Bought it. Opened it. Don't like it. Keep it?
September 16, 2013 2:00 PM Subscribe
What happens to most items (price range US$20 - $80) returned to stores? I'm asking because I tend to return a fair amount of stuff, and I don't want to be unethical or wasteful about it.
I assume that anything in its original packaging, not defective and not damaged, just goes back onto the shelves. But what about things in blister packs, that there's no way to open without destroying the packaging? And what about things like sheets or pillows, that probably shouldn't be resold if tried out, but may have just been bought in the wrong size?
Nearly all of the places I shop have very good return policies, and I understand that returns are part of their cost of doing business.
But I don't want to be returning things I really should not be, that the stores are going to have to toss, just because I find that I don't much like something that I've opened and tried.
I assume that anything in its original packaging, not defective and not damaged, just goes back onto the shelves. But what about things in blister packs, that there's no way to open without destroying the packaging? And what about things like sheets or pillows, that probably shouldn't be resold if tried out, but may have just been bought in the wrong size?
Nearly all of the places I shop have very good return policies, and I understand that returns are part of their cost of doing business.
But I don't want to be returning things I really should not be, that the stores are going to have to toss, just because I find that I don't much like something that I've opened and tried.
I know that some online stores resell returned items at their outlets at a discount. A funny aside: a major online retailer apparently thought a relative of mine was returning too many items of clothing. So they sent her a polite note on measuring for fit along with a tape measure!
posted by michellenoel at 2:07 PM on September 16, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by michellenoel at 2:07 PM on September 16, 2013 [7 favorites]
You could also consider re-selling on kijiji, but this will be at a loss of course.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 2:09 PM on September 16, 2013
posted by St. Peepsburg at 2:09 PM on September 16, 2013
Target gives it all its clearance and returns to Goodwill, so you can feel good about returning there!
posted by amileighs at 2:10 PM on September 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by amileighs at 2:10 PM on September 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
you can feel good about returning there!
Not really; who wants people returning used sheets because: couldn't be bothered to figure out required sizing? That's going to make everybody's sheets more expensive.
posted by kmennie at 2:26 PM on September 16, 2013 [9 favorites]
Not really; who wants people returning used sheets because: couldn't be bothered to figure out required sizing? That's going to make everybody's sheets more expensive.
posted by kmennie at 2:26 PM on September 16, 2013 [9 favorites]
still_wears_a_hat: I understand that returns are part of their cost of doing business.
We all bear those costs, so I think it is at least slightly incumbent upon each of us to minimize our returns as much as possible.
posted by Rock Steady at 2:28 PM on September 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
We all bear those costs, so I think it is at least slightly incumbent upon each of us to minimize our returns as much as possible.
posted by Rock Steady at 2:28 PM on September 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
When I worked the paint desk at the Home Depot we had a RTV (Return to Vendor) specialist whose job was to get everything........ returned to vendor.
However there were many, many instances of items being chucked in the trash compactor. I don't remember the specifics, but it had to do with a fear of returned items being re-sold at a discount but then returned for full price at another store.
posted by lstanley at 2:31 PM on September 16, 2013
However there were many, many instances of items being chucked in the trash compactor. I don't remember the specifics, but it had to do with a fear of returned items being re-sold at a discount but then returned for full price at another store.
posted by lstanley at 2:31 PM on September 16, 2013
I agree - returning things that are immediately discounted destroys economic value, for everyone.
I can talk about retail for clothing, two industries I worked retail in. For clothing, if the garment was still selling at full price, and showed no signs of wear, we would re-tag and sell it again at full price. If it were no longer selling at full price, we would re-tag and sell it at the current sale price. If it did show signs of wear but we were obliged by policy to accept it, we'd deeply discount it, donate it or just throw it in the trash.
posted by Miko at 2:34 PM on September 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I can talk about retail for clothing, two industries I worked retail in. For clothing, if the garment was still selling at full price, and showed no signs of wear, we would re-tag and sell it again at full price. If it were no longer selling at full price, we would re-tag and sell it at the current sale price. If it did show signs of wear but we were obliged by policy to accept it, we'd deeply discount it, donate it or just throw it in the trash.
posted by Miko at 2:34 PM on September 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I used to process retail returns. Nothing was thrown out or put back on the shelf; everything was tracked and sent back to the manufacturer/wholesaler. There was a really harsh "unused exchanges only" policy in the store, so I can assume they lost at least some money on each return.
