topic Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem in Community Chat

Serial returners are a big part of the problem

sometimesQVCaddict — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 13:43:17 GMT

I see people on here posting weekly how they're returning or exchanging things they previously bought. I also know someone who tells me every time she goes to a mall or shopping center she returned at least one if not a few things from each trip. The return line at 1 store I go to is always long.

Is this honestly something to be proud of? Do they not realize probably a good bit of what is returned never makes it back on store shelves & ends up in a landfill somewhere? And to compensate for lost store profits, prices are raised across the board for everyone. I would also think at some point stores would ban people if they're smart who return things so frequently. Some stores are better at this than others.

Sorry, but this just pushes my buttons. I don't like seeing so much waste nor higher prices & this is a big contributing factor to that! Certainly with tons of other factors I well realize that contribute to rising prices.

Shouldn't people admit they have a shopping problem or don't they consciously realize this because they return so much they think they dont really shop (actually keep) that much?

I maybe return 1 item every 6 months & feel guilty about that! I also consciously try not to purchase anything if I'm not 100% sure I want to buy it & use it. I feel I can always go back later if I'm on the fence about something & if it's meant to be, it will still be there or still in stock online.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

gardenman — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 13:47:04 GMT

There was an interview with Erin Andrews (I think) a few months ago where she was talking about always ordering the same thing in two or three sizes as she could never be sure how something would fit then returning the ones that didn't fit. She was upset that one of the stores she was ordering from had banned her for excessive returns and she wouldn't shop from them again because of that. Just order your size. If it fits, great. If it doesn't return it and try again in a different size. But, always ordering multiple sizes of the same thing to find one that fits can just kill a business.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

kaydee50 — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 13:49:09 GMT

Agree! It amazes me that people keep buying from a vendor that is so unsatisfactory to them. If I had to return a product I would think twice about buying from that line again. The money spent on returns--at least according to some who post here--boggles my mind.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

sometimesQVCaddict — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 13:55:33 GMT

Or people constantly trying to find the same thing "cheaper" & constantly returning. Do you not realize how much gas you're wasting going back & forth to stores? With high gas prices lately the "savings" you're chasing might be less than the gas to go back & forth to stores constantly! Smh

I can see if it's a thousand dollar difference in price, or even hundreds--but I'm not chasing around a few bucks. My time is worth more, plus wear & tear on my vehicle & gas!

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

queendiva — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 14:05:08 GMT

@sometimesQVCaddict :You should also be appalled by the bigger part of the problem: retailers and manufacturers. In recent months I have had to replace most of my wardrobe thanks to weight loss. Women's sizes are all over the map! Vanity sizing, length, inconsistencies galore. I shopped locally in order to try things on. Even so I still had a few items to return. It's more difficult when ordering on line to know what you are getting. I just returned 2 clothing items last week to QVC. I rarely order anything from HSN. Of the items I returned, I re-ordered one in a smaller size and at a lower price and the other was not up to my expectation in terms of fabric. (DB jacket).

I have all but stopped ordering from HSN and I have drastically cut back purchases from the Q because of high prices to buy and the high cost to return.

I rarely return anything bought on eBay or locally, so that's where I have been shopping.

Wear and tear on my vehicle notwithstanding, I am not keeping ANY clothing that I paid good $ for and will not/ cannot wear. Back it goes every time. I do not have $ to literally throw away, especially in these economic times. In addition, I do not ever recall buying a clothing item in multiples.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

50Mickey — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 14:02:49 GMT

@sometimesQVCaddict I agree with your entire post. I said before in response to posters who write about the huge number of items purchased from QVC as if they are proud of their shopping habits. Then they are incensed when they get "the letter" warning them about their returns being excessive.

Like you I think that a lot of these individuals have a shopping problem. Anyone who gets the letter should go back through their order history and add up how much they have spent during the year and how much it has cost them for shipping and returning the items. It might be an eye opener.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

Isobel Archer — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 14:03:33 GMT

I never return anything unless - I am sent the wrong item, or it is defective or broken.

