Do you ever use something and then return it?

[TnKrBeLlA012]

I work for a large retail chain in the return area/customer service. I've been there for 13 years so nothing really surprises me. What I can't stand is when people lie right to your face and say the never used or wore the item they are returning. Today I had a lady return white placemats and napkins. No tags left on them and they were stained. I asked her what the problem with them was and she says nothing,they just didn't match. I point out to her they are dirty,she says that is how she bought them. I give her a look like ,I'm not stupid ,you used these and now you don't want them so your returning them. At least tell the truth. I did take them back since our store has a take anything back policy,which one day will come back to hurt them but it is still very frustrating. When I looked at the date on her receipt it was from March. People do have alot of nerve! Then they wonder why prices are so high. We have people put their dirty shoes in the box take the good ones out then return the dirty ones. They never want to adhere to any policy. If something was on sale two months ago they think they should have that price. Why should there be any rules? Another great thing people do is switch tickets on merchandise. They put tags on clothes we don't sell then return them for money. They bake food in pans then return it with part of the food still in it and say they never used it. I think some days the job gets to me. This is good therapy writing this. I could write alot more but I'll end it here.

 

[MagicalMom]

Nope, I think it's tacky & disgusting.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I would NEVER intentionally use something and bring it back as if it were new and think anyone who does that is LOW.

I will, however, return something I've used which has broken or otherwise fallen apart and expect a replacement if it hasn't been too long. This year I had a pocketbook for only a few weeks when the zipper broke; I had a nice pair of leather clogs for 3 months when the sole broke. I returned both with the slips and they nicely gave me new ones.

If it's your store policy to take things back regardless, do yourself a favor and adopt the attitude of "Whatever" and don't let it get to you. There's nothing you can do about it so why get upset and cause yourself to go insane (I worked retail in college so I remember the frustration well)? It must be working for the company or they wouldn't have the policy. And I'm sure the overall majority of people are honest, at least I'd hope. Remember the good ones...

 

[CarolA]

I used to work in retail and while we were generous we were not that nice.

I refused to take back a fox coat once since it had makeup all over the collar. It was pretty evident the purchaser had worn it to thier Christmas party and then wanted to return it.

We used to get customers showing up with old ratty merchandise telling us the credit department told them they could return it. What really happened was credit called saying pay or else... and the person told them they were taking the merchandise back. We would not accept it.

Abuse of returns is why places like Target have really clamped down now.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

I never take back things that I have used. But I do have a question for those in retail.

I June I bought a pair of pretty expensive sandals, I think I wore them maybe three or four times at the most. The obviously look new, today I grabbed them to go to the park, and while there the entire rubber sole just split apart. Of course I no longer have the receipt, but I would like to exchange them for a new pair. WHat do you think, should I try? I boiught them in Macys'.

 

[momsgonwild]

I have only returned something once to QVC, but they have a 30 day window for you to try the product, and return it if you don't like it. I tried the Orreck Carpet Cleaner, and it did not work well.
Returned it, told them I used it and did not like it. No questions asked they credited my account when they received the merchandise. Otherwise, I would find this to be very distasteful!

 

[snowglobe girl]

I don't work in retail, but if I paid a lot for them and only wore them a couple of times and that happened, I'd try to take them back. If they weren't that expensive, it was three months ago so I'd forget it.

This thread reminded me of something really gross though. My DH was in Wal-Mart once and saw a guy pick up a stick of deodorant and use it - THEN PUT IT BACK ON THE SHELF!! Now I ALWAYS buy the deodorant with a seal on it.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

The only reason I ever return something I've used is if it doesn't work, or doesn't work the way I thought it would.

I have a pretty good concept of how placemats and napkins work so I can't see ever using them and then returning them.

But maybe this lady was a little :

:space:

 

[Serena]

We have to accept returns too, and sometimes it irks me when I know they have used it and nothing's wrong with it. I have a customer that does this every week.


I try really hard to not worrry about it, it's not my money, but still it bothers me sometimes.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

I would never do that either. I work with a friend that works a second job at a discount retail store at the service desk. They have the same policy and she comes to our job telling of the horrible stories. One lady brought back a griddle with the grease still on it and said she bought it that way. I can't believe the balls of these people. They are low life slime and they are causing the rest of the good people to pay higher prices. Eventually stores will make changes and all of us will be penalized for other people's stupid, unreasonable demands.

