Choosing the wrong dress

Q: A few days ago I bought a dress for my son’s graduation ceremony from a local shop for €285. When I showed the dress to my son, he did not like it. I went back to the shop with the receipt and with the dress, which still had the tag.

The salesperson informed me that the shop does not give refunds but offered to change the dress with another model or a credit note. I did not accept these solutions because there was nothing else I liked and that I could wear for my son’s graduation.

How can I get my money back? Since it has been less than a week since I bought the dress, am I still within my rights to cancel the sale and get my money back?

A: Since the dress you purchased has nothing wrong with it and you had the possibility to try it on and check it out, then it is basically a wrong buying decision from your side.

In such situations where customers change their mind, they are not covered by law and therefore you are not legally entitled to ask for a remedy. Unless there was a previous agreement with the seller that allows you to return the dress and get a money refund, then I am afraid you have no other option but to accept the solutions offered to you – to exchange the dress or accept a credit note.

If you decide to take the credit note, make sure you are also given the terms and conditions attached to it. These should include the date by when the credit note must be used.

Another condition worth paying attention to is whether or not the credit note can be used during the sales period. Very often, this is not possible. This is especially so when credit notes are given as a solution to situations where a customer would have had a change of mind.

These kind of purchases do not have a cooling-off period. Cancellation rights only apply when consumers buy goods through a distant means of communication, such as via internet, telephone, teleshopping and catalogue shopping.