Also, this is anecdotal but the big chain pet store by my house sends returns to a nearby animal shelter.
posted by griphus at 2:34 PM on September 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also, this is anecdotal but the big chain pet store by my house sends returns to a nearby animal shelter.
posted by griphus at 2:34 PM on September 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I returned some blister-packed head lights to Costco recently, because one of the lights was defective. I know they were returned to the company that made them. What happened after that, I do not know.
REI puts some things that are returned for sale in their bargain section, at least they do in Seattle. I've seen things with notes saying what the person who returned them didn't like about the item.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:41 PM on September 16, 2013
REI puts some things that are returned for sale in their bargain section, at least they do in Seattle. I've seen things with notes saying what the person who returned them didn't like about the item.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:41 PM on September 16, 2013
...you can feel good about returning there!
Just another POV on this: returns make work for people. If you're shopping at a place that has a dedicated return department or a returns shift, whatever. But, oftentimes -- at least every time I've had to do it or assign someone to do it in a independently owned store -- it's just added (and very, very tedious) work on top of other, expected work with no time allowance. In one shop I worked, it was even punitive: store wasn't clean enough? Screw up a sale? Now you have to process returns for an hour.
posted by griphus at 2:43 PM on September 16, 2013 [4 favorites]
Just another POV on this: returns make work for people. If you're shopping at a place that has a dedicated return department or a returns shift, whatever. But, oftentimes -- at least every time I've had to do it or assign someone to do it in a independently owned store -- it's just added (and very, very tedious) work on top of other, expected work with no time allowance. In one shop I worked, it was even punitive: store wasn't clean enough? Screw up a sale? Now you have to process returns for an hour.
posted by griphus at 2:43 PM on September 16, 2013 [4 favorites]
no retailer takes back inventory and just chucks it out, other than grocers
Most cosmetics counters allow returns, but they throw out the product for sanitary reasons. Having a generous return policy attracts enough business that they can usually afford to toss a few returned items, but I've heard of cosmetics retailers putting their foot down on repeat offenders (e.g. people who "sample" by ordering all the products in a new collection and returning the ones they don't like).
posted by Metroid Baby at 2:46 PM on September 16, 2013
Most cosmetics counters allow returns, but they throw out the product for sanitary reasons. Having a generous return policy attracts enough business that they can usually afford to toss a few returned items, but I've heard of cosmetics retailers putting their foot down on repeat offenders (e.g. people who "sample" by ordering all the products in a new collection and returning the ones they don't like).
posted by Metroid Baby at 2:46 PM on September 16, 2013
...just because I find that I don't much like something that I've opened and tried.
Could you specify what you mean by "tried"? There's a big difference between trying on a shirt at home (leaving the tags on), and wearing the shirt for hours and then deciding to return it.
When I worked for a clothing department in a large department store and people returned items in new condition, we just put them back on the floor. If people returned items that were dirty, damaged or had a bad odor, we chucked them all in a huge bin and every year someone had to go through the bin and write off each item as a loss for insurance. I believe these items had to be destroyed in order to claim the losses.
When I worked for a home goods store, an interior decorator bought cartloads of throw cushions and ripped off all the "new materials" tags because she thought they looked ugly. She returned them all and we couldn't resell them after that. I think they were donated to charity.
Ikea puts many returned items in their As Is section at a discount. When I called Ikea about buying one of their floor models, I was told that Ikea usually donates floor models and anything that doesn't sell in As Is to charities.
posted by keep it under cover at 3:04 PM on September 16, 2013
Could you specify what you mean by "tried"? There's a big difference between trying on a shirt at home (leaving the tags on), and wearing the shirt for hours and then deciding to return it.
When I worked for a clothing department in a large department store and people returned items in new condition, we just put them back on the floor. If people returned items that were dirty, damaged or had a bad odor, we chucked them all in a huge bin and every year someone had to go through the bin and write off each item as a loss for insurance. I believe these items had to be destroyed in order to claim the losses.
When I worked for a home goods store, an interior decorator bought cartloads of throw cushions and ripped off all the "new materials" tags because she thought they looked ugly. She returned them all and we couldn't resell them after that. I think they were donated to charity.
Ikea puts many returned items in their As Is section at a discount. When I called Ikea about buying one of their floor models, I was told that Ikea usually donates floor models and anything that doesn't sell in As Is to charities.
posted by keep it under cover at 3:04 PM on September 16, 2013
Response by poster: Could you specify what you mean by "tried"?
