I always find it amazing that people complain about return policies after the fact when they decide that what they bought, they no longer want. If you go to the BBB website you'll see that every time a purchase is made, a contract is entered into by both parties. In fact it is Manitoba law that the seller is not required to take anything back unless they have misrepresented the item in some way. The onus is on the buyer to check return policies for ALL purchases since businesses can possibly have a no return policy. The decision to buy something is made by the buyer and the decision to sell something is made by the seller. There are costs involved in maintaining stock and having it ready for sale. In fact most Canadian Independent businesses offer a return for exchange or credit policy as a privilege for buyers, but it is not mandatory.
"There are two parties to a contract, the seller and the buyer. Each has the same right to expect the other to live up to the contract terms. Once the contract is made, neither party can properly break, cancel, change or revoke the contract without the written permission of the other party, unless fraud or misrepresentation is proved. ( Should this be shown it may well invalidate the agreement). The seller is expected to deliver the goods or services which you have bought in accordance with the terms under which the sale was made. If you, the buyer "change your mind" or, because of some unforeseen circumstance want your money or deposit back, or an exchange or credit for return of the goods, the seller is not called upon by the law to give it to you. You are asking the seller to cancel, break, or change the terms of the contract; they have the legal right to decide whether or not to do so." (BBB Manitoba website)
"As stated, exchanges, returns for credits, and refunds are services which some stores provide to encourage you to shop there. Return privileges vary from store to store so you should be sure to ask about a store's return policy before you make a purchase." (BBB Manitoba website)
"Abuses of Return Privileges
In this effort to provide customers with better service, businesses have made it possible for some people to abuse the privileges extended to all. When such people return items without good reason, they increase the cost of all items in the store to all customers. They also cause some stores to adopt less generous policies than they might otherwise follow, because of the increased cost."
How to use your Return Privileges
Regardless of the store's policy, if the goods you have purchased were
misrepresented or are defective, you have legitimate reason to expect the store to provide a suitable substitute or refund.
Honest mistakes over items that don't fit or match or serve the purpose for which they were purchased, or inappropriate gifts from a well meaning spouse or friend, do suggest that you use the privilege of the store's return policy provided they have one. However, if you find that you are returning things regularly, perhaps you should ask yourself whether you are depending too much on a store's liberal return policy rather than upon your own good judgement in making purchases." (BBB Manitoba website).
It is unfortunate that more consumers do not know the law regarding consumer purchases and think that the big box store of doing business should apply to small retailers. If that were true, there would not be any independent retailers and that would be very sad, because it is within the walls of the smaller retailers where the most unique, exciting and not-your-run-of-the-mill products are found.
Also just to comment on the "go across the border comment". Shame on you. Someday you may rely on a Manitoba small business to employ your child or grandchild, or perhaps even yourself. read more
