Returning unwanted Christmas gifts

lurker2000

Ok, so in the general scheme of things these days, this is a pimple on the ass of the moon, but I want to vent. Due to shop closures before Christmas and the uncertainty of reopening normally, I ordered goods mid November so there would be no disappointment on Christmas day.

Now I find that some items didn't fit and want to exchange in two different Irish shops. Now this is my fault as I should have been more careful reading the conditions, but I see that both places have a 30 day returns policy which has now expired. This has really cheesed me off as for fairness sake, there should be a two week post Christmas return policy IMO.

I've emailed one shop more in hope than expectation as its a niche shop - the other one is a chain and I'm legging it down there tomorrow. If I couldn't get them exchanged/refunded, It would be a comfort to donate them to a charity who could re-gift them - but it looks like none of them are doing this in 2020 unlike previous years due to Covid. So the best that will happen in that they will just end up in a charity shop getting a fraction of their worth.

Do I have any legal leg to stand on ?

Miaireland

lurker2000 wrote: »

Ok, so in the general scheme of things these days, this is a pimple on the ass of the moon, but I want to vent. Due to shop closures before Christmas and the uncertainty of reopening normally, I ordered goods mid November so there would be no disappointment on Christmas day.

Now I find that some items didn't fit and want to exchange in two different Irish shops. Now this is my fault as I should have been more careful reading the conditions, but I see that both places have a 30 day returns policy which has now expired. This has really cheesed me off as for fairness sake, there should be a two week post Christmas return policy IMO.

I've emailed one shop more in hope than expectation as its a niche shop - the other one is a chain and I'm legging it down there tomorrow. If I couldn't get them exchanged/refunded, It would be a comfort to donate them to a charity who could re-gift them - but it looks like none of them are doing this in 2020 unlike previous years due to Covid. So the best that will happen in that they will just end up in a charity shop getting a fraction of their worth.

Do I have any legal leg to stand on ?

Sadly not. Unless the items are faulty then it is considered change of mind and shops do not have to refund/repair or replace.

bucketybuck

lurker2000 wrote: »

This has really cheesed me off as for fairness sake, there should be a two week post Christmas return policy IMO.

Why not a one month post christmas return policy? Who dictates what is "fair" or not?

Why not be honest, what you really want is a "whatever time period benefits me" return policy.

Seve OB

I’d say you will find most shops are reasonable and will help you out

lurker2000

bucketybuck wrote: »

Why not a one month post christmas return policy? Who dictates what is "fair" or not?

Why not be honest, what you really want is a "whatever time period benefits me" return policy.

My point is that it would only be known of Christmas day if the goods fit or not. Many people return to their homes in the country at Christmas, two weeks would give a fair time to get back to the shop.

bucketybuck

lurker2000 wrote: »

My point is that it would only be known of Christmas day if the goods fit or not. Many people return to their homes in the country at Christmas, two weeks would give a fair time to get back to the shop.

So anything bought at any time for any reason could be returned in your post christmas period?

lurker2000

bucketybuck wrote: »

So anything bought at any time for any reason could be returned in your post christmas period?

Sorry, I've no interest or intention of batting this back and forward with you.

the_pen_turner

any returns period should be taken as a very generous gift from the shop. they dont have to take it back at all.

bucketybuck

lurker2000 wrote: »

Sorry, I've no interest or intention of batting this back and forward with you.

Sure. But since you supposedly started this thread looking for knowledge I would suggest that you perhaps consider fully the implications of what you had put forward in your OP. Since you don't want to discuss the tricky aspects then perhaps by doing that you will be able to answer your own questions.

K.Flyer

lurker2000 wrote: »

[...] I ordered goods mid November so there would be no disappointment on Christmas day.
...Now I find that some items didn't fit and want to exchange ...

Why didn't you check them for size instead of waiting until Christmas. You would have had plenty of time to exchange them before it was too late.

lurker2000 wrote: »

Do I have any legal leg to stand on ?

Most likely not.

Exchanging clothes because they don't fit is purely at the discretion of the retailer and is under no legal obligation to do so.

More information here...

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/consumer/consumer_laws/your_rights_as_consumer_in_ireland.html#

Sleeper12

No. Legally they must accept returns up to 14 days from delivery. 30 days is generous. You haven't much chance of a refund but I wonder if you might have some luck exchang for the correct size with you paying for the delivery both ways?

Edit: 14 days is legal requirement for online sales

Vestiapx

If you ask nicely you will likely get a swap of sizes. If you start talking legal or moral obligations you will get nothing.

lurker2000

K.Flyer wrote: »

Why didn't you check them for size instead of waiting until Christmas. You would have had plenty of time to exchange them before it was too late.

The size ordered was the normal size they wear, but it just did not fit.



More information here...

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/consumer/consumer_laws/your_rights_as_consumer_in_ireland.html#

Thanks for that.

K.Flyer

lurker2000 wrote: »

The size ordered was the normal size they wear, but it just did not fit.

Thanks for that.