Some examples: a pair of headphones I bought to replace ones I'd broken. Same model number, but enough smaller that when I tried them on, they weren't nearly as comfortable. A mouse that made my arm hurt when I used it; I don't know why. A mattress protector that I didn't sleep on, but just taking out of the box showed that it was noisy. Things like that - not defective, but really not OK (for me).
Stuff that's really defective I have no problem returning.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 3:12 PM on September 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Some examples: a pair of headphones I bought to replace ones I'd broken. Same model number, but enough smaller that when I tried them on, they weren't nearly as comfortable. A mouse that made my arm hurt when I used it; I don't know why. A mattress protector that I didn't sleep on, but just taking out of the box showed that it was noisy. Things like that - not defective, but really not OK (for me).
Stuff that's really defective I have no problem returning.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 3:12 PM on September 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Having worked in a retail clothing store where returns were a nuisance for the salespeople and some of the things people tried to return were disgusting, I never buy anything with the intent of returning it. I try it on in the store to see if it fits, rather than taking a bunch of clothes home to try on with the intent of returning most of them. Of course I have returned things that were damaged or did not work (appliances and such). But I hope everyone who routinely buys and returns gives it a little thought next time. One of the nastiest practices that resulted in a no-return policy on fancy dresses was people who bought a dress, tucked the tags in and wore it to an event, then returned it, sweat and all for a refund.
posted by mermayd at 3:13 PM on September 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by mermayd at 3:13 PM on September 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
I can tell you from my experience in working at Restoration Hardware and at a few convenience stores/pharmacies: a good portion of stuff is thrown out. Everything that is possible to put back on the shelf is (unopened, like-new packages, unworn clothing, unused cushions and the like) and all products that can be returned to the manufacturer are. This is, at least at those stores, maybe 40% of returns. Everything else is logged and thrown away. We are trying to find more avenues to donate returned items, but most items that are returned are thought of as liabilities. Things like cosmetics or drugs are always thrown away because they could make someone sick if they are contaminated. Food is sometimes donated, but only if it is nowhere near its expiration date and if it is undamaged in any way.
If you've tried on headphones, they were chucked. I mean, would you want to buy something that someone else had put in their ears? That's kind of gross. Mattress protectors would have been chucked because most people find that weird. Sometimes things like that are donated, but usually it's waaaay too much of a hassle to figure out how to do that to make it cost-effective in any way. And people tend to assume that if they buy things from stores like that, they are unused- it's what separates them from thrift stores.
posted by shesaysgo at 3:46 PM on September 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you've tried on headphones, they were chucked. I mean, would you want to buy something that someone else had put in their ears? That's kind of gross. Mattress protectors would have been chucked because most people find that weird. Sometimes things like that are donated, but usually it's waaaay too much of a hassle to figure out how to do that to make it cost-effective in any way. And people tend to assume that if they buy things from stores like that, they are unused- it's what separates them from thrift stores.
posted by shesaysgo at 3:46 PM on September 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I tend to return a fair amount of stuff
....
But I don't want to be returning things I really should not be, that the stores are going to have to toss, just because I find that I don't much like something that I've opened and tried.
If you feel like you're returning more things than the average customer (for what it's worth and just based on your examples, I think this is probably an accurate feeling), maybe you should examine that a little.
As others have said, returned items are rarely, if ever, sold at full price. Returned items, taken as a whole, cost stores and manufacturers money. And, generally, they pass those costs on to all of their customers.
Reading reviews, asking people for opinions and doing other kinds of comparison shopping before you make a purchase might be one way to reduce the number of items that you open, try and return.
posted by box at 3:50 PM on September 16, 2013 [6 favorites]
....
But I don't want to be returning things I really should not be, that the stores are going to have to toss, just because I find that I don't much like something that I've opened and tried.
If you feel like you're returning more things than the average customer (for what it's worth and just based on your examples, I think this is probably an accurate feeling), maybe you should examine that a little.
As others have said, returned items are rarely, if ever, sold at full price. Returned items, taken as a whole, cost stores and manufacturers money. And, generally, they pass those costs on to all of their customers.
Reading reviews, asking people for opinions and doing other kinds of comparison shopping before you make a purchase might be one way to reduce the number of items that you open, try and return.
posted by box at 3:50 PM on September 16, 2013 [6 favorites]
Another thing to keep in mind is that there is now a large national database that some retailers use to keep track of frequent returners.
posted by FreezBoy at 4:41 PM on September 16, 2013
posted by FreezBoy at 4:41 PM on September 16, 2013
The answer is, basically, that your item either goes directly in the trash, or hangs around a couple months until it goes directly in the trash. Sorry.
