Posted on 02/18/2008 11:02:07 AM PST by Cagey
Jimmy Deignan's first time was with a $500 portable DVD player.
He bought it a few years ago at Best Buy for a Boston-to-Los Angeles flight, knowing he would return it for a full refund when he got back. More recently, in November, rather than spending $600 to rent a LCD projector for a business presentation, the Holden resident purchased one at Staples, then returned it a few days later and got his money back.
The way Deignan sees it, he is just a smart shopper: He gets the things he needs, uses them for as long as he wants, and saves money. But to retailers, this is wardrobing, a practice they say is unethical, damaging to their bottom line, and increasingly common.
Nearly two-thirds of merchants had items wardrobed in 2007, up from 56 percent the year before, the first year the National Retail Federation started tracking the trend. Merchants blame tough economic times and a "customer-is-always right" mentality gone too far. They say a growing number of shoppers feel entitled to return used items they no longer want, and probably could not afford in the first place - from costly cocktail dresses for big events to pricey plasma televisions bought exclusively to watch the Super Bowl. So, they are striking back, instituting more restrictive return policies, imposing restocking fees, and keeping a blacklist of serial wardrobers.
"The economy drives people into this behavior - going through their closets and looking for things they can return, regardless of when they bought it or how many times they've worn it," said Dan Doyle, vice president of loss prevention at Bealls Department Stores, a retailer based in Florida with stores across the Sun Belt.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
your a smart guy.
I understand, to a point, why retailers are doing this, but there should at least be an exception related to cost. One video was $10.
Mail them back to the retailer, or the family.
I thought the restocking fee was deducted from the returner's refund. This is how most businesses do it.
Is that why their prices are so high?
South 40 considers himself to be a buyer/customer when returning an item to a store.
;-)
I’m sure LL Bean charges enough in the first place that they “insulate” themselves from the “wardrobers”. But then, LL Bean’s customer base isn’t likely to have many of those types in the first place..........
I knew a couple, now deceased, who would take back fishing poles and similar items at the end of the season, to Wal-Mart, saying they were defective and corroded from the salt water!...............
Also, LL Bean has several Factory stores that sell returned, irregular and closeout merchandise. There are several here in NH. They are a GREAT place to shop. Especially in January when the Christmas returns come in.
Here’s “shameless”. I know of a lady who ordered kitchen cabinets and had them installed by Home Depot. After the install, she decided she “didn’t really like the grain of the cherry cabinets”. Home Depot took them out and refunded her money. Then, they had the cabinets out on the floor at a serious discount because, of course, they had screw holes in them from having been installed.
The same lady bought them. And had planned to do exactly that from the beginning. I was told she saved enough that way on her kitchen remodel to take a trip to Europe. I hate Home Depot, but that’s just plain wrong.
Made the salesman an offer of 50% off new, and he came back a couple minutes later and told me to take my pick. Still have the saw today, four years later.
I’m guessing that comment was made tongue-in-cheek / with sarcasm.
Well I agree it isn't a good commentary on society when we have to resort to making it harder for people to return non-defective merchandise, but other than that, how else can a retailer get rid of the problem of serial returners?
Kroger: Deming’s Red Sockeye Salmon, 14 3/4oz——$5.39
Wal-Mart: Diming’s Red Sockeye Salmon, 14 3/4oz——$3.17
Wal-Mart, my new favorite store.
LOL! Giving away my age here -- but, that one made me "do a double-take"! (I remember when "swipe" meant "steal"... '-)
What is your return policy?
and received this reply......
Return within 7 days. Buyer pays shipping & handling. Items must be returned as new, in re-sellable condition.
Jimmy
In other words, he doesn't want you to actually use the product he sells if you plan to return it.
What a hypocrite.
I did legal work for Nordstrom in the 80s, and way back then, they had a problem with people who bought a dress for one event, and intended to return it after. Nordstrom had a “no questions asked” return policy, and got taken advantage a lot. But what they did was, they kept the name of everyone who returned dresses, and if you did it enough that there was a pattern that this was what you were doing, they gave you a notice that you were no longer welcome as a customer. If you returned, you would be trespassing.
Not only is he a dishonest weasel, he is a hypocritical dishonest weasel.
If you want to study insanity get a job in retailing.
I was thinking the same thing - my wife used to work in retail before we had kids. She managed a few well known chain clothing stores.
They had liberal return policies that drove her crazy - people bringing back dirty clothes, smelling like smoke, clearly worn.
Just for sanity's sake, she would press them as to whether or not it was previously worn, and the customer would usually lie. They knew they would get a refund. But she tried to get a little satisfaction in making them think about it.
“Here’s ‘shameless’. I know of a lady who ordered kitchen cabinets and had them installed by Home Depot. After the install, she decided she “didn’t really like the grain of the cherry cabinets”. Home Depot took them out and refunded her money. Then, they had the cabinets out on the floor at a serious discount because, of course, they had screw holes in them from having been installed.
The same lady bought them. And had planned to do exactly that from the beginning. I was told she saved enough that way on her kitchen remodel to take a trip to Europe. I hate Home Depot, but that’s just plain wrong.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You’re kidding me. They even refunded her on the cost of labor???
You’re right. That’s incredibly shameless, and they should have blacklisted her as a customer.
I’m 30-mumble years old, and my mother would tan my hide for pulling a scam like that. Heck, I’d be too ashamed to let her know.
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