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Return period for goods in shops in Poland?



toliThreads: 3
Posts: 10
Joined: Sep 17, 07 		  Oct 23, 07, 08:02 /  #
And do shops have to accept goods (specifically, unworn clothes) returned for any reason, say, within two weeks from purchase?

I bought something while in PL which turned out not to fit well after all. Is the shop obliged to take it back at my request?

Thanks!
helloThreads: 37
Posts: 1,104
Joined: Dec 5, 06 		  Oct 23, 07, 11:16 /  #
That's a very interesting question. I haven't been in Poland recently, but from what I know it is VERY difficult to return goods if they are not manufacture-defective. I expect the larger shoping brands may accept returns, but smaller ones (especially clothes) - I truly doubt it.
toliThreads: 3
Posts: 10
Joined: Sep 17, 07 		  Oct 24, 07, 00:10 /  #
Well, I was lucky in returning the jeans to the shop. Although the stupid sales assistant was hostile to me from the second I told her I had a small problem, her superior was much more understanding and returned the price I had paid with the single question, "Have you got the item here?".

I had bought two pairs of jeans there at an impulse a couple of weeks ago, one turned out to be a poor fit so I was returning it.
roalexThreads: 14
Posts: 44
Joined: Oct 21, 07 		  Oct 24, 07, 01:10 /  #
Sometimes the shops will give a refund but you will not get cash. Instead they will give a coupon that can be used in the store whenever you like.
nauczyciel   Oct 24, 07, 04:36 /  #
every business has their own return policy.

Returning items can be a real problem in PL. Most of the time they will want to send it for repair, even though there is no need.

It's not like returning things in North America.

you will most likely get an in-store credit.
KrzysztofThreads: 2
Posts: 1,146
Joined: Jul 26, 07 		Edited by: Krzysztof   Oct 24, 07, 07:05 /  #
You already sorted things out, but here are the regulations for anyone in a similar position.
There are two main rules:
1/ REKLAMACJA - Returning goods not corresponding to the contract of purchase.
(because of its defects or simply because you had ordered something for example in a different colour than the item you received or you had ordered something according to a certain sample/specimen/standard and recieved a good quality item, but with some differences from the sample).
- In this case it's the client who decides what should be done:
a/ money refund (not some coupons, just money),
b/ exchange for another item,
c/ repair.
- This right has the duration of 2 years since the purchase contract (for the first 6 months the shop is responsible, then the responsibility passes to the manufacturer).

2/ ZWROT - Returning not worn or used goods corresponding to the contract of purchase. There are 2 possibilities here:
A/ 10 days for returning goods bought at distance (internet shops, teleshops) or outside the offices of the seller (for example at your home or during a presentation organized for a certain amount of people). The item may be 100% according to the contract, yet you may decide to recede (back out of) the contract after sending a notification (by registered mail) to the seller and agreeing the modality of returning the goods (you pay all the postal costs).
- Those 10 days count from the date of singing the contract (sales outside of the office) or from the date of receiving the item (sales at distance) to the day when you sent the registered mail with notification.
B/ NO RETURNS if the goods are purchased in a shop (this seems to be your case, so you were simply lucky this time)
- of course you may always negotiate with the shop assistant/owner and agree a short period (usually 2-3 days, sometimes a week) for returning/exchanging an item if you don't like it (very useful when buying gifts for someone else), but it's all up to them (if you don't trust them, then ask for a short written confirmation of your agreement, even on the back of the bill).
In these cases (A and B) the seller may require the goods be returned in the original packaging.
helloThreads: 37
Posts: 1,104
Joined: Dec 5, 06 		  Oct 24, 07, 08:46 /  #
The question is - do the stores in Polanda know in which store you bought the item? In the US they have special tags so they know exactly the store name and location. In Poland - you can buy one item in one store and return it in another I think :).
KrzysztofThreads: 2
Posts: 1,146
Joined: Jul 26, 07 		  Oct 24, 07, 10:29 /  #
Quoting: hello
The question is - do the stores in Polanda know in which store you bought the item?



with the returned goods you need to present a purchase document from the seller (an invoice, a receipt, a bill - in Polish "faktura", "rachunek" or "paragon"), and it's basically the only prove requiered to confirm the purchase.


Quoting: hello
In Poland - you can buy one item in one store and return it in another I think :).


Try it and find out, but if you get arrested for deceit, don't come here blaming me :)
you'd be doing it on your own risk and responsability (I'm getting americanized too much - writing disclaimers on obvious things)
coop Edited by: coop   Oct 24, 07, 12:58 /  #
From my experience in Warszawa...most shops have about a 3 day return policy. Anything beyond that you must take to Serwis for warranty if it is defective only...and even this is a mess...I had a DVD player break and took it to back CarreFour...they said one month...two months later nothing...I went back and they had no record of it at all...lucky I had a copy. I walked out with cash and bought a new DVD at Saturn...so beware.

Also....say you buy something in Empik at one mall....you can only return it to THAT shop...other Empiks even in the same city won't take it...unlike in the States. And you MUST have a receipt (rachunek).
helloThreads: 37
Posts: 1,104
Joined: Dec 5, 06 		  Oct 24, 07, 13:02 /  #
I remember when several years ago I bought a Video recorder in Poland. It was defective and I wanted to return it or get a new one. They told me I MUST wait until they send it to the manufacture and they repair it and they would not give me a new one. Since then I never buy expensive stuff in Poland (especially electronics).
toliThreads: 3
Posts: 10
Joined: Sep 17, 07 		  Oct 25, 07, 02:17 /  #
Thanks to all who have contributed, especially Krzysztof with his detailed reply. This was what I had been looking for.

I can see that it was really my luck to get the jeans refunded as 13 days had elapsed from purchase (I am not permanently based in Poland yet, and only had a chance to return this week).

As a comparison, I live in Lithuania, and the issue is regulated in a more favourable way to the consumer here. One can return or exchange most types of goods, without signs of use, within 14 days from the date of purchase. It is the customer who decides if the item must be exchanged or returned for a full refund.

In the case of faulty goods, it is again at the customer's discretion to choose repair, replacement or refund.
toliThreads: 3
Posts: 10
Joined: Sep 17, 07 		  Oct 25, 07, 02:19 /  #
Quoting: Krzysztof


Quoting: hello
In Poland - you can buy one item in one store and return it in another I think :).


Try it and find out, but if you get arrested for deceit


Why would that amount to deceit? I am not sure it is legal, but it does look reasonable from a customer satisfaction point of view.
Claire123   Oct 25, 07, 12:39 /  #
Can you buy UGG boots in Poland?
WroclawThreads: 76
Posts: 7,418
Joined: Apr 1, 06 [Moderator]  Pictures: 3 		  Oct 25, 07, 13:09 /  #
Quoting: Claire123
Can you buy UGG boots in Poland?


If not, you can buy similar. But they are not the fashionable choice here.
nauczyciel   Oct 28, 07, 07:37 /  #
try this
ebuty.pl
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