repackaging/restocking fees

[eliza61]

Consumers surely do, so it makes sense that retailers and airlines would as well, though it is clear to me that we consumer tend to react more emotionally, while retailers and airlines tend to react more analytically.

Well, everything ends up costing someone something somehow. I think there will always be retailers who provide "better" service (i.e., not charging restocking fees), though perhaps their prices will be a little higher as a result. In the end it evens out: If something is a better value than something else, consumers flock to it and sellers therefore raise the price. And vice versa.

Very true for me, One of my biggest flaws is that since I'm a bit longer in the tooth then a lot of dissers I remember (maybe through rose tinted glasses) a more "customer oriented" time. I remember stores, Sears in particular would market just how easy returns were and how they pretty much had a "no questions asked" type of return policy. I will admit it worked for me also.

 

[bicker]

I remember eating actual meals, flying from New York to Florida. In coach! Yeah, things have definitely changed!

 

[JB2K]

Those fees are out there to protect the stores -- case in point:

Someone buys a 50" Flat Panel HDTV over Super Bowl week and returns it to the store on the Monday following the Super Bowl, not quite packed the same way it was when he purchased it, but still expecting their money refunded.

This person has, in effect, snagged themselves a free (or pretty darned cheap, depending on whether or not there is a restock fee) TV rental for their Super Bowl party with 10 of their best buds.

And now, the store has to sell this TV at a loss, because no one in their right mind is going to pay full price for something that has been opened/used.

As for Target being the subject of the OP, we need to keep things in perspective -- Target may have some of the trappings of a department store, but, at the end of the day, they are a mass-merchandiser/discount store, just like their bigger competitor from Arkansas.

Fair? You decide...

 

[npmommie]

This is why I like shopping when I can with retailers who have no hassle returns, like LLBean, Lands End, etc.
even Walmart has never given me a problem over any return of any kind.

I even returned something I purchased from walmart online, didn't like it, they refunded the full purchase price and the shipping cost as well.

 

[Lewisc]

True, but if I paid more for my item, I want the full amount back, not the sale amount. I couldn't buy something from them for half of what my dollar is worth and they won't let me either. They can't have it both ways either!

That's why it's important to read the return policy. Don't buy from a vendor if you don't like the policy.

I don't think a retailer intended a 90 day return policy to equate to 90 days of price protection. Nor was it intended to let customers get the selection available by buyinjg early but get wind up with the equivalent of closeout pricing.

It doesn't take 90 days to decide that a bathing suit doesn't fit.

I think stores need to have generous terms for the traditional return period (7-10 days).

 

[j's m]

I remember eating actual meals, flying from New York to Florida. In coach! Yeah, things have definitely changed!

I remember breakfast and lunch on a flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco.
The good ole days.

Burlington Coat Factory originally had a store credit only return policy, even if you paid with a credit card. I refused to shop there with this policy. Eventually they changed it, but I still don't care for the store because of it.

Target would also be off my list if they want to charge to restock returns. That's why I love Kohls, no questions asked.

 

[hipchickie]

Someone buys a 50" Flat Panel HDTV over Super Bowl week and returns it to the store on the Monday following the Super Bowl, not quite packed the same way it was when he purchased it, but still expecting their money refunded.

This person has, in effect, snagged themselves a free (or pretty darned cheap, depending on whether or not there is a restock fee) TV rental for their Super Bowl party with 10 of their best buds.

And now, the store has to sell this TV at a loss, because no one in their right mind is going to pay full price for something that has been opened/used.

I think has has been noted more than once that no one has an issue with an electronics stocking fee

I am wondering if the shopper in the store is a serial returner, and after x many returns within a period of time, you will start to get this fee.

For those mentioning policy, I certainly have never seen a sign at Target saying there is a restocking fee, and I will be surprised if anyone here says they have

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

For those mentioning policy, I certainly have never seen a sign at Target saying there is a restocking fee, and I will be surprised if anyone here says they have

There is a sign in our Target behind the Guest Services desk, but I've never paid much attention to it (it's not a paper sign - it is printed in white on the red background behind the desk). Seems like it is 15% on certain electronics like digital cameras and camcorders. I am in Target way more than I should be and have never been charged a restocking or repackaging fee.

 

[hipchickie]

There is a sign in our Target behind the Guest Services desk, but I've never paid much attention to it (it's not a paper sign - it is printed in white on the red background behind the desk). Seems like it is 15% on certain electronics like digital cameras and camcorders. I am in Target way more than I should be and have never been charged a restocking or repackaging fee.

to clarify, i meant on anything but electronics (ie the baby items the OP mentioned)- and while the policy isn't perfectly specific, it only mentions electronics as well

http://www.target.com/Returning-Purchase-Store-Return-Refund/b?ie=UTF8&node=10665391

 

[aimlyles]

If this is true of Target I will make sure not to make clothing or electronic purchases from them, I can see electronics and have had to pay the restocking fee on a returned camera but to pay on a clothing returned espcecially if it was a gift that you have no control over.

