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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to take back aftershave to Boots / Debenhams etc when I never bought it from there and exchange it (if they will let me)

72 replies

Notalone · 30/12/2008 20:23

I have been a bloody idiot and was wondering if this would be so wrong.

Basically I love perfume but as I am a mature student and DP is out of work due to having an accident, this is a luxury I just can't afford right now. My lovely aunt gave me some money for Xmas and told me to use it for something girlie / luxury so my first thought was to buy myself a bottle of something nice. Today I went into town and looked in every shop to make sure I was buying the most I could at the lowest price and decided to get some Hugo Boss Woman in a shop called Xtras. The price was fab but there were signs everywhere saying no refunds / exchanges on discounted perfume. Not a problem I thought until I got home and realised I had bought mens aftershave and not the perfume version.

Would it really be so bad to go to Boots / Perfume Store / Debenhams and try to exchange it as a "wrong Xmas present". The aftershave is what they sell anyway and I would not be profiting from it. Unless of course they could tell that it hadn't been bought from there in the first place, in which case would I get into trouble?

Any ideas?

OP posts:
Goober · 30/12/2008 20:41

Perhaps you could say in Extras tomorrow that you asked for the Women's perfume and you didn't realise until you got home that you'd been mis-sold???? It is just a swap after all. BUT I don't reccomend the other idea of taking it elsewhere.

snuffyp · 30/12/2008 20:41

i worked at boots we always put a boots sticker on.plus i,d served customers before and the till would,nt read the barcodes on the box

SoupDragon · 30/12/2008 20:41

Go back to where you bought it, insist that you asked for Hugo Boss woman and they made a mistake.

expatinscotland · 30/12/2008 20:44

'Cheshirekitty - how would they be out of pocket - I really don't understand your point when they sell it anyway?'

Because they buy their stock based on what their projections of sales are.

They take back something that's not theirs and they have to sell another product that might not be as popular/easy to sell as the one you walk out with.

Yes, it's only just the one bottle, but imagine the effect if others did that all across the UK on their inventory/stock control especially when all of these retailers are suffering with the recession.

expatinscotland · 30/12/2008 20:44

'Cheshirekitty - how would they be out of pocket - I really don't understand your point when they sell it anyway?'

Because they buy their stock based on what their projections of sales are.

They take back something that's not theirs and they have to sell another product that might not be as popular/easy to sell as the one you walk out with.

Yes, it's only just the one bottle, but imagine the effect if others did that all across the UK on their inventory/stock control especially when all of these retailers are suffering with the recession.

expatinscotland · 30/12/2008 20:45

sorry for double post.

and if you asked for Hugo Boss woman then they mis-sold the product.

SoupDragon · 30/12/2008 20:45

Does it matter if they're out of pocket?? It's just wrong!

BrieVinDeAlkaSeltzer · 30/12/2008 20:48

Have not read the whole thread, but surely that is just theft by another name. ??

zenandtheartofbaking · 30/12/2008 20:49

I thought that shops had to offer a refund/exchange if the item "was not fit for use". So, in this case you have been mis-sold an aftershave in lieu of a perfume, which means it cannot function in the role for which you purchased it.

The shop sounds a bit dodgy to me. "Phone the council's trading standards dept. who may or may not be helpful but will probably, at the very least indicate whether they have had problems with the shop.

And I agree with Soupdragon, go back, when it's busy, ask for a manager and explain pleasantly but loudly that they have made a mistake.

Meglet · 30/12/2008 20:49

its not really appropriate for you to take it back somewhere else, so YABU.

Aimsmum · 30/12/2008 20:50

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Notalone · 30/12/2008 20:50

Ok - Expat, I understand your point. I know I have been an idiot and am not going to try now anyway. Am just a bit disappointed that my little bit of luxury amongst all the Trsco Value in my house has gone up in a puff of smoke because I can't read a box correctly.

I am not even sure if they actually sell Hugo Boss Woman so will just see if I can appeal to their better natures. I don't hold out much hope though judging by the amount of signs they have combined with the bored / harassed looking assistants.

I still stand by the fact that I am not a thief nor a villain though. I still think that was too strong.

OP posts:
SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 30/12/2008 20:52

There is an Xtras in my town and they exchanged my sisters tights unopened, in original packaging with reciept simply because she had changed her mind about her outfit and wanted a different colour. They were fine about it.

expatinscotland · 30/12/2008 20:55

did you get it off the shelf?

i think it's still worth asking for an exchange.

Original poster
Notalone · 30/12/2008 20:55

Thats reassuring SSSSBSS - wish me luck!

Aimsmum - - tis easily done hey?

OP posts:
Original poster
Notalone · 30/12/2008 20:57

Expat - it was on a shelf next to the till, you give them the empty box and they swap it for a box with the bottle in. Its my own stupid fault for not checking properly.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 30/12/2008 20:57

ah, i see.

think it's worth going in there and just telling the truth.

Aimsmum · 30/12/2008 20:58

Message withdrawn

mumof2andabit · 30/12/2008 20:59

No no no take it back to boots or debenhams!!!!!! Just do it the credit crunch is crap and we all need a little treat sometimes. If they accept it their responsibility iyswim.

Say your aunt bought it for you and obviously it is wrong. Good luck!

ScottishMummy · 30/12/2008 21:00

yes if completely in original packaging and re-saleable condition i don't see any problem for exchange with receipt

expatinscotland · 30/12/2008 21:02

'No no no take it back to boots or debenhams!!!!!! Just do it the credit crunch is crap and we all need a little treat sometimes. If they accept it their responsibility iyswim. '

if everyone did that, though, then it would affect the stores stock controls, which would in turn affect their profits. and when profits go down, people don't just go without a little treat, they lose their jobs.

not cool. not cool at all.

ruddynorah · 30/12/2008 21:03

zena- what a ridiculous suggestion. trading standards my arse. the customer bought an item. she now doesn't want it. the shop do not have to help her.

going in talking LOUDLY about anything will not help.

if, however, she goes in with the receipt and explains honestly what has happened then they will most probably help her.

ScottishMummy · 30/12/2008 21:08

EPOS (electronic point of sale) barcode scanning monitors stock control and identifies products uniquely to that store.so another product entering their supply chain will be invalid code,not recognised

and essentially it was a transaction between Xtras and NotAlone,nothing to do with Boots or debs

differentID · 30/12/2008 21:10

Zena, just so you know- a large number of retail staff will be quite prepared to stand their ground against disagreeable attention seekers. ~I've done it myself and will do it again when needed. Trust me, you only make yourself look like a tit.

mumof2andabit · 30/12/2008 21:10

No maybe not cool but having lived with value range everything I know how much having some NICE means.

If op takes it into another store and they say no fair dos but if they say yes then I still mantain she is doing no evil.