people who abuse liberal return policies

[Hurrem1001]

I think return policies can be grest. The problem is that there will always be people who do choose to abuse the privilege. The shops in this country don’t have return policies. You buy it and change your mind, suck it up, it’s yours. The only time you can get an exchange (not a return, that isn’t going to happen!) is if a product you buy is defective, and they DO check before exchanging the item!

 

[sdkitty]

I think return policies can be grest. The problem is that there will always be people who do choose to abuse the privilege. The shops in this country don’t have return policies. You buy it and change your mind, suck it up, it’s yours. The only time you can get an exchange (not a return, that isn’t going to happen!) is if a product you buy is defective, and they DO check before exchanging the item!

where are you?
it used to be more like that here in the US. I think Nordstrom (and maybe Costco) influenced the other retailers. Now there are many who are very liberal. Two major cosmetics stores - Ulta and Sephora - will take back opened containers of product if you don't like it. The local beauty supply stores here won't take anything back.

 

[luxsal]

I think return policies can be grest. The problem is that there will always be people who do choose to abuse the privilege. The shops in this country don’t have return policies. You buy it and change your mind, suck it up, it’s yours. The only time you can get an exchange (not a return, that isn’t going to happen!) is if a product you buy is defective, and they DO check before exchanging the item!

I agree. In many Asian countries, there is no return policy at all. Once you leave the store, it is yours. Although some major retailers are changing slightly like return within a certain period as long as not used.

where are you?
it used to be more like that here in the US. I think Nordstrom (and maybe Costco) influenced the other retailers. Now there are many who are very liberal. Two major cosmetics stores - Ulta and Sephora - will take back opened containers of product if you don't like it. The local beauty supply stores here won't take anything back.

I think Sephora is regulating this a bit. They are monitoring accounts that do a lot of returns and then may block or allow no more returns. I remember reading this on news. I hardly ever return so not entirely sure.

 

[sdkitty]

I agree. In India and other Asian countries, there is no return policy at all. Once you leave the store, it is yours. Although some major retailers are changing slightly like return within a certain period as long as not used.



I think Sephora is regulating this a bit. They are monitoring accounts that do a lot of returns and then may block or allow no more returns. I remember reading this on news. I hardly ever return so not entirely sure.

I think it's reasonable for a retailer to keep an eye on people who abuse their policies.....even Nordstrom has started doing this.

 

[Hurrem1001]

where are you?
it used to be more like that here in the US. I think Nordstrom (and maybe Costco) influenced the other retailers. Now there are many who are very liberal. Two major cosmetics stores - Ulta and Sephora - will take back opened containers of product if you don't like it. The local beauty supply stores here won't take anything back.

This sounds rather dramatic, but I can’t say where I am, I do apologise.
I think there should be a happy medium… not sure how, but here’s my suggestions - not that you want them, lolz!:
I think things like cosmetics, earrings, shoes, certain garments etc. shouldn’t be accepted as returns. If you buy it in-store and you have buyers remorse, oh well. Obviously that wouldn’t work so well on websites. But then I think they could monitor customers buying habits, and if returns are made multiple times, or an item is used then returned, then that customer should banned from that shop. Defective items are obviously exempt from this.
As for more expensive things such as furniture and white goods, I guess it depends on how long the customer has had them before trying to return them. If they’ve had something for a week or two and they’re unhappy with it then returns should be allowed. Again, if the customer is one who has purchased and returned items multiple times, then again they should be banned from shopping there. Again, exceptions are made for defective goods.

 

[sdkitty]

This sounds rather dramatic, but I can’t say where I am, I do apologise.
I think there should be a happy medium… not sure how, but here’s my suggestions - not that you want them, lolz!:
I think things like cosmetics, earrings, shoes, certain garments etc. shouldn’t be accepted as returns. If you buy it in-store and you have buyers remorse, oh well. Obviously that wouldn’t work so well on websites. But then I think they could monitor customers buying habits, and if returns are made multiple times, or an item is used then returned, then that customer should banned from that shop. Defective items are obviously exempt from this.
As for more expensive things such as furniture and white goods, I guess it depends on how long the customer has had them before trying to return them. If they’ve had something for a week or two and they’re unhappy with it then returns should be allowed. Again, if the customer is one who has purchased and returned items multiple times, then again they should be banned from shopping there. Again, exceptions are made for defective goods.

