Tiffany & Co ‘change of mind’ policy leaves lovestruck man with unwanted $3840 store credit

A lovestruck Queensland man has failed in his bid to get a cash refund from a jewellery giant after splashing $4000 on a gift for his partner who had said it wasn’t her ‘bracelet of choice’.

File picture: The man was denied a cash refund at the Tiffany & Co store and instead given store credit.

A lovestruck Queensland man who splashed $4300 on a gift for his partner at Tiffany & Co then tried to return it two hours later at a nearby store and instead buy a cheaper gift has failed in his bid to get a cash refund.

John Richard Morris took his case to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal after he was refused a “change of mind refund” and instead offered a store credit.

He told the QCAT that he bought a ‘Heart Tag Bead Bracelet’ in yellow gold from Tiffany & Co.’s Brisbane store as a gift for his partner at 2.25pm on September 14, 2024.

His partner then told him that the gold bracelet was not her “bracelet of choice”, so two hours later he returned it to Tiffany & Co.’s Gold Coast store and instead bought at $460 a sterling silver bracelet.

Tiffany Heart Tag Bead Bracelet in silver

He was refused a refund of the balance purchase price and received a $3840 store credit.

In her decision handed down on June 18, QCAT member Michelle Lember ruled that Mr Morris was not entitled to a change of mind refund.

“According to the in-store purchase refund policy, whether to accept a product purchased in-store for exchange, and upon accepting it, whether to offer store credit or a gift card are decisions entirely at the discretion of Tiffany & Co,” she stated in her decision.

Tiffany & Co did not respond to the application and did not appear at the hearing.

Ms Lember noted that the retailer does offer change of mind refunds for online purchases.

“According to its Australian website, Tiffany & Co offer a change of mind refund for online purchases if goods are returned within thirty days of purchase, in original condition and packaging and with the tag attached, excluding items that have been personalised, altered or unsealed after delivery.”