France in Focus

I recently bought something (air cooler) from Netto which I didn't like so took it back. They don't give cash back so they gave me an "avoir". It's obviously a voucher for the money I spent - €50 - but do I have to spend this in one go? Netto is not the kind of shop I could spend this amount in!! If I spent half of this, would they give me another one for the other half?

TIA

The best thing would be to ask Netto what their conditions are because it may be that each shop has a different policy with regard to avoirs.

When we had a Netto nearby it was my first choice destination for my weekly shop as it had branded products at lower prices than the other local supermarkets. It was easy to spend €50 there.

Blaze - thanks for this but if I had any confidence in understanding the answer, I would have asked at the time. That's why I'm asking the question here.

DominicBest - I only buy reduced items (the air cooler was reduced from €70 to €50). Netto occasionally reduce chickens but not €50's worth! As to branded products - Lidl is good enough for me.

I returned something under guarantee to Boulanger, they offered an avoir, but I insisted on a full refund, and they gave me the full refund.

If goods are under the main 2 year guarantee then you should always insist on it and refuse the avoir.

p4psb - I would agree with an electrical shop like Boulanger but Netto is mainly food products so I thought that this was their policy.

Leyla wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 1:12 pm Blaze - thanks for this but if I had any confidence in understanding the answer, I would have asked at the time. That's why I'm asking the question here.

DominicBest - I only buy reduced items (the air cooler was reduced from €70 to €50). Netto occasionally reduce chickens but not €50's worth! As to branded products - Lidl is good enough for me.

But that doesn’t alter the fact that it’s the sort of shop that it’s easy to spend €50 in. You made it sound like a third rate pound store. Luckily I don’t live in a world where I only buy reduced items, I feel sorry for you.

Not liking something is not the same as returning a faulty item, and you may only be offered an avoir.
Usually you have to use an 'avoir' in one hit - think loo rolls, washing machine & dishwasher products and anything else which has a long shelf life, use your avoir and smile.
At least they offered you an avoir!

If you can, ask what their policy is. I had an Avoir for Gamm Vert, and as I didn't use it all on the first return visit, they reissued it for the remaing unused amount (which also lengthened the date slightly for redeeming it!). If it's under a certain amount less, it's likely they would give the difference in cash, but more and more places are only offering Avoirs.

Check the validation date too - sometimes they don't give you too much time to redeem it.

Liz - thanks for your sensible response. I'm thinking the same even if I have to find the space to keep dozens of loo rolls!! Alternatively, 5 bottles of gin should cover it too!

Bayleaf - I've got 2 months which is reasonable. Yesterday I went around the shop and took notes of things that I could use in the future so I don't have to spend ages in there, and will probably go on a Monday afternoon when it is quiet. I'll tot up on my way around. I wouldn't have a problem spending €50 in Gamm Vert!

Incidentally, I saw my air cooler back on the shelf for the original price of €70!

Thanks every one for your contributions. I now know what to do if I get one again.