 

[princess pooh]

Originally posted by MOMTOMOOTOO
I June I bought a pair of pretty expensive sandals, I think I wore them maybe three or four times at the most. The obviously look new, today I grabbed them to go to the park, and while there the entire rubber sole just split apart. Of course I no longer have the receipt, but I would like to exchange them for a new pair. WHat do you think, should I try? I boiught them in Macys'.

I don't work in retail but the same thing happened to me (but with a broken heel instead of a sole). I showed the shoes to the manager and they replaced them for me.

I would try taking the sandals back, it's worth a shot.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

It sometimes feels like there is no shame in society anymore. I work in retail also, and people will look you right in your eye and lie.

The only way to deal with this is to tell yourself "I am not a liar"

Always remember, they are liars and you are not.

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

This post was about people who cheat the system not honest people with defective merchandise. If something you bought broke or didn't hold up right by all means return it in a reasonable amount of time. My problem was with dishonest people. You get tired of people always trying to get something for nothing.

 

[Lachesis00]

Geeez she could have washed them first... since they had no tags on them anyways.


My aunt is one of these ppl. Uses it (sometimes many times) and then takes it back. She is on a permentant ban from Kmart and I think a two year ban at Fred Meyers. She tried to take something she bought @ Kmart to Fred Meyers (used of course). I can't remember what she did to get banned @ Kmart. My sister was sooo embarrassed having to go into a Kmart 1000 miles from home. My aunt was sure they would red flag her And does she STOP doing stuff like this?? Of course not.

 

[Serena]

I know someone that used to buy a dressy outfit, shoes and everything for something important, like a job interview, or a night out, and then return it. One time she had the nerve to ask me to return the stuff for her. I don't think so!

 

[krissy3483]

Oh this thread just made me have to share something that happened while I was working at returns at home depot the other day. This guy comes in with a really big battery (the ones for lawn mowers and whatever else) and says it's dead, I need to exchange it for another one. So I'm thinking, ok, maybe he bought it yesterday and tried it out and it didn't work. Well he gives me his receipt and its from March 24, so no free battery for him. We usually end up giving stuff to people to make them happy, but thankfully this was one of the few situations where the customer didn't get his way.

 

[BrerLizzie]

Originally posted by krissy3483
Oh this thread just made me have to share something that happened while I was working at returns at home depot the other day. This guy comes in with a really big battery (the ones for lawn mowers and whatever else) and says it's dead, I need to exchange it for another one. So I'm thinking, ok, maybe he bought it yesterday and tried it out and it didn't work. Well he gives me his receipt and its from March 24, so no free battery for him. We usually end up giving stuff to people to make them happy, but thankfully this was one of the few situations where the customer didn't get his way.

people who work in those type of jobs are pretty amazing.. i think i'd either back down quickly, or be rude.. "Gee sir, do you think that battery is dead because you've been using it in your lawn mower since march???"

 

[Serena]

Where I work, whenever we have a question about a return, we are told to call a manager. Well, just about every time a manager comes, they accept the return. "just this once" is the normal thing.
So, most of the time, I don't bother calling the manager. It's a waste of my time and the customer's. If it is really questionable, I will call, but otherwise I don't.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Originally posted by BrerLizzie
people who work in those type of jobs are pretty amazing.. i think i'd either back down quickly, or be rude.. "Gee sir, do you think that battery is dead because you've been using it in your lawn mower since march???"

Well......actually a battery SHOULD last longer than six months!

 

[Aimeedyan]

We take anything back, even if you're used it already =) But its one of our selling points... 100% guarantee you'll love it or bring it back. We always end up chunking the stuff, but hey - you pay the high price for the merchandise because you get that guarantee. We've had stuff returned from 2-3 seasons ago, in old packaging and everything, but we always take it back. More often than not, people had just received it as a gift - this happened alot after XMas. People buy stuff and put it away, then people try to return it and find out its years old...

BTW - I work for Bath and Body.

BUT - I think a store like BBW is totally different than, like, a home store. Its different to buy some lotion, use it for a few days, and hate how it smells on you and return it then buy some sheets, sleep on them for a month, and then return them. You know?