I think your ideas are reasonable. In the case of cosmetics, most stores here who sell drugstores cosmetics and don't have testers will take back a product that doesn't work. In the case of foundation especially that is reasonable to me. It's very hard to pick a color without testing. Also it's possible a product can be irritating. I once returned a retinol product that made my skin red. Ulta here is a goldmine. always busy any day or time - so they can afford to take something back occasionally

 

[Hurrem1001]

I think your ideas are reasonable. In the case of cosmetics, most stores here who sell drugstores cosmetics and don't have testers will take back a product that doesn't work. In the case of foundation especially that is reasonable to me. It's very hard to pick a color without testing. Also it's possible a product can be irritating. I once returned a retinol product that made my skin red. Ulta here is a goldmine. always busy any day or time - so they can afford to take something back occasionally

They should definitely have testers. I’d forgotten that in the drugstores over there they don’t, tbh. Things that irritate the skin is something else I’d forgotten about - but yes, I do agree with you on that, exceptions on returns should be made for those whose skin gets irritated by, or is allergic to, a product.
It’s a tough call knowing where to draw the line. So much to take into account. I’m glad it’s not my job to decide, lol!

 

[Stansy]

My intern used to work retail: the store (a well-known chain for mid-level apparel and designer) would take back worn prom dresses reeking of sweat and smoke. No questions asked. And they even took an H&M sweater and refunded the guy 30€ just to have him go away. Insane. This abuse of return policies is paid for by all honest customers!

 

[sdkitty]

They should definitely have testers. I’d forgotten that in the drugstores over there they don’t, tbh. Things that irritate the skin is something else I’d forgotten about - but yes, I do agree with you on that, exceptions on returns should be made for those whose skin gets irritated by, or is allergic to, a product.
It’s a tough call knowing where to draw the line. So much to take into account. I’m glad it’s not my job to decide, lol!

drugstores used to have testers years ago but no more...guess it was a sanitary issue....must cost them a bit with returns

 

[Sunshine mama]

I think your ideas are reasonable. In the case of cosmetics, most stores here who sell drugstores cosmetics and don't have testers will take back a product that doesn't work. In the case of foundation especially that is reasonable to me. It's very hard to pick a color without testing. Also it's possible a product can be irritating. I once returned a retinol product that made my skin red. Ulta here is a goldmine. always busy any day or time - so they can afford to take something back occasionally

I think returning cosmetics and skincare products is reasonable. So many cosmetics and skincare products make impossible claims!

 

[CeeJay]

I had an acquaintance back in Boston who used to shop at all the high-end stores (Barneys NY was her favorite). She was a smaller (somewhat petite) woman, so of course .. their fashions were right up her alley. But, what she really splurged on was Handbags and Jewelry (and not the cheap stuff). I couldn't really get why she purchased Jewelry since she was .. (supposedly) a Jeweler herself (high-karat gold & Diamonds). I would meet up with her on occasion at a local Cafe/Coffee shop where she would have the latest & greatest trend handbag and some 'new' Jewelry, but then tell me "oh - my husband is going to kill me because I should NOT have bought .." (her husband was a Pediatric Physician who didn't work for the "Evil Empire" as he called it .. in other words, for the Harvard Medical System!). Mind you, she had 3 kids and lived in a gorgeous older Victorian Home in Brookline (the suburb due West of Boston - so, not inexpensive). What really slayed me time & time again was how she would USE and/or wear all these items and then about 1 or 2 weeks in, off she would go to the high-end retail store and return the goods!

At that time, Barneys had a fairly liberal return policy .. BUT, then things started to change. According to a dear friend of mine who worked retail at Barneys, too many customers (especially in NYC and Beverly Hills) were buying clothing/shoes/handbags, etc. - and then WEARING them (to parties, etc. - especially around the holidays) .. but .. they didn't even bother to CLEAN the items before bringing them back!!! WTH?!?!?! So, the retail associates would see the deodorant or sweat stains, other stains (dirt, etc.) or worse, cigarette burn holes .. yet, they got stuck having to take the items back!

