Sneaky way of getting free shipping at AE.

[Tikitoi]

Right now they have a special at AE where if you buy $100 or more you get free shipping. I was thinking of buying my daughter a few new tees and buy up enough of something else to make the $100 mark to get the free shipping. Then when I am at the mall the next time, take those items back and get all the money back for the items I purchased just to get free shipping? Anyone else ever did this?

It seems if you are asking, then you know it's not the right thing to do. And besides, if you are planning to do it anyway, why even ask. Must have been an uneventful day. But at the same time it seems a lot of trouble to go through to save a few bucks. But I geuss if you need it that bad, then you do what you have to do. My rule is if I can't afford it, I go without.

 

[C.Ann]

Two reasons I wouldn't do this.. For one, it just doesn't "sit" right with me - and for two, I absolutely despise having to run around to do returns..

 

[DianeV]

so is it 'sneaky' to print out multiple Target coupons and use them to get your items free? just wonderin!

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

so is it 'sneaky' to print out multiple Target coupons and use them to get your items free? just wonderin!

Ya, I guess so!!!!

 

[C.Ann]

so is it 'sneaky' to print out multiple Target coupons and use them to get your items free? just wonderin!

----------------

I would assume so - if there's something stated on the coupon that indicates as much..

I wouldn't know - because I don't shop at Target.. LOL Nothing in that store interests me - nor do I find their prices all that appealing to begin with..

 

[DianeV]

LOL yup one coupon per customer per transaction type of wording evidently

I do love Target though

 

[Nie0214]

so is it 'sneaky' to print out multiple Target coupons and use them to get your items free? just wonderin!

Yes, and I've said as much in the giant Target thread too. Although, "sneaky" isn't the right word.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Okay, it is wrong karmically to buy $100 worth of stuff for free shipping only to KNOWINGLY return stuff automatically to the store. That's cheating.

But, for the Old Navy stuff when they stopped carrying plus-sized in the stores? I am so there. It isn't fair to have to pay shipping just because the store doesn't carry the size (I assume they don't want plus-sized people actually IN their stores?)

And I also am with the petite people. Why do plus-sized clothes cost more when petite-sized clothes don't cost less than average sizes? What is up with that, too?

 

[richmond282]

And I also am with the petite people. Why do plus-sized clothes cost more when petite-sized clothes don't cost less than average sizes? What is up with that, too?

Often petite sizes cost more than average sizes as well. I don't know how petite compares to plus-size, though.

 

[mafibisha]

so is it 'sneaky' to print out multiple Target coupons and use them to get your items free? just wonderin!

LOL

Yeah, funny how people decide what is and isn't cheating or stealing.

Check out the thread: What is the cheapest thing you have done that is embarassing?

This OP is berated about returns and yet others steal from hotel rooms not just one roll, but dozens of rolls of TP, plus Kleenex, along with various other items that are MEANT to be used IN THE ROOM or a restaurant (napkins, straws)

And yet people complain about the high cost of hotels and restaurants!??

So whats the big diff???

** Much of what our children learn isn't taught, but is caught* Think about it.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Another way to get free shipping is to order something from their 77 line (children's clothing) and put that in with your AE order (there are tabs on the top to take you from place to place, but it all goes into one cart). All will be shipped free.

Disclaimer - this has been the case for a month or so and was just the other day, but not sure if they've discontinued the free shipping.

 

[TheLittleRoo]

It's not hogwash what the PP said about hitting a sales quota for the day. I know when I worked retail, we had targets too. I also know that my store manager was accountable at the end of the day for hitting her year over year sales increase of x% for the day, and too many returns would kill the stats.

It's not really the problem of the consumer, and it should not affect the brick & mortar store's sales; it could easily be solved at a corporate level by assigning a return number of 9999 to indicate internet purchases so it's not taken off the employee's sales number or the store's P&L for the day. Come to think of it, when I was dealing with the same issue, we did use sales person 9999 when doing returns without a receipt. The only time it hurt me personally was when someone returned something *I* sold them, actually, but I could believe other stores have policies that would penalize the poor chump running the cash register at the time.

 

[dsny1mom]

I manage a retail store. We are given sales goals. We work hard to attain those goals. The company I work for has on line sales. When a customer returns to my store items bought on the net those returns are deducted from the stores sales.

It may not be the customers problem but in the long run returning internet items to a brick and mortar store may very well impact customers sooner or later.

When stores don't meet their sales goals, due in part to on line returns, payroll is cut and then there are fewer employees leading to longer waits for any transaction. This is happening right now in retail stores accross the country.

