This past summer I spent little over a month living and going to school in Italy. Rented an apartment e tutto. I needed an electrical adapter for a transformer type plug for all my U.S. electrical devices. I had bought this transformer device while staying in France a few years ago. This device worked in Italy but needed a little adapter for it because the prongs were just a little different in Italy from France. So anyway I go to this one local camera/electrical device store and buy this 3 or 4 something euro plug.(maybe 5 euros) Well, it wasn't what I needed after all.(finally got what I needed later)So I take the device back with the receipt and tell the store clerk that it wasn't what I needed after all and simply wanted my money back. Instead of telling me about the policy of no return in Italy to begin with we start arguing about not giving me the money back inspite of the fact I had the receipt. I thought we were going to start fighting. The guy was extremely rude and nasty. Well, finally we come around to the compromise that he would give me something of so called equal value. So he gave me some batteries that I only somewhat needed since I already had rechargeable batteries for my recorder and camera.

At any rate later I read and people told me that unlike the U.S. in Italy once you buy something you are stuck with it. You can not return it for your money back. Wish I would have known that before the very unpleasant experience with the store clerk.

In most places you can return an item to the branch where you purchased it within 7 days provided you have not used it, the packaging is intact, and you have the receipt. The chances of getting your money back are next to zero, but most places allow you to exchange the product or will give you a voucher.

I know this is a bit late now for you Villa, but for anyone else, if in doubt ask before you pay!

Grazie Sardoman. Well per fortuna it wasn't anything molto caro.

It's frustrating to read these kinds of messages in which people talk about Italy as though there are rules that apply everywhere throughout the country. This is no more true of Italy than it is of the United States.

For example, I have returned for refund several items of varying value at different stores, large and small, without any problem. I don't assume from these experiences that everything I buy can be returned for refund with a receipt. I don't assume that in the United States either.

I'm sorry that the OP had a bad experience with the effort to return the small electric adapter. But it's simply wrong to suggest that this would happen throughout Italy and that it is a rule of the country.

Store return policy in Italy is terrible in respect to what people are used in the United States.
It is improving however. In October I bought a TV set for my mother and she decided it was too small so we exchanged it : the exchange was no problem but try to ask for money back and it is quite hard to get. The problem is also that store would have to void the invoice to avoid paying taxes and I think it is a lot or paperwork - I think -

I would be interested to know how much experience you have, Paolo, with returning merchandise in the United States. I lived in the US for 53 years and have been in Italy for only 2. But thus far, my experience in Italy returning things for a refund has been exactly the same as my experience in the US.

When people make comparisons between these countries, they make them as though their personal experiences are the experiences that define the country. But the United States is a big country. Getting your money back may be much easier in a small town in Kansas than it is in New York City. And I would expect that getting a refund in a small town in Italy is easier than getting it back in Rome.

For a life in Italy forum, I would hope that people would be careful about generalizations.

It's frustrating to read these kinds of messages in which people talk about Italy as though there are rules that apply everywhere throughout the country. This is no more true of Italy than it is of the United States.

For example, I have returned for refund several items of varying value at different stores, large and small, without any problem. I don't assume from these experiences that everything I buy can be returned for refund with a receipt. I don't assume that in the United States either.

I'm sorry that the OP had a bad experience with the effort to return the small electric adapter. But it's simply wrong to suggest that this would happen throughout Italy and that it is a rule of the country.

Rancoop, I agree with you on this one at least to a point. Converesly it's like saying all Italians are very nice or not very nice etc. etc. Have meant more nice Italian people than not nice but then again the samething can be said about Americans or any other group of people.

Another example is I have been treated very well in France all 3 times
I been there so I get frustrated with people who go on and on
about how rude the French people are. The French people who are
staying with me right now are extremely nice and courteous also.

By the way you should have seen how badly my French speaking friend
from Belguim was talking about the French people from France. It was
absurd to say the least. Especially
after I had been treated so well in France.


I think the key word here is stereotype or stereotyping:

A stereotype is a simplified and/or standardized conception or image with specific meaning, often held in common by one group of people about another group. A stereotype can be a conventional and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image, based on the assumption that there are attributes that members of the other group hold in common. Stereotypes may be positive or negative in tone. They are typically generalizations based on minimal or limited knowledge about a group to which the person doing the stereotyping does not belong. Persons may be grouped based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any number of other categories

Store return policy in Italy is terrible in respect to what people are used in the United States.
It is improving however. In October I bought a TV set for my mother and she decided it was too small so we exchanged it : the exchange was no problem but try to ask for money back and it is quite hard to get. The problem is also that store would have to void the invoice to avoid paying taxes and I think it is a lot or paperwork - I think -

Seems the truth lies somewhere in between.

I would be interested to know how much experience you have, Paolo, with returning merchandise in the United States. I lived in the US for 53 years and have been in Italy for only 2. But thus far, my experience in Italy returning things for a refund has been exactly the same as my experience in the US.

When people make comparisons between these countries, they make them as though their personal experiences are the experiences that define the country. But the United States is a big country. Getting your money back may be much easier in a small town in Kansas than it is in New York City. And I would expect that getting a refund in a small town in Italy is easier than getting it back in Rome.

For a life in Italy forum, I would hope that people would be careful about generalizations.
randcoop,

Too true, too true. I wonder how many of these folks have attempted to return something to Best Buy, a major US store? Generalizations, while very easy, are seldom useful.

Stefano

Villa,
non ho mai fatto il ritorno di qualcosa in Italia ma lo so che e' cosi li'. Si, mi riccordo quando hai provato di ritornare qualcosa a Perugia. Certe cose in Italia e' proprio cosi'. E' vero che non c'e' il 'return policy' in Italia. Anche qui in Svizera e' cosi'.

I am duly impressed that everyone has had such terrific return experiences in Italy...and that no one likes generalizations (although it's my livelihood, sorry!!!)
However, I can tell you that, after 16 yrs. in Italy, it is next to impossible to return anything -- anywhere, except maybe at large stores in shopping malls, Armani, chain boutiques and places where they're used to tourists. But everywhere else, don't even try to get a return if you used a credit card...(they will not accept a refund, saying the 'system' doesn't accept it...all untrue).
My list of bad experiences was so long, I have simply given up and this includes keeping a warranty-covered broken Stereo system from Trony, and a brand new fountain pen which didn't write (I tried to return it after 20 mins., and they said I had broken it), along with faulty tape cassettes bought at the Autogrill (obviously pirated...I no longer purchase from them).

Although the audioguide at the Colosseum is so bad, they gladly give back the money to all the Americans & Brits who complain...

In the USA, you can buy a pair of tennis shoes in NY, and return them in California -- used -- with an apology that it didn't work out! My mother brought into Target a 2 yr. old TV that was blown out by an electrical outage (and beyond the warranty). The manager took the TV, went in the back room, and gave her a new one!!!

It is the wrong policy bcoz suppose thing which we are purchased is found to be defective then what should we suppose to do.............?
i think Italy Govt. has to think about that otherwise the dealer get the power to make corruption