I never had any problems with them until after Black Friday. I had bought a TV that was not a doorbuster or even in the 2 day sale flyer for $209 along with some other stuff and got the $10 gift card for spending over $100 (I spent over $300) That Sunday the same tv was on sale for $198 so I went in to get a price adjustment and get my $11, they only gave me $5.00. Because I had received the gc they look it as a return. I argued that even if I had not bought the TV I still spent over $100 and it shouldn't be considered. Granted this was only $6 but I was pissed, I spent over $300 and they want to stiff me $6 for a price adjustment. Had it been a significant amount I would have fought harder. I won't buy any big ticket items from them anymore.

 

[dodukes]

If this is true of Target I will make sure not to make clothing or electronic purchases from them, I can see electronics and have had to pay the restocking fee on a returned camera but to pay on a clothing returned espcecially if it was a gift that you have no control over.

I never had any problems with them until after Black Friday. I had bought a TV that was not a doorbuster or even in the 2 day sale flyer for $209 along with some other stuff and got the $10 gift card for spending over $100 (I spent over $300) That Sunday the same tv was on sale for $198 so I went in to get a price adjustment and get my $11, they only gave me $5.00. Because I had received the gc they look it as a return. I argued that even if I had not bought the TV I still spent over $100 and it shouldn't be considered. Granted this was only $6 but I was pissed, I spent over $300 and they want to stiff me $6 for a price adjustment. Had it been a significant amount I would have fought harder. I won't buy any big ticket items from them anymore.

when stores get pissy like that i just go and buy the item again and take it back with my old receipt. really its the same thing, just give me my price adjustment and save all this time on your and my part. now they have to lug the tv back to electronics because i had to repurchase it. if they refuse and its significant, thats what i do. call me cheap but every other store gives you price matching for like 30 days. targets receipts are good for 90 days but they ony price match for like 7 days or something really ridicualous like that.

 

[TaraPA]

We can't have it both ways... either liberal return policies with higher prices or lower prices with more restrictions.

I have to agree with this (although I'm not sure I agree with re-stocking fees on soft items!)

I'm a retail manager (not Target or any big box store) and people truly do abuse the return policy on a daily basis. We have people returning completely used, damaged items & demanding a full refund. We have people lying that it's brand new when it's clearly not. We have people who buy items on sale & then demand full price on their return. Since the customer is always right, I have to smile & accept their return. Then our store has to "damage out" many of these items, and we've lost money right there. That lost money then is reflected in the higher price of the items we sell.

I think stores like Target & Wal-Mart that have been super liberal in their return policies have created "abusive returners" who are taking advantage of it all around. Those people are ruining it for everyone. They drive up the prices & case-in-point, now make stores have stricter return policies for everyone. I think we're going to see the days of "return anything, anytime" come to an end.

 

[spacemountainmom]

You really would not believe what people try to return....

Many moons ago, I worked in the women's dept at Montgomery Ward. One day a woman came in carrying a 2 winter jackets and some sweaters in dry cleaning bags with tags on them. She whipped out her receipt from nearly a year earlier and original price tags and announced that she wanted to return the items.

I asked her if the items were used and she replied that they were used last winter (it was late summer) and she had lost a bunch of weight and wanted to return them. I explained to her that I would be unable to process a return as the items were obviously used. She got very angry and told me that she'd had them cleaned and I had better issue her a refund.

At that point, I called for the manager and let her deal with it. She told the woman that there was no way she was going to issue a refund for obviously used clothing. The woman left the store in a real huff and we just shook out heads.

Really lady, I'd like to know which stores that you shop at that DO allow full price returns of used clothing nearly a year after purchase.....I'd really like to start shopping there!

 

[averysmom]

You really would not believe what people try to return....

Many moons ago, I worked in the women's dept at Montgomery Ward. One day a woman came in carrying a 2 winter jackets and some sweaters in dry cleaning bags with tags on them. She whipped out her receipt from nearly a year earlier and original price tags and announced that she wanted to return the items.

I asked her if the items were used and she replied that they were used last winter (it was late summer) and she had lost a bunch of weight and wanted to return them. I explained to her that I would be unable to process a return as the items were obviously used. She got very angry and told me that she'd had them cleaned and I had better issue her a refund.

At that point, I called for the manager and let her deal with it. She told the woman that there was no way she was going to issue a refund for obviously used clothing. The woman left the store in a real huff and we just shook out heads.

Really lady, I'd like to know which stores that you shop at that DO allow full price returns of used clothing nearly a year after purchase.....I'd really like to start shopping there!

