Consumer rights refund question

Purchased a pair of running trousers in Sports Direct, got home and they are too tight.
Took them back but they have no stock of the next size up.
I asked for a refund.
They said no, that I could only have a credit by way of vouchers.
The assistant was rude, abrupt and generally very unhelpful.
I had a look on the receipt and it states:-

"We are happy to offer an exchange or gift voucher for any unwanted items returned within 28 days of purchase. Items must be returned in their original packaging, in a saleable condition and with receipt".

"Refunds will only be offered in accordance with your statutory rights (which remain unaffected)".

So am I not allowed a refund or what? I tried to look online but its all legal jargon to me, does anybody here know?

Basically if the goods are not faulty and are as described then no they dont have to offer a refund........ Sucks but thats the way it is. Might be something newer now it used to be sale of goods act 1979, been out of retail for 15yrs now. There is different rules for buying say over the net where you cant see the item.

[Tomor]

AFAIK a shop does not have to give a refund, they can give you store credit/vouchers. Just a way of making sure you spend the money IMO.

Ok, so basically there is a lesson here.

Go to shop, find and try on what you want.
Go home and order it mail order online.
Then, the DSR will cover you for a refund.

Or, try the flipping garment on in the shop so you know it fits before purchasing it.

Ok, rules are rules. I don't make them, I just have to function within them. I just don't like the poor attitude I was treated with and shall NEVER shop in Sports Direct again. To be fair it was cheap c**p so maybe got what I paid for eh haha.

[squirrel_hunter]

Yeah been out of retail for some time as well. However the refund policy should be as important to a company as everything else as bad service is communicated faster then good, this thread a case in point. I know that where I work I would be happy to refund to the means by which you paid with the proof of purchase.

Now as stated above I think they may be correct in not having to give you the cash back however... Go back to the store and try again, you may have got the wrong member of staff at the wrong time. If that fails ask to speak to a manager, be polite and chances are they will refund you, don't however accuse the member of staff who refused of anything. Start doing that and the manager will back their staff, trust me on this, as a manager I would have to work with the staff again, chances are I wont see you again. And finally if all else fails the goods are not as specified and as such you are allowed a refund in accordance with your statutory rights. Let me explain, I take a Medium (please no jokes) I have bought this shirt marked Medium as I always do with this brand. But when I got it home it was too big. Therefore its not a Medium. I'm happy to exchange it, but you have no other sizes that I think may fit, besides how can I trust that they will be correct. Therefore the only option is a refund...

Would it be bad to put a small tear in them and say it was there??

haha Savage86 whilst this wouldwork (technically) its not morally right and I could therefore not do it. Nice 'other' option though!

undo abit of the stiching and say it is coming away and would like a refund

[Littlepeahead]

Many shops these days will give a refund but it's really at their own discretion.

I bought a bikini a few days before going on holiday, tried it on at home and it didn't fit. Now this morning I found the receipt in my purse which make me think I never took it back and it's now over the 28 days. I have no idea where I put it, or if I took it back. If I do find it I guess I can try taking it back to Debenhams and get a credit note, as I'm happy to spend a grand total of £17.50 in there, or I can keep it until next year's AR and someone else can wear it if it rains.

It's the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended) that gives you the right to return faulty items with or without a receipt (although shop may want proof of purchase). The only important thing here is the goods must be faulty - for clothes this generally means ripped or stained.

Exchanges/refunds in any other sense are based on the goodwill of the shop and entirely up to them, they by no means have to just because you bought the wrong size or don't like it.

What that means is, if they are no good to you, I'd return them from the credit note and hold onto it until you find something else you want in there.