Is my maths wrong? (Shop refund)

[GertysBestShoes]

Big supermarket near me, closed off its changing rooms during COVID. Went in to buy something important that needs to fit correctly (swimming costume for a pool party booked the next day).

I asked a staff member near the clothing if the changing room was open any more, she confirmed no (I think they're now used as stock storage, you basically can't get beyond any barrier at the entrance). She advised of a 100 day refund policy and confirmed if was okay to buy a few, try them on that day, then refund (with all labels and hangers) the same day.

Bought a few costumes in different sizes (size 12, 14 and 2 different style 16s) along with my £20 ISH food shopping. Paid on a credit card and some vouchers I'd got (think something like clubcard voucher or Asda rewards, a specific £value). Total was £69.

Went back within thr hour (hurrah, 1 costume fitted) and attempted the return at customer service desk. 3 returns to process.

They were:
£9 costume on sale
£10
£20

I expect a £39 refund.

The customer service rep says it is a £39.43 refund that I'm entitled to, because I used a £1 voucher it influenced the refund value as it applies to the costume too.

I asked if the 57p will go back onto my loyalty voucher value, she said no.

What would you have done in that situation? What's a reasonable refund value?

A - be happy with £38.43
B - er, you returned £39 of goods so they need to make it right to £39 value even if it's on a gift card
C - £39.43 refund due back.

I won't drip feed, I'll share here that the customer service desk lady insisted on A. I insisted on B and asked to speak to a manager. Management was called who tried to give me a £38.43 credit card refund then give me a £1 gift card (which I explained was too much).

Aibu?

I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just take the offered extra £1 voucher. The store manager would not be in any trouble, they have discretion when dealing with this sort of situation.

To be honest, you getting the price wrong in your post makes me think you have probably made a mistake somewhere.

The £1 voucher was probably Asda thinking let’s get this over with.

They haven’t re opened the changing rooms!!
It’s amazing on Mumsnet that people don’t care about change.
But I would have taken the refund and the gift card.

You sound just like the bus driver years ago, who use to owe 1 or 2p, then when you asked for at end of journey they would twist. It happened often because I was about the second person on the first bus and he was saving his change. No they wouldn’t let me off the 1p or 2p of my fare and at that time every penny counted!

Bet the bus driver loved saving up all those pennies!

This

I can't believe I just wasted some of my life reading this drivel ... 57p? Are you taking the piss?

This cracked me up 😂

OP can you honestly not see how ridiculous it is to call a manager and kick off over 57p? Seriously? And then come on here and write a full explanation and breakdown, get a hobby or something, honestly life is way too short, this stuff doesn't matter and ill happily send you 57p if you are in that much need of it. x

It's like ordering on the mcdonalds app for delivery - if the item you ordered with points is missing, or the delivery is cancelled, you dont get the points back.
I guess because they can withdraw benefits / rewards at any time and they ALWAYS say in the t&cs thay they have a cash value of 0.0001p...?
Tough titty, as they say.

Really? Are we really having this discussion over a few pence. FFS!

I can't believe I read all that OP over a £1 difference.

Good grief is this all you have to worry about?

57p!

They are right about being refunded £38.43 in cash, and yes, a voucher for 57p. But they don't do those, hence being offered £1.

Who cares that much about a few pence.

Who would even notice 57p let alone spend time creating a thread about it.
However Asda are correct if you’re using a voucher, you haven’t specified the type of voucher on here but H&M for example operate a similar policy. At H&M if you’re using a voucher and buying say three items the value of the voucher is split across the three items therefore if returning one of the items it would reflect the cost of the item with a portion of the voucher deducted which is reflected in the refund amount . If that makes sense.

How ridiculous I wouldn't be stressing over a few pence

Please stop, OP

They offered you a £1 voucher that would have put you in credit.You clearly shop there so what's the problem? You gained.

The voucher presumably had conditions attached so when you returned items you no longer meet the conditions and it was reduced. The first assistant was correct but as you complained the manager made the decision to refund the voucher by giving you a gift voucher. She was probably well aware that the first person was right but in the interests of customer service giving the pound makes more sense than an unhappy customer. She won't get into trouble as she will have leeway to make such decisions.

I wouldn’t have given it a second thought.

The voucher you used would have likely been spread off everything, so to simplify, if you bought 10 items and had a £1 voucher, you'd get 10p off everything.

Initially I was very confused because it seems in your first paragraph you got back more than you expected. I think that was maybe a typo.

Anyway... if you took back everything on the receipt you'd get back the exact value paid- the cost, minus the voucher. But because most people dont do that they spread the voucher over everything.

N) 😮‍💨

I don't get it either, lol