Real Life

Consumer: Returning clothes to a store

When making a significant retail clothing purchase, it’s well worth knowing your rights.
Clothes shop

You bought an expensive new dress for the races. It seemed fine in the shop, so you paid for it. But when you tried it on again at home, everyone said it was a size too big. You took it back the next day but unfortunately there was no smaller size. When you asked for a refund, the sales person pointed to a sign which says, “Clothing that has been taken away and worn cannot be returned.” Does “worn” mean trying on again at home?

Absolutely not, in my view. “Worn” means wearing the item out somewhere. The point of such a rule is to prevent customers from trying to return goods that have been soiled in some way, such as by sweat marks, stains or through wear and tear. It surely cannot mean slipping clothes on at home just for another look. I am assuming, of course, that no damage has been done to the dress. It would be different had their sign said,“Make sure you are happy with your purchase before you leave the shop.

We will not accept goods back simply because you’ve had second thoughts.” In that case, you would be stuck – even though that’s quite a tough line for a clothing shop to take. One other point, though – if the sales person told you that the dress fitted fine and it’s now obvious that it doesn’t, you would have a strong case to say you were misled. You relied on her expertise and she let you down. I think that’s the line to push.

Do you have a question for Kevin? Email [email protected] (Subject line: Consumer) or post to: NZWW, Bauer Media, Private Bag 92512, Auckland 1036.

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Image: Paul Suesse/ bauersyndication.com.au

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