Exchanging an item and the price has increased.

I brought a top from a cycle shop via the internet, it arrived although I wish to exchange it because its too small.

Meanwhile the price has increased.

Am I obliged to pay the extra should I chose to exchange the item? If it were the other way round and the price had dropped, I doubt they would give me the difference.

No you are exchanging one item for another (so long as the exchange is within normal rights and t&c’s)

Might depend on saleability of the return. I’ve had both happen. I was surprised when Merlin swapped a stem I didn’t like the colour of for a different finish of same that was more money without surcharge. I’d expect to pay the difference, if you aren’t asked then it’s a bonus. 🙂

An exchange because you bought the wrong size is not covered by your Rights. But they may still exchange it as a good will offer

I’d be very surprised if they asked for the difference. Dunno what the actual legal ins and outs of it would be though.

You can send it back if you bought it online legally because of the distance selling laws. If its an exchange I guess its upto them !!!

That. Assuming they sent you what you originally ordered then you can send it back and ask for a refund. If they agree to exchange for a higher priced item then they are going beyond their legal duty.

They’d have to be pretty dim to ask for the difference purely from a good will point of view, unless you’ve been rude or an arse in any emails (ie breaking out the distance selling and consumer rights guns straight away…) to them (not saying you have!) in which case I’d expect to be given the full work-to-rule runaround!

Distance selling only obligates themechanism to accept returns in 7 days.

As for exchange they’d be under no obligation as mentioned above.

Bear in mind also the different size might well have been a higher price in the first instance too and whilst in my experience most places will honour a like for like swap when they are/were the same price I’ve had to pay the difference when the size I bought was/is on sale at a lower price than the one or turns out I need.

In practice i’d expect a lot of Web sales only companies to simply refund you and tell you to reorder [edit: as it’s simpler than an exchange], regardless of different pricing, so you’ll be in pocket of the replacement is cheaper and out of its not

‘You can send it back if you bought it online legally because of the distance selling laws’

You can also send it back if purchased in a shop. The difference being the shop is not obliged to offer a refund if brought in store (most do as a gesture of goodwill). Also I am not seeking a refund here.

Have you tried phoning or emailing them to ask what the score is?

Bought a half-price Rapha jersey last month. Wrong size so sent back for exchange by which time it had gone back up to full price. No bother.

Kayla, no I haven’t contacted them. I have just followed the returns procedure as details on their website.