Power City Refund-store credit only?

nudist · 31-12-2010 10:52am #1

I bought a few items in power city the other day but ive actually found the exact same items 15 euro cheaper somewhere else.

The items in question are still brand new-unopened etc-but on the receipt i got it says that 'RETURN/EXCHANGE WITHIN 28 DAYS :WILL BE OFFERED STORE CREDIT'. Is this legal-i want to get my money back plain and simple.

Where do i stand?

Gooch2k4 · 31-12-2010 10:54am

If you change your mind, your lucky your getting your money back at all to be honest!

mickoneill30 · 31-12-2010 10:55am

nudist wrote: »

I bought a few items in power city the other day but ive actually found the exact same items 15 euro cheaper somewhere else.

The items in question are still brand new-unopened etc-but on the receipt i got it says that 'RETURN/EXCHANGE WITHIN 28 DAYS :WILL BE OFFERED STORE CREDIT'. Is this legal-i want to get my money back plain and simple.

Where do i stand?

Yes it's legal. You're only entitled to refund / repair / replacement if the item is faulty or not as described.

Finding it cheaper somewhere else doesn't fit into that.

Legally they don't even have to offer you a credit note, but once they've put the policy on your receipt they do.

whippet · 31-12-2010 10:55am

you actually have no rights whatsoever.

You are not entitled to anything from PowerCity. If they offer you store credit they are doing as a manner of goodwill nothing else.

Just because it was cheaper elsewhere makes no difference.

Antigone05 · 31-12-2010 10:56am

you were happy to pay for those things at that price at that time, Powercity do not have to refund you.

was it a online price you saw cheaper or was it a bricks and mortar store?

nudist · 31-12-2010 10:57am

Antigone05 wrote: »

you were happy to pay for those things at that price at that time, Powercity do not have to refund you.

was it a online price you saw cheaper or was it a bricks and mortar store?

It was just 1 mins walk from the power city i went to!!!

Im really pissed now.

axer · 31-12-2010 10:58am

You have NO rights. They could legally offer to give you only 5% back if they wanted. Be happy they are even accepting them back.

nudist · 31-12-2010 11:00am

So i really have no rights then?

Seems odd that i cant get a basic refund for something still new....

whippet · 31-12-2010 11:02am

nudist wrote: »

So i really have no rights then?

Seems odd that i cant get a basic refund for something still new....

its not odd at all.

you agreed to buy something off PowerCity at a price they quoted. The contract was completed and now you want to go back on it.

axer · 31-12-2010 11:15am

whippet wrote: »

its not odd at all.

you agreed to buy something off PowerCity at a price they quoted. The contract was completed and now you want to go back on it.

Exactly, the op would be on here bitchin if power city did not uphold their side of the contract.

borderlinemeath · 31-12-2010 1:30pm

nudist wrote: »

So i really have no rights then?

Seems odd that i cant get a basic refund for something still new....

Can't believe there are still consumers this naive out there in this day and age!

Read a few of the stickys at the top of the page. Pay particular attention to the one that mentions consumer rights.

dudara · 31-12-2010 1:51pm

There is nothing wrong with the goods - therefore Power City are under no legal obligation to you. Anything they offer you is at their discretion and is a sign of goodwill.

theofficepest · 31-12-2010 2:08pm

is that really true though, is it? doesn't he have any comeback

dudara · 31-12-2010 2:14pm

theofficepest wrote: »

is that really true though, is it? doesn't he have any comeback

He has no comeback. The goods are fit for purpose and were sold in good faith by the shop. They are under no legal obligation to refund him money for the goods.

The only way that he might get his money back is if the shop operates a generous refunds/returns policy.

Cabaal · 31-12-2010 2:31pm

Kind of scary people have to ask about this situation, changing your mind is not a valid reason to seek a refund

Exclamation Marc · 31-12-2010 2:34pm

As others said, be happy you're getting store credit.

There's nothing worse than working in a store and having misinformed customers coming into the shop and spouting out wildly incorrect consumer rights that they have a right to refund because they changed their mind.

Unless its faulty or broken or not as described, you have zero rights, take the store credit and be happy

davo10 · 31-12-2010 3:47pm

There is one obvious question to be asked in all this, "OP, why did you not check the price of the item 1min away before purchasing in Power City?".

Take responcibility for your actions and stop looking for opinions on the legality of a shop refusing to refund you when there is nothing wrong with the item which was sold as advertised, be pissed off with yourself, not the shop.

Bluetonic · 31-12-2010 4:01pm

Cabaal wrote: »

Kind of scary people have to ask about this situation, changing your mind is not a valid reason to seek a refund

It's not that scary now, it it? Some people just don't know their rights, not a sin or anything.

Not all people have basic consumer rights awareness.

borderlinemeath · 31-12-2010 4:08pm

Bluetonic wrote: »

It's not that scary now, it it? Some people just don't know their rights, not a sin or anything.

Not all people have basic consumer rights awareness.

Your quite right, not all people have basic consumer rights awareness - instead they have a false sense of entitlement.

Kensington · 31-12-2010 5:42pm

Bluetonic wrote: »

It's not that scary now, it it? Some people just don't know their rights, not a sin or anything.

Not all people have basic consumer rights awareness.

Unfortunately for shop staff it tends to be those least aware who are most vocal about it!

P. Breathnach · 31-12-2010 6:13pm

Kensington wrote: »

Unfortunately for shop staff it tends to be those least aware who are most vocal about it!

I don't disagree, but their lack of knowledge is often matched by a corresponding ignorance on the part of shop staff (some of whom have been "trained" on dealing with consumer complaints).

Exclamation Marc · 31-12-2010 7:46pm

P. Breathnach wrote: »

I don't disagree, but their lack of knowledge is often matched by a corresponding ignorance on the part of shop staff (some of whom have been "trained" on dealing with consumer complaints).

