Banned from making too many returns? - Share your experiences!

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#106
Just read the entire thread. Never had a similar experience but wanted to share my two cents.

I think most stores in the US have a great return policy. Pretty lenient, if I may say, so I'm not surprised if this creates susceptibility to abuse. Stores here get snarky if you want to return something and you'd have to go through hoops before you could even get a "Let me talk to my manager" reply. Not cool. Most stores would just replace returned items with another item; they don't credit your account or give your money back.

I shop online from US stores most of time and have the item sent here all the way in SE Asia so I could never return anything (the return shipping cost would just be too high). I'm forced to basically accept anything that comes my way or alter it if possible to fit my expectations better.

But really, I'd love to be able to order multiple sizes so I could find the best fit possible. Sigh.
 
#107
Capt_Longshanks said:
Just read the entire thread. Never had a similar experience but wanted to share my two cents.

I think most stores in the US have a great return policy. Pretty lenient, if I may say, so I'm not surprised if this creates susceptibility to abuse. Stores here get snarky if you want to return something and you'd have to go through hoops before you could even get a "Let me talk to my manager" reply. Not cool. Most stores would just replace returned items with another item; they don't credit your account or give your money back.

I shop online from US stores most of time and have the item sent here all the way in SE Asia so I could never return anything (the return shipping cost would just be too high). I'm forced to basically accept anything that comes my way or alter it if possible to fit my expectations better.

But really, I'd love to be able to order multiple sizes so I could find the best fit possible. Sigh.
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You make a good point. The growth of so many alternate shopping venues makes it difficult for retailers to NOT follow the trend so they do until it comes around full circle. What I mean is that you have Zappos offering free shipping both ways so that forces endless to do the same and all the other online people. Eventually they realize that they either have to stop the free shipping or blacklist certain customers.

Also dont forget that high end retail stuff that stays off the floor for extended periods of times usually ends on the sales rack so if they get a customer that returns often enough they will opt to forego the frequent flyer miles and just tell them that they cannot ship them anymore. We have a couple of those types of customers. You measure things and you send them out and out of ten items, 9 come back. Eventually you have to "discourage them from shipping".

We have a different policy for in store purchases vs online, because its not possible to operate an online business they way you do a brick and mortar.

As far as international shipping, I have currently sent back and forth to the same Canadian customer three different jackets. I am not sure why she keeps on doing this with the charges mounting but she does and she isn't blacklisted so we ship.
 
#108
Tuesdays Child said:
The growth of so many alternate shopping venues makes it difficult for retailers to NOT follow the trend so they do until it comes around full circle. What I mean is that you have Zappos offering free shipping both ways so that forces endless to do the same and all the other online people. Eventually they realize that they either have to stop the free shipping or blacklist certain customers.
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True :yes:

However here the particular trend would be 'no returns until I could get a hold of the manager' :p It make the SAs look poorly trained in dealing with quetions from the patrons. Also the people doesn't seem to be properly knowledgeable of their rights as a costumer. Not many read the fine print. You would get screaming ladies demanding returns for final sale items and I've known people who just sit with their ill-fitted dresses until the time limit for returns run out... because they never ask about the store's return policy.

It really is bizarre.
 
#109
Capt_Longshanks said:
True :yes:

However here the particular trend would be 'no returns until I could get a hold of the manager' :p It make the SAs look poorly trained in dealing with quetions from the patrons. Also the people doesn't seem to be properly knowledgeable of their rights as a costumer. Not many read the fine print. You would get screaming ladies demanding returns for final sale items and I've known people who just sit with their ill-fitted dresses until the time limit for returns run out... because they never ask about the store's return policy.

It really is bizarre.
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SA's often are caught between a rock and a hard place in store policy. Store policy runs deeper that the one on one per item issues and while a customer may feel that they are always in the right its difficult for the SA who must follow what the law is vs. trying to make the customer happy.

Of course there are always exceptions but I often tell my staff to make a decision based on store policy and not to go through the indecision of "I'll get a manager" and then forcing the manager to have to make that decision that the SA should have made initially and subjecting the customer to false hopes and begging all over again.
 