That doesn't surprise me. I just recently bought a few pairs of new jeans and I had to go for sizes marked smaller than I would usually get as those marked as my normal sizes were huge on me.
TBH, as said already, if you contact them with a nice approach, even acknowledging the timeframe, but explaining that they were gifts you might get somewhere with a size exchange only. Better if you could call into the shop in person.
Also remember, if they let you exchange and there is a sale on, but you want to change for something else, you may only get the "sale price value" of your item.
Best of luck.

1874

If these clothes dont fit, does that mean they've been tried on? surely no shop would accept items like that back at all? maybe it depends on the item of clothing, Im fairly sure Id come across it mentioned before that shops dont accept any form of underwear back in return for hygiene reasons, seems reasonable to me.
Id have thought thats reasonable in many cases regardless of the type of clothing, never thought change of mind was an option, bar some kind of defect in the item or poor quality where it didnt last

L1011

1874 wrote: »

If these clothes dont fit, does that mean they've been tried on? surely no shop would accept items like that back at all? maybe it depends on the item of clothing, Im fairly sure Id come across it mentioned before that shops dont accept any form of underwear back in return for hygiene reasons, seems reasonable to me.
Id have thought thats reasonable in many cases regardless of the type of clothing, never thought change of mind was an option, bar some kind of defect in the item or poor quality where it didnt last

Most shops accept items that have been tried on, with the tags intact, up to the limits of their own returns policies. These policies are voluntary, not legislative.

For distance selling, you are allowed try items on and return within 14 days

Underwear is excluded by law from the distance selling regs for hygiene reasons; and generally excluded from any voluntary store policies.

Gooser14

I think this only applies to items purchased within EU.

lurker2000

1874 wrote: »

If these clothes dont fit, does that mean they've been tried on? surely no shop would accept items like that back at all? maybe it depends on the item of clothing, Im fairly sure Id come across it mentioned before that shops dont accept any form of underwear back in return for hygiene reasons, seems reasonable to me.
Id have thought thats reasonable in many cases regardless of the type of clothing, never thought change of mind was an option, bar some kind of defect in the item or poor quality where it didnt last

There were not even fitted on and still have the tags on them - I hadn't seen the person I was buying them for for most of the year - they had put on a good few Covid lbs! I'm not going to make a song and dance over it, the rules are the rules and as already mentioned, these were stated on the websites so its my own fault.

I guess internet shopping did not work for me .... I will know next time not to order clothes this way and tbh, I'll only shop in places that extend their guarantee over the Christmas period- I know when shopping in person previously, there was extended return policies mentioned at the check out of possibly M&S or TK Max ...

Dudda

lurker2000 wrote: »

I'll only shop in places that extend their guarantee over the Christmas period- I know when shopping in person previously, there was extended return policies mentioned at the check out of possibly M&S or TK Max ...

Some big online companies do offer 60 days. I know Adidas and Nike do as I purchased items on Black Friday and intended to return some items that don't fit and free returns are included. The 60 days returns policy is rare but does exist in some places.

Doesn't help you now but might in the future

Edit: just checked and Adidas now have 100 days free returns. Not sure if that's due to covid, Brexit, additional Christmas returns or what but that's a hell of a long time.

lurker2000

FYI - My daughter has a PT job in Penny's - I asked her if they were accepting returns over the 30 days and she said they are due to the current situation and have been doing so for a few months.

Nigzcurran

Dudda wrote: »

Some big online companies do offer 60 days. I know Adidas and Nike do as I purchased items on Black Friday and intended to return some items that don't fit and free returns are included. The 60 days returns policy is rare but does exist in some places.

Doesn't help you now but might in the future

Edit: just checked and Adidas now have 100 days free returns. Not sure if that's due to covid, Brexit, additional Christmas returns or what but that's a hell of a long time.

Good luck trying to return anything to Adidas as their website dosnt allow returns from the Republic of Ireland. Absolute disaster I wasted hours of my life on!

Caranica

Most shops (small and large) do extended refund periods over Christmas so there's still a chance you'll have no problem. Start by asking

TheCrank

There isn't a shop in the land that won't swap for a different size or give a credit note. They just will. It won't be a problem.

lurker2000

Update: I went to Lifestyle sports this morning and had no issues with the return, I just handed in the item and the receipt and my money back was offered. They had a notice about extended times for return on the desk. Delighted with the result.

Dudda

Nigzcurran wrote: »

Good luck trying to return anything to Adidas as their website dosnt allow returns from the Republic of Ireland. Absolute disaster I wasted hours of my life on!

Well as it happens I did that only this morning without any issues and have done so several times in the past. As long as you order from adidas.ie and not .co.uk you'll have no issues.

Nigzcurran

Dudda wrote: »

Well as it happens I did that only this morning without any issues and have done so several times in the past. As long as you order from adidas.ie and not .co.uk you'll have no issues.

I presume I ordered off the uk version so! What a nightmare trying to speak to their customer service which is in India I think as they had no idea what Ireland meant