A woman sparked fury after asking for a refund in a charity shop, with many wondering why you wouldn’t just ‘take the hit’ – but others defended her decision saying sometimes things don’t come cheap
When you purchase something from a charity shop, it’s probably cheap and cheerful, and it helps fund good causes, so the likelihood you’d ask for a refund is slim.
It’s not the end of the world to lose a couple of quid if you’ve bought something from a charity shop and it doesn’t fit because you know that the cash has gone to a good cause. But one woman was left seething when she “overheard a woman at the till demanding a refund for a top she had bought”.
The woman was left wondering why she was asking for her money back on the purchase, saying she’d “taken the hit” in the past if something didn’t fit properly.
Taking to the popular forum Mumsnet, she wrote: “I was out shopping yesterday and, whilst in one of the local charity shops, overheard a woman at the till demanding a refund for a top she had bought. She said she had bought it, and tried it on in the shop, but once she got home she decided she didn’t like it.
“Admittedly, I don’t know how much the top was, but I can’t imagine it was a lot as it’s not an upmarket charity shop or area particularly. The staff kept saying that they didn’t give refunds, only credit notes, but the woman insisted she wanted a refund.”
She said that she found the “whole exchange really bizarre”, saying: “When I buy something from a charity shop, I make sure it’s a considered purchase, and would never ask for a refund! On times I have regretted purchases I just take the hit in the knowledge I’ve at least donated some money to charity.”
Many agreed, sharing they “wouldn’t ask for a refund from a charity shop”, and they wondered whether “she bought it to wear once with the idea of taking it back all along.”
Someone penned: “Asking politely for a refund is fine, being obnoxious and rude is not. Only two of the six charity shops in our town have a changing space, so it’s perfectly normal to ask ‘Can I bring it back if it doesn’t fit?’ They always say yes but are very strict with having the receipt and it going back to the original card or payment method.”
Another said they “wouldn’t return to a charity shop” as “it’s like asking whatever charity it’s for to give you money back”, but someone said refunds should be available, saying: “I am the same as you but, I really don’t see why they don’t refund. The charity shops near me are expensive, no bargains to be had.
“The same when I go away to places. In fact, the last couple of charity shops I looked in, dresses were all over £10 even bog standard ones from Matalan and Asda, and they were quite old-fashioned ones at that, nothing worth paying that price for. One new dress was £60!!!
“Primark T-shirts at £5. Well they don’t cost that brand new. If you are charging those sorts of prices then why should you be exempt from having to refund? People keep saying they are there to make money just like any other retailer so I suppose they have to act like any other retailer. I think if you are going to refuse to refund then you must have clear signs up stating that.”
Do you have a story to share? Email: [email protected]