We only offer store credit on new items that are just unwrapped, because most people will not pay full price for something unwrapped. I don't even sell anything that has body contact like clothing, and people are still really unwilling to buy unwrapped stuff. Unwrapped things also get shopworn more quickly, and won't sell once they're tatty. Unwrapped items that don't sell are the first thing in the trash, marked off as a total loss. We basically always lose on unwrapped items being returned-- either the partial price due to discounting, or the full price if nobody buys it and we toss it. So that's why store credit only.
There is a blanket ban on donating anything (employees have been known to steal by "donating" to a "charity" headed by, coincidentally, a family member) unless the company directs the donation, and then it's only wrapped, new items (usually leftover holiday stuff.) Presumably because the company wants to preserve a reputation of giving decent things to its local charities. We also don't get to choose the charity, presumably also because the company wants to make sure we don't donate to something they don't support. It's generally an inoffensive charity like Goodwill or a children's hospital or something; if they give us a choice, we default to the one that picks up for free.
My city enforces recycling efforts with fines, which is literally the only reason we recycle some items; it is not cost-effective to have someone sort trash on a company-wide scale, apparently.
I get a talking-to if I take too many returns. It depends on the manager, but some take it really seriously if I can't talk people into not returning stuff. I also get a talking-to if I sell a higher-than-average amount of "discounted for damage" stuff that is unwrapped, so to save myself the hassle I tend to err on the side of "directly in the trash." The level of loss of stuff logged as trash is high enough that I almost never get a talking-to about it, unless the thing marked out is expensive or especially desirable. It flags as potential theft to be investigated if we toss something in a high-theft category, because employees have also been known to mark something as damaged and destroyed for no reason, and then take it home (which is yet another reason we need a receipt for returns; we don't want to take a double loss on a thing we can't sell that was stolen to begin with.)
Retail is weird.
posted by blnkfrnk at 4:45 PM on September 16, 2013
We only offer store credit on new items that are just unwrapped, because most people will not pay full price for something unwrapped. I don't even sell anything that has body contact like clothing, and people are still really unwilling to buy unwrapped stuff. Unwrapped things also get shopworn more quickly, and won't sell once they're tatty. Unwrapped items that don't sell are the first thing in the trash, marked off as a total loss. We basically always lose on unwrapped items being returned-- either the partial price due to discounting, or the full price if nobody buys it and we toss it. So that's why store credit only.
There is a blanket ban on donating anything (employees have been known to steal by "donating" to a "charity" headed by, coincidentally, a family member) unless the company directs the donation, and then it's only wrapped, new items (usually leftover holiday stuff.) Presumably because the company wants to preserve a reputation of giving decent things to its local charities. We also don't get to choose the charity, presumably also because the company wants to make sure we don't donate to something they don't support. It's generally an inoffensive charity like Goodwill or a children's hospital or something; if they give us a choice, we default to the one that picks up for free.
My city enforces recycling efforts with fines, which is literally the only reason we recycle some items; it is not cost-effective to have someone sort trash on a company-wide scale, apparently.
I get a talking-to if I take too many returns. It depends on the manager, but some take it really seriously if I can't talk people into not returning stuff. I also get a talking-to if I sell a higher-than-average amount of "discounted for damage" stuff that is unwrapped, so to save myself the hassle I tend to err on the side of "directly in the trash." The level of loss of stuff logged as trash is high enough that I almost never get a talking-to about it, unless the thing marked out is expensive or especially desirable. It flags as potential theft to be investigated if we toss something in a high-theft category, because employees have also been known to mark something as damaged and destroyed for no reason, and then take it home (which is yet another reason we need a receipt for returns; we don't want to take a double loss on a thing we can't sell that was stolen to begin with.)
Retail is weird.
posted by blnkfrnk at 4:45 PM on September 16, 2013
Do you have ROSS (dress for less) stores near you? This is pretty much where all of their merchandise comes from. (Well, that, and manufacturer overstock...and retail overstock returned to the manufacturer)
posted by sexyrobot at 5:53 PM on September 16, 2013
posted by sexyrobot at 5:53 PM on September 16, 2013
I've wondered this myself. Especially because once I bought a camera and returned it, and weeks later realized I didn't put the charger back in the box. They never noticed, as far as I can tell, and I felt really horrible about it.
