The January Sales – Know your shopping rights

Experts at regional law firm, Kitson Hutchings remind us that goods sold at a reduced price in a sale must be of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose in exactly the same way as when they were being sold at full price. This means that any item purchased should not have any faults with it.  If it is faulty then you are entitled to return it to the shop where it was purchased and get a refund or replacement. 

But there are other important things to consider, Rebecca Weare, Associate Solicitor at Kitson Hutchings points out:

‘You need to ensure that you act promptly in returning the item to the shop as the law says it must be returned within a reasonable time. What is a reasonable time is a question of fact and the sooner it is returned the better. 

You don't have any right to return the items, or receive a refund, if you purchase goods, which were reduced in price because they were faulty, and that fault was drawn to your attention before you purchased. For example, a skirt with a faulty zip that was clearly labelled as having a faulty zip on the price tag.'

Furthermore, if you have simply changed your mind about something you have purchased in a shop then you don't have any right to take it back.  Whether or not you are allowed to exchange it or get a credit note or refund depends on that particular shops policy so it's best to check with them first. 

However, if you have purchased goods "at a distance" for example over the internet, by mail order, telephone order or through a shopping channel then you do have a "cooling off" period of seven days in which you can decide to cancel your order'.  

Rebecca is an Associate in Kitson Hutching's Commercial Litigation department specialising in residential and commercial landlord and tenant law, property litigation and Inheritance Act claims.