient and understanding 5 year old because mine was not happy 🤣

Also- last point I promise. I did look at the rating on different websites very briefly! And we bought it because they were pretty much 4-5 stars! However on closer inspection today. There's a few dodgy ones on different websites. And a LOT of them are where they've been gifted it for free in exchange for a review! I somehow don't think people would be leaving 5 stars for it if they'd paid the 50 quid for it!

I've always found smyths to be be excellent, the very first smyths was actually where my dm is from in co. Mayo and we always bought our Christmas toys there. Great to see their expansion over the years

Laura95167 · 27/07/2025 11:57

Id take it back. But be willing to accept vouchers if necessary because if its open and used unless you can prove an obvious way it's broken they may not give you cash back. But thats ok he could get other toys

LimeQuoter · 27/07/2025 12:10

You could try write a letter to the manufacturer and tell them how disappointed you and your son was. They may offer compensation of some sort. Try returning to Smyths too

MuddlerInLaw · 27/07/2025 12:15

Astonishing that grown up people in the UK honestly have no idea of their consumer rights …

MrsSlocombesCat · 27/07/2025 12:31

BunnyLake · 27/07/2025 08:19

I’d return it to the shop but if they refuse then contact the manufacturer as it’s them, not the shop, who are actually at fault. Good luck! I remember the disappointment and annoyance of my kids toys that turned out to be expensive rubbish.

The contract is with the shop, not the manufacturer. This toy is not fit for purpose so the OP is entitled to a refund. Just needs to emphasise that's it not fit for purpose.

SP2024 · 27/07/2025 12:32

We have the Peppa pig plane, it’s excellent quality.