Department store refusing a refund!

[Changingnames2002]

Hello,

I received for my birthday a pair of designer shoes, they have a significant red sole if this helps. They were bought using a credit card from a major UK retailer.

The shoes were delivered during the first lockdown lift, I decided I wanted to return them and repurchase in another style. I took them to store, unboxed them and tried the shoes on (carpeted floor) for the first time in front of a member of staff (the brand itself within the larger department store)

I was unable to return to store there and then, as it has to be posted back rather than returned in store as it was ordered online.

I returned home, had a courier collect to return parcel and received an email a week later saying the shoes have been returned in an 'unsalable condition'.

I was baffled as they were genuinely tried one once, on carpet in front of a member of staff. I asked for photographs detailing the 'damage' and there was a photo of a small crease in the leather on the sole.

I am devastated as they were a special gift and very expensive, not something I would ever buy for myself! And now I am stuck with shoes that I can't wear.

Does anyone have any advice?

So this was more than a year ago? Realistically I don't think there is anything you can do now, more than a year after you tried to return them.

@millenialblush

Are PPs suggesting HOF sell louboutins?

OP says Selfridges.

@Pimlicojo

So this was more than a year ago? Realistically I don't think there is anything you can do now, more than a year after you tried to return them.

It was after Christmas

Next time tell your husband not to randomly buy you something you haven't picked or tried on. I never understand this "I hope they like this" way of buying gifts. Well unless it's something like a £4.99 book by an author they haven't read before or a different brand of bubble bath - but not designer shoes !!

Snowdropscrocuses I guess I assumed it was Selfridges in London which hasn't been open since mid Dec so it couldn't have been this year. Maybe another Selfridges branch? I'm confused by the timings.

When you decided to return the, why did you feel the need to try them on in the store? You already decided you didn't want to keep them, so what was the point?

Can you be more specific about the dates?

The OP said they were a birthday present, delivered during first lockdown lift (so summer?)
Then says she was given them for Christmas and returned them after Christmas before lockdown began.

There's too many holes in this story...

I thought we were in tier 4 before Christmas so all shops were closed. Misses point of thread.

Something doesn't add up here. You sent the shoes back to Selfridges and they then re-delivered them to you because they were 'damaged'? If there was a crease on the leather it must have got there somehow . Very odd.

'I was given them for Christmas by my husband and I returned them after Christmas before lockdown began'

But then you say you were given them for your birthday

Confused with the time frames

I thought Tier 4 began on Boxing Day for the rest of the country not already in it.

Small claims court!

Pimlicojo I'm confused myself now actually. Seem to be a few confusing aspects to the story.

justamummy ooh I want to see this on Judge Rinder.

You didn't try them on when your husband gave them to you?

No I didn't try them on because I thought I'd prefer another style

Shops closed in London and SE a week before Christmas. Op, you could not have returned them within the statutory timeframe for distance selling and therefore have no consumer rights.

Some retailers have extended their return times though.. presumably because the postal
Service is a bit hit and miss. I have no idea what Selfridges have done though.

@Ilovemaisie
Totally. My DH did this to me last Xmas with a bag. I hated it on sight but didn’t have the heart to tell him - when I googled it - it was £420!! I nearly died. Still didn’t have the heart so have sucked it up and used it a few times with him. It is practically orange, structured and with more metalware than B&Q!!! I love minimalist slouchy bags with no hardware - how could he have got me so wrong 😂

@Changingnames2002

I was given them for Christmas by my husband and I returned them after Christmas before lockdown began

Op... selfridges didn’t open after Christmas. It’s hasn’t been open since before Christmas

What a bizarre thread.

@ChequerBoard

If it's HOF, you've got no chance. I refuse to shop with them ever again after a similar online shoe purchase debacle .

They just aren't geared up for online sales at all, their processes are shockingly bad.

Only since they were bought out by Sports Direct who actively discourage returning anything. I’ve refused to shop with them since then.

OP your story doesn’t add up on many levels.

I don’t understand how you went into the store, but I’ve read reviews about Selfridges saying the exact same thing.

If you were in the store why did you have to try on your own pair of shoes.

Did they not have any there that you could have tried on for fit?