Stores track your returns and will cut you off. I am pretty sure many stores require a driver's license for returns, but even ones that don't will track by credit card. I have heard of people being cut off from returning items at stores like Target, Walmart and Best Buy.
posted by AppleTurnover at 6:01 PM on September 16, 2013
Stores track your returns and will cut you off. I am pretty sure many stores require a driver's license for returns, but even ones that don't will track by credit card. I have heard of people being cut off from returning items at stores like Target, Walmart and Best Buy.
posted by AppleTurnover at 6:01 PM on September 16, 2013
I've seen women's skirt suits at Macy's that had obviously been worn several times. Missing buttons, pills, etc. They were small size petites, so stock may have been limited.
posted by bad grammar at 6:08 PM on September 16, 2013
posted by bad grammar at 6:08 PM on September 16, 2013
Is not buying, or buying fewer things in the first place an option. Imjustsayin'.
posted by humboldt32 at 12:44 AM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by humboldt32 at 12:44 AM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
Most cosmetics counters allow returns, but they throw out the product for sanitary reasons.
You can't return make-up at all in the UK, except if maybe you were foundation matched by a high end brand and you return it to counter with a receipt, or it's faulty. I once returned something that I realised had been opened and used, and it was put into the bin with the compact opened up. (It seems odd to me that you can just return drugstore makeup in the US purely because you tried it out and the colour doesn't suit. )
Usually retailers won't take back underwear, tights, sheets or pierced earrings here either, unless faulty - I assume these too go straight into the bin if returned.
I've never had retailers care about my returning clothing - all I had to do was fill out the details on the receipt. I used to return a lot of clothes as a student and nobody in the store cared as long as it was returned in the condition I bought it. We have 'catalogue shops' in the UK, which always baffled me - didn't catalogues just resell things that were returned, as retail stores do?
posted by mippy at 3:36 AM on September 17, 2013
You can't return make-up at all in the UK, except if maybe you were foundation matched by a high end brand and you return it to counter with a receipt, or it's faulty. I once returned something that I realised had been opened and used, and it was put into the bin with the compact opened up. (It seems odd to me that you can just return drugstore makeup in the US purely because you tried it out and the colour doesn't suit. )
Usually retailers won't take back underwear, tights, sheets or pierced earrings here either, unless faulty - I assume these too go straight into the bin if returned.
I've never had retailers care about my returning clothing - all I had to do was fill out the details on the receipt. I used to return a lot of clothes as a student and nobody in the store cared as long as it was returned in the condition I bought it. We have 'catalogue shops' in the UK, which always baffled me - didn't catalogues just resell things that were returned, as retail stores do?
posted by mippy at 3:36 AM on September 17, 2013
Tangentially related: If you return any food items to Costco (opened or not), they throw them out. I have no idea why they can't give them to a shelter. Maybe it's just what they tell you to guilt you into not returning any food items.
posted by getawaysticks at 9:37 AM on September 17, 2013
posted by getawaysticks at 9:37 AM on September 17, 2013
I have no idea why they can't give them to a shelter.
I've worked in many places with similar policies. Once food was opened or set out for service, even if untouched, it could not be donated later to another organization.
With food, there are a lot of local and state ordinances that prevent the donation of opened food. The theory is that this is to protect people from contaminated, poisoned, or spoiled food supplies - that people in need should not just get the garbage unsuitable for sale, but get food as good quality as you'd purchase. It is a serious issue, though, that this kind of thing contributes to our country's huge problem with food waste.
posted by Miko at 12:01 PM on September 17, 2013
I've worked in many places with similar policies. Once food was opened or set out for service, even if untouched, it could not be donated later to another organization.
With food, there are a lot of local and state ordinances that prevent the donation of opened food. The theory is that this is to protect people from contaminated, poisoned, or spoiled food supplies - that people in need should not just get the garbage unsuitable for sale, but get food as good quality as you'd purchase. It is a serious issue, though, that this kind of thing contributes to our country's huge problem with food waste.
posted by Miko at 12:01 PM on September 17, 2013
« Older I want a QUIET dehumidifier...which won't catch on... | Extreme Angst: 11 yo Version Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
As a general rule, no retailer takes back inventory and just chucks it out, other than grocers. Maybe on etsy, but not at KMart or Bloomingdales or Home Depot or whatever.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 2:05 PM on September 16, 2013 [3 favorites]