Well, back to my acquaintance .. the Boston store pretty much knew that she would buy, yet return 1-2 weeks later and would do this time & time again! Then things started to get tough for Barneys financially (and we all saw what eventually happened), such that the retail associates were told to "keep track" of the buy/return frequency .. and if a customer did it too often, they were told that their purchase(s) were NOT returnable! Well, you better believe that my acquaintance got "blocked" from returning anything, so what does she try to do??? .. well, go to a different store (not even Barneys), bringing her kids with her .. and telling them that one of her kids lost the receipt!!! What really killed me is when she tried to return something at Bloomingdales when the clothing CLEARLY had the "Barneys NY" label inside! Oy vay ..

Oh yeah .. when I "tried" to talk Jewelry making/Metalsmithing with this acquaintance, it became hugely clear that she knew absolutely nothing about the Jewelry design/making process .. to which I said "uh - who actually makes your pieces" to which she replied "oh - a lady on Etsy"! WHAT????? Needless to say, I really didn't want to be part of her "friends circle" anymore!

 

[sdkitty]

I had an acquaintance back in Boston who used to shop at all the high-end stores (Barneys NY was her favorite). She was a smaller (somewhat petite) woman, so of course .. their fashions were right up her alley. But, what she really splurged on was Handbags and Jewelry (and not the cheap stuff). I couldn't really get why she purchased Jewelry since she was .. (supposedly) a Jeweler herself (high-karat gold & Diamonds). I would meet up with her on occasion at a local Cafe/Coffee shop where she would have the latest & greatest trend handbag and some 'new' Jewelry, but then tell me "oh - my husband is going to kill me because I should NOT have bought .." (her husband was a Pediatric Physician who didn't work for the "Evil Empire" as he called it .. in other words, for the Harvard Medical System!). Mind you, she had 3 kids and lived in a gorgeous older Victorian Home in Brookline (the suburb due West of Boston - so, not inexpensive). What really slayed me time & time again was how she would USE and/or wear all these items and then about 1 or 2 weeks in, off she would go to the high-end retail store and return the goods!

At that time, Barneys had a fairly liberal return policy .. BUT, then things started to change. According to a dear friend of mine who worked retail at Barneys, too many customers (especially in NYC and Beverly Hills) were buying clothing/shoes/handbags, etc. - and then WEARING them (to parties, etc. - especially around the holidays) .. but .. they didn't even bother to CLEAN the items before bringing them back!!! WTH?!?!?! So, the retail associates would see the deodorant or sweat stains, other stains (dirt, etc.) or worse, cigarette burn holes .. yet, they got stuck having to take the items back!

Well, back to my acquaintance .. the Boston store pretty much knew that she would buy, yet return 1-2 weeks later and would do this time & time again! Then things started to get tough for Barneys financially (and we all saw what eventually happened), such that the retail associates were told to "keep track" of the buy/return frequency .. and if a customer did it too often, they were told that their purchase(s) were NOT returnable! Well, you better believe that my acquaintance got "blocked" from returning anything, so what does she try to do??? .. well, go to a different store (not even Barneys), bringing her kids with her .. and telling them that one of her kids lost the receipt!!! What really killed me is when she tried to return something at Bloomingdales when the clothing CLEARLY had the "Barneys NY" label inside! Oy vay ..

Oh yeah .. when I "tried" to talk Jewelry making/Metalsmithing with this acquaintance, it became hugely clear that she knew absolutely nothing about the Jewelry design/making process .. to which I said "uh - who actually makes your pieces" to which she replied "oh - a lady on Etsy"! WHAT????? Needless to say, I really didn't want to be part of her "friends circle" anymore!

shameless....seems even a bit worse when someone with plenty of money does this type of thing

 

[pixiejenna]

and I don't think many costco member are poor. they have to be able to pay membership dues. some people just have no shame.

I feel like a good portion of people who do this are rich, and this is a part of how they stay rich they refuse to pay for things even when they use them. They’re the ones who‘ll pitch a hissy fit about how much they spend there blah blah blah. Basically they will say and do whatever they have to, to get their way with no regard or respect for the people helping them. No moral compass.

 

[pukasonqo]

NM

 

[CeeJay]

shameless....seems even a bit worse when someone with plenty of money does this type of thing

Those are the folks THAT DO it!!! Can't even say how many of my friends who worked retail said that the "Hollywood" crowd was the absolute worst in being cheap and doing sh1t like this .. especially around awards season! UFB .. they can freakin' afford it and they do crap like this .. that is what has really pissed me off about those types!