Store Refuses to Honor Store Credit in Washington State

[nculala]

I had purchased a new golf club advertised in Crigslist. The golf club was not exactly what I was looking for. The owner provided me with the original sales reciept and suggested that I can trade it in for store credit or exchange it for the golf club i was interested in.

I did indeed exchange the club for a store credit. However, the next day I recived a call from the store saying the my store credit will not be honored.

The reason the store gave me was the the golf club was purchased by means of "trade in credit". Meaning the original purchaser (the one who sold me the club) had traded in used golf clubs for store credit and purchesed the new club that was then sold to me. It turns out that the clubs that were traded in were stolen.

Who's right here? From my point of view, I made two legitimate transactions and the store should seek reparations from the man who sold them stolen clubs. I would like them to honor my store credit but not sure if I have any legal basis to ask them to.

This occured in Washington state.

Thanks in advance for any advice that is given.

[Mr. Knowitall]

Why not return them to the guy who sold them to you?

The store doesn't have to compound its losses by allowing you to exchange merchandise obtained through acts of theft or fraud.