Maverick.... what are you actually writing there?
I wrote nothing more than that in Germany as a customer you do not need a receipt because a WITNESS is sufficient. It is not about the exchange rules of a particular company, any T&Cs or anything else.
The customer no longer had a receipt and I wrote here publicly that he only needs a witness because the paper is not mandatory to be presented when exercising customer rights against the seller/company. No matter what is stated in any T&Cs!
I will briefly address your post point by point:
1. Receipt
In Germany, you do not need a receipt if you want to return or exchange something. IKEA can write in its T&Cs all they want that they require the purchase receipt. This only applies to services that are not covered under German law and are therefore voluntarily provided by the store/manufacturer. (warranty services, for example.)
But even then, a witness statement should be sufficient as proof of purchase (date/purchase price/etc.) to assert claims.
In a physical store etc., a WITNESS who confirms that you bought something at this store on such and such a day and paid such and such is sufficient. The same applies to flea market purchases or car purchases or any other kind of purchase... Because theoretically, you can summon the witness to court, so this is evidence, the witness and their statement. If IKEA does not like that, they have to prove the opposite. Theoretically up to a civil lawsuit.
2. Wrong purchase/opened goods
It is about proving the purchase, the amount, and the date, for which you do NOT need a receipt, only a witness, done. Of course, this is a more complicated way than presenting a receipt or other evidence like debit records if the product can be derived from them that is in question.
It does not matter whether the goods are used, damaged, broken before unpacking, or whatever. IT IS ONLY ABOUT THE PROOF OF PURCHASE. (I wrote/meant nothing else, it was only about the customer’s missing receipt)
3. Family card/survey emails
I was at IKEA Düsseldorf again on 06.09.11 and received another survey email, so the second time after a purchase. Before that, I hadn’t been at IKEA for a long time, especially in Duisburg back then. The 19-cent towels, I think I bought only about 20x (Back then, there were no survey emails sent by some survey company, BUT from IKEA, so no spam or anything, I also participated! Everything is legitimate.)
If I haven’t unexpectedly dozed off, I will try to send you a copy if I still have it, but I should still have the last one.
4. Various things supposedly confused by me
No, I do not confuse warranty and/or exchange rights and/or anything else.
I learned that once (in the distant past). (90s) I also consider myself reasonably well-informed, although I am certainly not error-free. Very clear!
By the way, the bit about the receipt that you don’t need does not come from my apprenticeship time, but from the media, and is rehashed at least every Christmas when it is about what rights customers have to exchange Christmas presents. (I don’t watch RTL2 and don’t read "Blöd", just to clarify.)
5. Data misuse?
I certainly do not accuse IKEA or other companies of data misuse. Why should I? Surely you are right when you say not everyone should or may have access to purchase data (via the Family card "paid") and/or must not. I must admit I hadn’t even thought that IKEA employees should not have access to that. Nevertheless, IKEA ultimately has no choice but to tap into this data, the customer is responsible and can identify themselves, so no data misuse either. No matter what, on-site in the store it is certainly problematic, I mean the data access. You are probably right there.
Still, with cards (Maestro/CC/payment card) there is always data that can be used as proof of a purchase and the date. The customer can do this, as well as the seller who conducts or has conducted the payment processing.
Somehow this all sounds petty and we are going in circles. I said and say again nothing more than:
YOU DO NOT NEED A RECEIPT AS PROOF IN GERMANY, whether warranty, exchange or anything else. (only a witness statement, possibly in writing under oath)
The user above needs a receipt for his piece of furniture. Wanted a receipt from another customer, which is already not okay, to do that, or even illegal.
6. Your IKEA quotes about exchanges and what is required there.
You quote IKEA that one can only return unopened goods and only with a receipt.
What does that get us? Nothing.
a) Sure, a product should/must be unopened/unused. (otherwise compensation for loss in value e.g. applies, e.g. in case of withdrawal)
b) The receipt is NOT mandatory in Germany. Only PROOF must be provided.
IKEA has to prove the opposite if the company opposes the customer’s proof. (or the customer would have to sue civilly)
Again: IKEA promises a service and/or the customer has rights as a customer. IKEA wants proof of purchase, date and price, the customer can prove but does not have to use the receipt. A witness is enough. IKEA has to prove the opposite or perjury. Otherwise, customer rights and/or the promises of the company, like the 90-day guarantee, apply. (Of course, IKEA cannot be forced to accept used items and even the acceptance of undamaged goods is purely voluntary (but is offered!), ONLY THE RECEIPT and whether it is needed matters!)
By the way: packaging does NOT have to be present/undamaged, ALSO A CUSTOMER RIGHT in Germany! Of course, this only applies to cases where voluntary services are not claimed that are not covered by law. (You don’t have to buy a product in Germany just because you opened or damaged the packaging, just so you know...)
Quote from Maverick: "Where does it say you don’t need a cash receipt or similar???" (he means on the IKEA page)
Nowhere, because I am not here to relay IKEA promises but speak about the rights of customers in Germany. I have nowhere tried to quote IKEA or anything like that.
7. IKEA can allegedly refuse everything
No, they can write whatever they want in the T&Cs, German law still applies and under German law, you don’t need a receipt but only have to PROVE EVIDENCE OF PURCHASE, no matter how, only substantiated and comprehensible. Whether IKEA or another company refuses a return for any reason has nothing to do with the customer rights that you have in Germany. It is even stated in your IKEA quotes. (Well, there it only refers to the right of flaw and the right of withdrawal)
I think you rather got a lot confused. (Regarding my contributions on this topic)
8. The 90 days and 93 days example - from me
I meant that if you want to use the 90-day return period and were there on day 89 Sten but were not helped (for whatever reason) and come back on day 93 and want to push again more energetically because of the 90-day exchange guarantee and the employee knows nothing about the failed attempt on day 89, then the 90-day deadline has expired. I meant no more than that. Very simple. I only wanted to mention that if that happened, you would be out of luck. I did not want to hide any deeper meaning in that.
Regards back to your "friend." My good friend is simply the "search engine," I have many of them, not just one, like the one you recommended Still, thanks.
And now please calm down, you have already stepped into a puddle with the advertising I allegedly did. (we settled that via PM)
(This time I am saving it, now only Maverick and I understand )