A consumer rights question

ReefBreak

I don't know where to ask this question, so I'll put it here.

I bought a shirt in a shop in Dublin last saturday. When I got home, I realised it was crap (it looked fine when I bought it, but then realised it was mingin'). My girlfriend returned it for me today, in the store bag, with the receipt and all the labels still attached.

The store tells her that they can't give a refund on a sale item. However, after some arguing, they gave her a credit note which, they informed her, would run out after one month.

So, is a store entitled to refuse a refund on a sale item?
And can a store impose a time-limit on a credit note?

Hobart

AFAIK they have to give you a refund if the product was not used and you were unhappy with it. Have a look here and they should be able to tell you. As for the credit note? I dont know.

Sleipnir

If it was actually defective in someway, they have to give you your money back if a suitable replacment is not satisfactory to you.
If you just didn't like it cos of it's colour or whatever, they only have to give a replacment of equal value or a credit note, not neccessarily a refend.
Not sure about the 'expiry' though.

RainyDay

The store is under no obligation to do anything for you if you have just changed your mind.

If the item is 'not fit for the purpose for which it was sold' or 'not of merchantable quality', then they would be obliged to refund you. However, I think you would have a tough time explaining how you failed to notice in the shop, if the item really is that bad.

Kappar

Rainyday is right the shop is only has to refund if the item is faulty or not fit for the purpose it was sold etc. see here Some shops will give you a refund if you don't like it but they are under no obligation.

Space Coyote

Did it look good in the shop because some hot chick was modelling it for you ?

Kappar

Did it look good in the shop because some hot chick was modelling it for you ?

A little off topic(Okay alot) but do you know what's always better in the shop? The samples you get in the supermarket, you know the ones with toothpicks in them, you go into the shop taste 'em "Ohh their lovely Give me 20 bags/packets" you take 'em home cook 'em "Fúck that **** they're nicer in the shop" you whore out 19 bags/packets. Mabey it's because you have to cook it yourself or because they have them cool griddle thing to cook on. anyway back to your topic.

aodh_rua

Originally posted by RainyDay
The store is under no obligation to do anything for you if you have just changed your mind.

If the item is 'not fit for the purpose for which it was sold' or 'not of merchantable quality', then they would be obliged to refund you. However, I think you would have a tough time explaining how you failed to notice in the shop, if the item really is that bad.

Yep Rainy Day's got it. Those are the conditions of the 1980 Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act which provide a legal protection from unscrupulous vendors. You can also get relief under the 1978 Consumer Information Act, which applies when goods are not as described.

As for the whole 'Sale' items policy, they usually state that their no return policy does not affect you statutory rights, i.e. they won't replace items returned for the sake of it, but they are still obliged to offer some comeback when their goods are in violation of the two laws.

Frankly ReefBreak - you're doing well to get as much as you have.

ur mentor

sounds like a cool shop 2 give a credit note. Its all a bit legalistic here though isn't it. what about customer goodwill?
like the idea of going off track however- whats the best customer service story out there.

ReefBreak

Well, I 've looked up the Consumer Rights website, and it appears that the store would have been fully within their rights to refuse a refund or an exchange as the shirt wasn't damaged. So I guess I should be grateful for the credit note.

I've experienced that thing with the samples in stores as well - I think it may be something psychological actually. You usually hungry and the smallness of the sample makes it that bit nicer.

oneweb

Gah! So many people assume it's their right to return something to a shop just 'cos they felt like their money back. Unless the good is in someway faulty, a shop is under no obligation whatsoever to give a refund. OK, so it would be nice if everywhere employed a sense of goodwill. The shop was being nice by giving a credit note and has every right to limit the validity of same.

As has already been said.

As for sale items, many of those are sold 'as seen' with arse all right to a refund.