The other more serious ramification is if the pattern of buying on line and returning to the stores continues we may see more and more companies closing their brick and mortar stores. Think about it. Why would a company carry the huge overhead of a brick and mortar when it serves as a dumping ground for on line returns? I have to wonder if some of the retailers aren't watching this closely to see if it would be better for their bottom line to just eliminate brick and mortars alltogether. If that happens look for bigger shipping fees and non negotiable return fees to be leveled.

Knowing how returns effect a store I "never" return anything I purchase on the net to a brick and mortar store. I don't feel a store should have to absorb returns against their sales on items they didn't sell to begin with.

IMHO, while inflating one's order to avoid shipping fees isn't illegal it certainly isn't the honorable thing to do. Any time someone massages the rules to avoid a fee that they would have if they didn't isn't doing the right thing. But that's just me, YMMV.

dsny1mom

 

[DianeV]

If thats really true its pretty stupid. Sorry but online returns have nothing to do with a brick and mortar store sales...

 

[dsny1mom]

If thats really true its pretty stupid. Sorry but online returns have nothing to do with a brick and mortar store sales...

It most certainly is ture. I live it daily, I know. It isn't stupid in corporates eyes. They want to get the sales anyway they can and with the highest profit margin. If that ends up being the elimination of brick and mortar then that's what will happen.

I agree on line returns should not be deducted from brick and mortar sales but they do and will continue to as long as online shoppers continue to return their purchases to the stores.

If people buy online for convience and return to the store for convience in the end they will have a hand in the elimination of the actual store. There will be zero convience if or when all the shopping people do is forced to be online shopping because the brick and mortars are gone.

There are states that are already fighting the no tax on online purchases, one of the reasons some shop online. Look for all the convience and savings to go away if online is the single method for shoppping. Once they have the consumer as a captive audience they will do whatever they want to do to them, with no consequenses as there won't be any alternatives.

dsny1mom
(who is off to work hoping there won't be too many online returns today)

 

[merin]

Yep, that definitely IS "sneaky", and not in a cute or admirable way.

I'm not too worried because I have weird feet and buy shoes online and have to exchange pretty frequently, and sometimes it is easier to go to the bricks and mortar store, in at least two cases if I've gotten free shipping and I am not doing an exchange, they've deducted the cost of the shipping (what it would have been) from my return, and I'm cool with that.

AE is a pretty big and well-run company, I'm guessing their computer system is that sophisticated too, so they're probably all set up to catch the sneaky cheaters.

(and my personal opinion is that doing something like that intentionally JUST to get something for free, IS stealing.)

 

[Missy1961]

If thats really true its pretty stupid. Sorry but online returns have nothing to do with a brick and mortar store sales...

Why wouldn't they? It's all the same bottom line. I know I keep reading that some stores that are having issues in this economy are thinking of closing stores but beefing up an online store--it's cheaper. Think about it--no rent, no electric bill, you don't need as many employees. So returns from the internet do in fact affect the bottom line of a brick & mortar store.

 

[mafibisha]

Why wouldn't they? It's all the same bottom line. I know I keep reading that some stores that are having issues in this economy are thinking of closing stores but beefing up an online store--it's cheaper. Think about it--no rent, no electric bill, you don't need as many employees. So returns from the internet do in fact affect the bottom line of a brick & mortar store.

Yes, which means even MORE jobs LOST.

 

[Va-bear]

Knowing how returns effect a store I "never" return anything I purchase on the net to a brick and mortar store. I don't feel a store should have to absorb returns against their sales on items they didn't sell to begin with.

If thats really true its pretty stupid. Sorry but online returns have nothing to do with a brick and mortar store sales...

Well, I can see where they are related, but I would think that the relationship is positive, not negative. More and more stores are moving to making returns to their stores easier, not more difficult. And , ingneral, there are more shipping specials. (These are generalities, and certainly some companies are hurting enough that they are not offering better shipping - Disney for one....) Lands End for example, who a year ago were famous for never offering free shipping, now do on a daily basis and for an item that costs as little as $3.00 (or less!) And they have goe out of their way to point out you can "Return it to Sears, NO COST!!!" Cold Water Creek allows free shipping if you order it from their store, and you can return it on-site immediately. And there are plenty more....I do alot of on-line shopping.

I would not order $100.00 just to ge the free shipping (it's just not right and a lot of work for a few dollars), but I would never feel bad about returning an item I got on-line to the bricks and mortor store, if they advertise it as an option. They want to make money and it must be helping them at some level or they wouldnt od it - it IS a shame if it hurts individuals working at the store, but that is always a shame and related to the economy as a whole (if on-line sales are up then in-store sales are down...trends change and someone somewhere is affected.) If an instore job is lost maybe an on-line service job is created, or vice versa. But, ofcourse, this is a bad time for jobs period...

 

[luvdzny]

They can't do that when you pay for it with a credit card!! DUHHHHHH!

I work in retail and they can issue store credit on a credit card purchase, we do it all the time.