How damaged does item have to be to return it?

[TwixOwl]

I was shopping today in an expensive designer village place. I have thought for a long time to treat myself to a purse that will last me a long time, I found the perfect one which was £160 reduced to £99.

I chose the purse and she went out the back and returned with a version of it that had not been on display. She bagged it, boxed it and I paid and left the shop. I decided to look at it before I left in the car and noticed the front of the purse was damaged slightly, like a 2-3 mm patch on the material that had been damaged and had affected the pattern with a white mark.

I was soooo disappointed, I kept thinking am I fussy, you can't really see it? And it'll get more damaged with wear and tear. But I just didn't like the purse anymore.

Anyway I thought sod it, I took it back to the shop and she exchanged it for the one that had been on display (which I had originally checked and no issues with it).

Anyway I'm really happy I took it back and exchanged it.

So it made me wonder if you buy something how damaged would it need to be for you to make the effort to return it?

She knew she was giving you a damaged bag

Luckily for you you checked it early in but you should have checked it before leaving the shop

You're lucky they exchanged it

If you'd have taken it back the next day you probably wouldn't have been so lucky

She knew exactly what she was doing - trying to palm off a damaged bag on you 🤬 I would complain to the store manager in your position.

I did briefly check it, but wasn't easy to see the damage until outside in the sunlight and the pattern is very busy on the fabric.

I don't like how you choose something in the shop and they then get one "out the back".

No, you're absolutely right. In fact, I had the same thing happen to me years ago with a mattress that I bought in a shop. It was a display mattress which was discounted because it was a display one and the one that arrived was a similar , harder mattress. The person who sold it to me tried to BS me but ultimately the store manager said it was reasonable for me to expect to have what I thought I was buying!

I think you were absolutely right to return it. Unless you are knowingly buying an item that's ex display, seconds, or a return etc then it should be in perfect brand new condition.

when I’m buying something I expect it to be as advertised and not damaged at all unless stated otherwise. The reduced price is neither here nor there as it was not reduced because of the damage.
I think she hoped that you were visiting the area so wouldn’t come back. Awful.
And thank you for the posting it, I haven’t thought about this trick, will be vigilant next time.