Kohls. Costco. Lands End. LL Bean. Mountain Equipment Coop.

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, for any reason, return for refund. And I know that at my Costco, I don't even need to have a receipt - that can do receipt look up.

I don't shop at places with restrictive return policies - especially on kid's clothes. I don't get to the mall a lot, so if something doesn't fit, it is not unreasonable for it to be a month or longer before I can get back. When GAP went to 30 days, I stopped shopping there unless they are with me. Now TCP has gone to 45 days - this too will be tight. At least gymbo gives store credit up to 180 days. If any of them started to charge a restocking fee, I wouldn't shop there at all.

 

[angel's momma]

I had bought a TV that was not a doorbuster or even in the 2 day sale flyer for $209 along with some other stuff and got the $10 gift card for spending over $100 (I spent over $300) That Sunday the same tv was on sale for $198 so I went in to get a price adjustment and get my $11, they only gave me $5.00. Because I had received the gc they look it as a return. I argued that even if I had not bought the TV I still spent over $100 and it shouldn't be considered.

We bought the same TV. We had a very kind employee that did an over ride & issued us the full price adjustment.

 

[Planogirl]

Kohls. Costco. Lands End. LL Bean. Mountain Equipment Coop.

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, for any reason, return for refund. And I know that at my Costco, I don't even need to have a receipt - that can do receipt look up.

I don't shop at places with restrictive return policies - especially on kid's clothes. I don't get to the mall a lot, so if something doesn't fit, it is not unreasonable for it to be a month or longer before I can get back. When GAP went to 30 days, I stopped shopping there unless they are with me. Now TCP has gone to 45 days - this too will be tight. At least gymbo gives store credit up to 180 days. If any of them started to charge a restocking fee, I wouldn't shop there at all.

I think that allowing returns after a year is ludicrous particularly on kids' clothes. Kids grow and things often don't fit after a year. I can only imagine if everyone started bringing things back after a year.

I think that people are starting to see stores trying to crack down on those who abuse the system. I can't say that I blame the stores.

 

[Sugardimples]

My partner works at Target in Guest Services and she never heard of this restocking fee for anything other than electronics. However, she says it is not enforced unless the product being returned justifies it by it's condition. She is the
person you would encounter if you had a return.

 

[spacemountainmom]

Kohls. Costco. Lands End. LL Bean. Mountain Equipment Coop.

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, for any reason, return for refund. And I know that at my Costco, I don't even need to have a receipt - that can do receipt look up.

I don't shop at places with restrictive return policies - especially on kid's clothes. I don't get to the mall a lot, so if something doesn't fit, it is not unreasonable for it to be a month or longer before I can get back. When GAP went to 30 days, I stopped shopping there unless they are with me. Now TCP has gone to 45 days - this too will be tight. At least gymbo gives store credit up to 180 days. If any of them started to charge a restocking fee, I wouldn't shop there at all.

I understand your point because I am the queen of hating to try stuff on in the store and have been bitten by not getting things back within the time limit - my fault - I get it.

I just really can't see how any sane person can return clothing that has been worn because they lost weight. How was the product not meeting their satisfaction?

As a consumer, I am all for liberal return policies. However, I don't think I abuse them. As a person who has worked in retail and owned a small service business that also sold some retail products, I have pretty much seen every kind of abuse possible and understand why retailers have to put limits on how much they are willing to be taken advantage of.

Let the buyer beware!

 

[3boymthr]

So I went to Target today to do two returns. One item a Wii game (an item category included in their restocking policy as shown above the service desk) and a set of Odor Eaters that were extras. I was not charged a restocking fee on either item.

While I was waiting in line I read the restocking fee policy in full. The last line of the restocking fee policy is actually pretty general and addresses items from the rest of the store in a broad manner that would allow them to charge a restocking fee on other items besides electronics at their discretion. I'm guessing that the woman in question (the one in the original post who was charged a fee on the onsies) probably had opened the package or had a history of returing items without tags (yes, Target definitely tracks this, they knew that I had returnd the other Wii game I purchased the same day and when).

Now, I will also state that another woman in line in front of me was also told that they would not accept an item back even though she had the receipt as she had removed all the labels and because of this they couldn't re-sell it or donate it but had to throw it in the trash (it was a storage container) so I think they are getting stricter with what they will accept back.

 

[vicki_c]

I'm guessing that the woman in question (the one in the original post who was charged a fee on the onsies) probably had opened the package or had a history of returing items without tags (yes, Target definitely tracks this, they knew that I had returnd the other Wii game I purchased the same day and when).

This is definitely true and I was going to suggest this before - Target and other retailers do track what they call "serial returners" and may/may not have different policies for those people, most likely allowed by the general broad language in the return policies.

By the way, I asked my DH and he said that his Target didn't have any such repackaging charge policy that he has been told.