Returning merchandise - worth a try?

[kidangel]

During our visit to the World in October 2005, after spending 7 days seeing a specific purse in almost every shop we went into, and listening to my hemming and hawing, hubby bought it for me. It was the Snow White purse that's got black edges and the comic book-like illustrations on the panels, with two straps/handles. I think it cost about $28.

Well, by January the strap had broken, right where it meets the body of the bag. I was heartbroken, but tucked it away, just in case...

And now we'll be back in the World in December. I'd like to bring it with me and see if they'll replace it. I may have a receipt- I have to dig through last year's paperwork. If I don't still have the receipt (or even if I do), do you think I can go to any shop and ask, and do you think they'll replace it, or, if they no longer carry that item, will they give me a credit?

It may seem silly, but I'm a budget person - that's the most I've ever spent on a bag, and it was so perfect! And since we're going to be there anyway, well...and of course hubby says, "We're spending two grand on a vacation so you can return a $28 bag??!!"

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Shelley

Read my Disney blog!
http://movershakerbirthdaycakebaker.blogs.com/remember_the_magic

 

[jjan]

Yes... bring it!!! We have done this a couple times with ZERO problems. The first time was a Tink trading pin that had wiggly wings on it attached with a spring... within minutes the spring was all stretched out and broken. I was not happy since this was my DD favorite pin. Brought it back within a few months and they exchanged it for a new Tink pin... same pin, just new and improved design since obviously there was a design flaw. Also, I joked a few weeks ago in a post here about the "Worst souvenirs purchased" that both my Mickey jointed body key chain and my DD pewter-like Tink keychain had broken within weeks and that I was going to return them... sure enough I did. We both got brand new ones without a problem. We had no receipt or anything. I am very budget minded and it really bugged me that we had spent X amount of dollars on stuff that had broken SO quickly. I don't know what they would've done if there wasn't a similar item to exchange it for, but I really don't think that it would have been a problem. Good luck!

 

[Dopey & Grumpy]

I did it with a Dopey coffee mug. I fell and the cup shattered in about 10 pieces. I was so mad at myself, I threw the cup away and we went back to the hotel. This was at the main store in Downtown Disney. We went to a one of the parks the next day and I happened to mention it to one of the CM's and she said "Do you have your receipt?". I did and she suggested taking my receipt to the store, explaining what happened and see what they say. Well, within 10 minutes, I had a brand new Dopey mug!!

I wouldn't hesitate at all. The customer service there is "magical".

 

[bkaz]

I would definitely take it!! Last year I bought a "spinning" Mickey key chain and it broke within days of arriving home. I sent it back and they sent me a new one. Within days that one also broke, as did a similar Stitch keychain that we had bought for my daughter. I called and they sent us a box full of merchandise...three Mickey keychains so I was sure to like one of them, a new stuffed Stitch keychain for my daughter plus a Stitch pen and jumbo pencil. You should have seen us dancing around the kitchen !! Disney surely had two pleased guests that day!!

 

[madfordonald]

We're doing this as well. My MIL and SIL bought my DS a Buzz Lightyear laser type gun when they were there in Sept. that was broken. They didn't realize it was more than just dead tester batteries. So, when we go down in 8 days we are taking it with us to exchange.

 

[maryliz]

I never thought about doing that ... but you're right ... it's worth a try. I bought my DD a pin last Dec ... one of the princesses, and part of it moved. It was one of the more expensive pins but it was so pretty. It broke into 2 pieces when she went to put it on her lanyard. I know she put both pieces in her jewellery box as she couldn't bear to part with it. Now I just have to go check to see if I threw it out when she wasn't looking because I considered it totally useless now. If it's still there, I might take it back when we go in December.

Thanks for the advice.

MaryLiz