#112
I have only made 1 return in my life. I just feel embarrassed doing it and I dunno why I feel as embarrassed as I do! Call me crazy, but if something ends up being something I don't want, I don't want to return because of this. I sell it on Ebay even if it's for a little less. I must be nuts lol
 
#113
PriscillaW said:
I have only made 1 return in my life. I just feel embarrassed doing it and I dunno why I feel as embarrassed as I do! Call me crazy, but if something ends up being something I don't want, I don't want to return because of this. I sell it on Ebay even if it's for a little less. I must be nuts lol
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You're not! I have made more than 1, but probably less than 10 in my life. I just feel really awkward returning something (unless I purchased it online and it doesn't fit). There are times when I've purchased something from a B&M store and realized it didn't fit properly but somehow found a way to make it work because I didn't want to take it back!
 
#114
PriscillaW said:
I have only made 1 return in my life. I just feel embarrassed doing it and I dunno why I feel as embarrassed as I do! Call me crazy, but if something ends up being something I don't want, I don't want to return because of this. I sell it on Ebay even if it's for a little less. I must be nuts lol
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You're not nuts! I also feel the same way, but I do get the courage to go return something. But when I return something, I try very hard to actually exchange rather than flat out returning. I've never walked into a store and gone straight to the counter to exchange anything without shopping around first.

I've even asked SA's to hold the shopping bag at the counter. I tell them I'm not happy with what I bought, but I'd like to search for a good substitute. I worked commission retail through high school and college, so I always understood the pain of a return!
 
#115
I used to shop a lot at Ann Taylor, especially when they had outlet store in our state (now it is a factory store).
After several years I just started returning a lot of things. My guess was it was enough. I close my card and stopped shopping there. They also change their policy a lot around 2007 - 2008.
Instead of 180 days - the return become 60 days. Also Ann Taylor consistently has the same problems with quality of the kneets (peeling) and they don't take things back easily at all.
I was lucky to return cashmere sweater which cost around 150 dollars because it started peeling within 3 days. Very badly. They only did it because they knew I buy a lot of clothes in their store.
I also returned a bag with a frame what broke within a month of use. I tend to like their bags a lot.
When I started wearing their shoes for walking they did not last either.
I travel and use booties I bought from then for 3 weeks and they fall apart.
So their shoes are exclusively for use in the car. No walking like other brands. They are pretty and they do copy a lot of famous designs.
Once you cut a tag at Ann Taylor clothing, you are done.
I guess if I would not close my card I would of been banned....
 
#116
A lot of times stores will ask for your information ( like name and address) to track your returns.

I don't think most people should worry about returning a few things here or there, or even returning one expensive item.

When it's excessive ( like 10 returns a month for example) stores will question it.
Some "customers" will find an old receipt, then go into the store and take the tag off the item and try to return it with said receipt for cash or store credit.
It's basically like stealing from the store.

Anyways, my point is that normal shoppers without a habit of constantly returning items probably shouldn't worry to much.
The stores are only looking for suspicious returns.

I learned this when I worked in retail.
 
#117
I think stores need to start putting tags on certain parts of the clothes, so that it is impossible for people to wear it, then return it. I notice Express is now doing this. They now have a huge black take that says on it "if removed item can not be returned" I work in retail on the weekends and too many woman come into the store with the tags off and tell me they cut the tags off but never wore it. BULL!! Why on earth would you cut tags off until you get ready to wear it out?? I can tell when an item has been worned.

I feel bad for people who truly are honest and want to return things, but thanks to people who are always trying to beat the system the rest of us have to suffer.
 
#118
^Herve Leger started doing that last year. they now sew Huge black fabric tag right into the seam on the back of all their dresses/skirts. there is No way to tuck that in. you have to cut that tag off to wear the dress. i applaud HL for doing that. people really take advantage of special occasion/eveningwear. wear it and dont even bother to dryclean. disgusting. I am friendly with Bloomies SA in dresses dept and she tells me its like 85% return rate in that dept
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#119
mashanyc said:
^Herve Leger started doing that last year. they now sew Huge black fabric tag right into the seam on the back of all their dresses/skirts. there is No way to tuck that in. you have to cut that tag off to wear the dress. i applaud HL for doing that. people really take advantage of special occasion/eveningwear. wear it and dont even bother to dryclean. disgusting. I am friendly with Bloomies SA in dresses dept and she tells me its like 85% return rate in that dept
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I will be so damn happy when BR starts to do this. BR customers come in with the worst sob stories when they are returning (I have heard it all before). Also, customers get on my last nerve trying to return things that are over a year old. Stop buying things, that you think you are going to loose weight and fit in at a later date. Policy is 60 days! Having a receipt does not override that policy
 
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