“…this does not affect your statutory rights” – an explanation

The last time you were in a shop you may have seen a sign at the checkout that sets out the store’s returns policy.  You may have also noticed that the sign will have had a fairly mysterious phrase, to the effect that the returns policy “does not affect your statutory rights”.  Whilst this may be some comfort, people may be hard pressed to explain exactly what this means.  This article aims to briefly set out the main rights that ordinary shoppers have if something goes wrong.