Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Trouble with Aspinal - can I insist on getting my money back

51 replies

fuckitybollocks · 21/03/2013 21:33

I am not sure where to put this, I thought here would reach people who shop for handbags online and perhaps live to regret it

I bought a purple Barbarella handbag online (perhaps in the evening and after a glass or two) from AspinalOfLondon. Anyway I used money that was a gift and was delighted to see it was reduced.

It arrived - and the gold was too er...gold. There was also lots of it. I decided to return it and get something that was a little less brash. I posted it back (at enormous cost) and requested a refund. A few days later I got an email explaining their terms and conditions (which I do not recall seeing) stated the Sale goods could only be returned in exchange for a credit on an Aspinal account. I was horrified, felt quite sick in fact :(

I responded explaining the money was a gift and there was no way I could add another 300 pounds to purchase a handbag. I asked very nicely if they would consider refunding the pennies (well pounds and lots of them actually).
,
Another response - no.

I was pretty sure that online shopping entitled you to a 7 day cooling off period (it was returned the same day as arrival). I alos thought that terms and conditions could not reduce your legal rights - even if the goods were at a reduced price.

I have googled and can't see anything that suggests I was wrong. Can anyone tell me? What should I do? I honestly thought this was the case and it never crossed my mind that a company like Aspinal would renege on this. So much did I have faith in this reputable (ha) organisation I used a debit card because the gift was in my current account.

I would love to hear if anyone has has problems with Aspinal but even more I love to find out how to deal with this. I really do not want anything cheaper from their range - I want to buy a handbag!

OP posts:
faustina · 22/03/2013 07:27

me too MrsCB - I refuse to use companies who dick their customers around. Perhaps it's time for another mn list of good customer service?

fuckitybollocks · 26/03/2013 11:14

Aspinal have agreed to refund the cost of the bag although they still state that the regs do not apply due to their terms and conditions. I have asked for the first set of postage too. I will report back when pennies are in my account but they have stated it remains their policy only to exchange sale goods so be careful!

OP posts:
JennySense · 26/03/2013 11:21

Not much to add apart from how shocking that such a prestige brand would treat a customer like this :(

Sleepyfergus · 26/03/2013 11:57

I think Aspinal know that have been naughty and are begrudgingly refunding you. Why should they be exempt from the law? What tosspots! Totally go for the postage as well, that'll really piss them off!! Ha ha!

OP, I'm so glad you got your money back!

JennySense · 26/03/2013 13:59

Not much to add apart from how shocking that such a prestige brand would treat a customer like this :(

AKissIsNotAContract · 26/03/2013 14:06

Glad you're getting a refund. even on the website it looks a bit blingy

bunnymother · 26/03/2013 14:07

After having read this thread, I wouldn't buy from Aspinal. Not that I was hugely tempted anyway.

MrsCampbellBlack · 26/03/2013 14:08

I find it so annoying when companies act like they're doing you a favour when in reality they're just carrying out their legal requirements.

Very glad you got your money back

propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS · 26/03/2013 16:17

Aspinal doing themselves no favours here! This thread will quite rightly damage their brand. Well done for insisting on your legal rights, OP.

BrandyAlexander · 26/03/2013 17:35

I am really shocked at their behaviour! I was tempted by the purple bag but a girl on my commute has it and it looked plasticky enough to put me off! Glad you got resolution OP!

fuckitybollocks · 27/03/2013 16:17

Hmmm. No money in my account yet. No response to my request for postage either. Feeling a bit worried again now.

OP posts:
Sleepyfergus · 27/03/2013 16:39

Keep at 'em. An email or call a day until you get your money back. I would also (politely) threaten to name and shame them to the like of trading standards/ watchdog. I might even be totes to send them a link to this thread.

Sleepyfergus · 27/03/2013 16:40

Totes? No pun intended. That should be tempted.

wildfig · 27/03/2013 17:30

I have to say that this snotty sales 'credit note only' attitude was the final straw for me and LK Bennett. Once I stopped browsing the sales there, I never really back again.

fuckitybollocks · 29/03/2013 08:39

The money is in my account. They have also emailed me to explain (very snottily - new word alert) that their terms and conditions state only exchange and of course the distance selling regulations do not apply. Hmm

Is it correct that the Regs always apply; even if shopping in sales? I think we all need this info!

Anyway thanks to everyone, I was really stressed by this! Will stick to John Lewis from now on.

www.johnlewis.com/fossil-vintage-revival-satchel/p368287?colour=Smokey%20Blue

This one I think.

OP posts:
foxysocks · 29/03/2013 09:09

why do the DSRs not apply to them? surely they are bound by law to follow them? idiots, this well def ruin their brand. I looked at one of their purses for my mum at christmas, beyond plasticky and really cheap looking.

come on aspinall, do the right thing. threaten small claims, OP?

Sleepyfergus · 29/03/2013 10:08

Yay! Glad you got your money back Fuckity. I think (the collective) we need to post something re DSR and bump every so often so folks are aware......

aftermay · 29/03/2013 10:16

I agree about LK Bennett. I've never shopped in them since the shitty attitude (staff too!) about returning sale items. So just because something is reduced it means you can't check it at home for matching colour, different bra underneath etc.

Glad you got your money back from Aspinal.

BrandyAlexander · 29/03/2013 10:28

Great news! I agree about LKB. Love their clothes but won't buy direct from them because their selling terms are crap.

mylovelymonster · 29/03/2013 10:42

I thought that your statutory rights/DSRs overide any T&Cs???? They can say what they like in their T&Cs but is meaningless if it goes against the DSR? Is that not correct? There are many companies that require a shorter return timeframe for sales items over regular priced items but that usually falls outside the 7 day DSR.

mylovelymonster · 29/03/2013 10:45

I know many places only give credit notes for sales items bought in store, but ordering online is very different and DSR should apply regardless. I always check when I buy anything in a sale or from outlet stores as T&Cs can differ greatly.Never usually worried about ordering online though.

justasecond · 29/03/2013 15:02

I am glad you got your money back OP but I would report them to Trading standards, they wouldbe very interested in this sort of thing.

jumpinghoops · 30/03/2013 09:12

I had a horrible experience ordering a Christmas present from Aspinal, it took over a week to arrive, I was a bit stressed though accept it was only a few days later than their quoted delivery times. It was when I spoke to customer services that I decided I'd never order with them again, they were really rude and blamed me for the late arrival on me ordering close to Christmas (despite ordering 10 days before their stated last ordering date for Xmas arrival).

MarshaBrady · 30/03/2013 09:24

That is crap. I won't deal with online sites that don't make it very easy to return.

The outnet, and NaP, being one of the best. Easy to return with a fast refund.

Glad you got your money back but they are rubbish for making it difficult. Definitely one to avoid.

EuroShaggleton · 30/03/2013 13:39

Ask them to explain to you why they think they are exempt from the Distance Selling Regs.