I agree that some staff are completely wrong in the way they deal with some consumers and I have seen some awful ignorance, but most of the time its the consumers who scream "I KNOW MY RIGHTS!!!!!" and threaten the shop/cashier will all sorts of reporting to this authority and that authority and demand a refund or they won't leave the shop etc etc.

Bluetonic · 01-01-2011 10:33am

borderlinemeath wrote: »

Your quite right, not all people have basic consumer rights awareness - instead they have a false sense of entitlement.

I suppose it's just like spelling, everyone is not perfect.

mad m · 01-01-2011 12:20pm

Would Powercity have a price promise like Currys do? Maybe look in store and see. Ask them that you seen it cheaper else where and can they match it. I know you have bought stuff already but its worth a try.

Cabaal · 01-01-2011 12:50pm

Bluetonic wrote: »

It's not that scary now, it it? Some people just don't know their rights, not a sin or anything.

Not all people have basic consumer rights awareness.

True but these basic rights were thought when I went to school and as already mentioned there's nothing more annoying then a very vocal very wrong customer when it comes to them believing they know their rights

Cabaal · 01-01-2011 12:52pm

mad m wrote: »

Would Powercity have a price promise like Currys do? Maybe look in store and see. Ask them that you seen it cheaper else where and can they match it. I know you have bought stuff already but its worth a try.

DID also have a price promise which can be seen on did.ie, but I see nothing on http://powercity.ie about them having one as well.

borderlinemeath · 01-01-2011 1:02pm

Bluetonic wrote: »

I suppose it's just like spelling, everyone is not perfect.

:rolleyes: Grammar police out in force.

Back on topic - The NCA have been doing a huge marketing campaign on TV/Radio to inform consumers of their rights.
OP assumes his "rights" include an automatic refund.
A classic example of misinformation, either assumed or passed on by word of mouth, just as portrayed in the advertisments.
In fact when I read the thread at first - I immediately thought of the ad and the characters in it.

Advertising works!

dudara · 01-01-2011 1:25pm

Bluetonic wrote: »

I suppose it's just like spelling, everyone is not perfect.

@Bluetonic - you should know better than that. Please don't do that again.

dudara

Bluetonic · 01-01-2011 6:45pm

Cabaal wrote: »

True but these basic rights were thought when I went to school

Ignorantly you presume everyone had the same education you did.

Have some tolerance and understanding.

Guy:Incognito · 02-01-2011 2:33am

Bluetonic wrote: »

Ignorantly you presume everyone had the same education you did.

Have some tolerance and understanding.

Is that not the point of a uniform curriculum and requiring kids to stay in school at least until they are 16?

Forest Master · 02-01-2011 2:03pm

Bluetonic wrote: »

Ignorantly you presume everyone had the same education you did.

Have some tolerance and understanding.

Eh, it's taught in Junior Cert commerce (aka Business Studies) - everyone does this in secondary school. I learned my basic consumer rights in 1st year when I was 13.

rubadub · 02-01-2011 4:49pm

nudist wrote: »

So i really have no rights then?

Seems odd that i cant get a basic refund for something still new....

You do have rights, and so do the shops. I am not sure where this idea came about that you should have the right to return things, it would be very unfair on retailers.

Maybe it comes from US films & TV, I am not sure of the laws in the US but you very often hear of them telling people to return things in films like there will be definitely no problem doing it. Some stores will do it here, like argos have a money back offer on many items (excluding stuff like games or shavers etc). They will have to pay all the additional the admin costs of this policy.

Use common sense when it comes to things you presume are your "rights", put a bit of thought into what it would lead to e.g. if this was a true legal right then rival shop owners could go in and buy a shop out of stock on christmas eve, then return it all a few days later leaving the shopkeeper devestated who might have thought he had made lots of money and now has to go restocking etc.

It could also lead to a type of touting, people go in and buy up the most sought after christmas toy or game in the hope to sell it on at a high price. When they have a few or all of them leftover they could just return it. If it was in law you would have heard of such abuse by now.

Also in future ask for a discount in powercity, last week I got a €60 HD for €52 by just asking for a discount.

Exclamation Marc · 02-01-2011 4:57pm

rubadub wrote: »

You do have rights, and so do the shops. I am not sure where this idea came about that you should have the right to return things, it would be very unfair on retailers.

Maybe it comes from US films & TV, I am not sure of the laws in the US but you very often hear of them telling people to return things in films like there will be definitely no problem doing it. Some stores will do it here, like argos have a money back offer on many items (excluding stuff like games or shavers etc). They will have to pay all the additional the admin costs of this policy.

Also in future ask for a discount in powercity, I got a €60 HD for €52 by just asking for a discount.

I think the problem where consumers don't know their rights comes from where a couple of shops have a change your mind policy and allow refunds for change of mind, and consumers therefore think that all shops abide by this code where in reality its a very small minority which offer it.

I think it is Argos that I'm thinking of too where they still sometimes give a refund. Also it was commonplace in a lot of stores in the 90s to give refunds (I remember a friend used to win games in competitions and bring them back still sealed to Virgin on Henry Street with no receipt (as he won them elsewhere) and got a cash refund).

So its a combination of old practice and the fact that very shops still do it.

Still though, how anyone could think they have a legal right because they simply changed their mind is quite odd.

dudara · 02-01-2011 4:59pm

Forest Master wrote: »

Eh, it's taught in Junior Cert commerce (aka Business Studies) - everyone does this in secondary school. I learned my basic consumer rights in 1st year when I was 13.

Not everybody takes Consumer Studies for their Junior Certificate. Please allow that other people may not have studied the same subjects as you.

dudara

Power City Refund-store credit only?

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