If you don't want it, don't buy it.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

sometimesQVCaddict — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 14:09:07 GMT

I think we all know clothing sizes are all over the map, that's nothing new! I congratulate you on your weight loss, but sounds like you'd be better of actually trying things on in a store in your case if it's that much of a problem. If a store won't let you try things on, look elsewhere where you can & shop there. I know clothing stores especially are keeping an eye on those who return a lot.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

Isobel Archer — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 14:22:37 GMT

The garment measurements should tell you whether the item will fit or not.

And yes, I have returned items where the actual item does not match the stated garment measurement - but that makes the item defective.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

Gorgf — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 14:35:12 GMT

@Isobel Archer I am the same way and refuse to pay the return shipping costs. I returned one blouse last year as too low cut in tbe front and would never wear it. I avoid numerial sizes as dont want the hassles to exchange. I exchanged the first pair of NYDJ s as didn't literally fit into the go down a size.

Anything else is in the damaged defected category. I else look at reviews which helps sometimes to make a decision.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

On It — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 14:37:25 GMT

Having worked in retail on and off over the years, I learned there are people who shop and return as a sport. They are bored and go around town on buying sprees, then come back in a day or two and return all their purchases with only the lamest excuses. This is costly to the retailer, time consuming for employees, and not always sellable.

One customer who was returning a number of items had something like an organizer and stood at the counter going through her file of receipts until she found ours. I resent returns, and I have to force myself to be civil to the person making them. If they only knew what I was thinking!

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 14:37:43 GMT

I know this is an ongoing problem and didn't just start during the pandemic however, during the height of the pandemic, many stores in my area wouldn't allow anything to be tried on. The fitting rooms were blocked off/closed. You had no choice but to buy something, try it on at home and return or exchange it if it didn't fit.

With more and more people buying on-line rather than in-store, this is something companies are going to have to accommodate for. Returns and exchanges are part of the cost of doing business.

If a company doesn't offer free returns, I can't imagine returning as often as some people do. I think if they sat down and added up all the money they've lost in return postage and original s/h that isn't refunded, that would be a deterrent. There are still people who don't realize that most stores don't refund original s/h and that they are often paying return postage .

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

Iwantcoffee — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:20:01 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
There was an interview with Erin Andrews (I think) a few months ago where she was talking about always ordering the same thing in two or three sizes as she could never be sure how something would fit then returning the ones that didn't fit. She was upset that one of the stores she was ordering from had banned her for excessive returns and she wouldn't shop from them again because of that. Just order your size. If it fits, great. If it doesn't return it and try again in a different size. But, always ordering multiple sizes of the same thing to find one that fits can just kill a business.

It kills the business and keeps other people from being able to order a product she has at home to see what fits.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

Spurt — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:03:01 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
There was an interview with Erin Andrews (I think) a few months ago where she was talking about always ordering the same thing in two or three sizes as she could never be sure how something would fit then returning the ones that didn't fit. She was upset that one of the stores she was ordering from had banned her for excessive returns and she wouldn't shop from them again because of that. Just order your size. If it fits, great. If it doesn't return it and try again in a different size. But, always ordering multiple sizes of the same thing to find one that fits can just kill a business.

@gardenman @On It

Yep, you make a great points (a relative was a Department Store Manager, became a District Manager and Buyer---and yes there were some people that actually brought clothes at the start of school and then came in for a refund after they had worn out the clothes, but the Corporate Office said to make the return with a smile even though they knew the consumer was ripping them off!!!) ,

BUT on the other side part of the consumer's problem which comes from the MANUFCTURER being INCONSISTENT IN SIZING!!! and the RETAILER accepting poor quality! I have done that only once or twice and I very seldom make a return, but a couple of occasions when something looked like it was gonna sell out and I really really liked the item I did order two sizes and returned one, but I only have done that RARELY and only at QVC.(but keep in mind I also lost my original shipping to do it this way---which was a loss of a few bucks for me)....Funny how I can shop in my favorite Department Store, Dillards, and sometimes I dont even try it on in the store and it fits perfectly because that BRAND is SPOT ON when it comes to sizing....

The manufacturer and the retailer also has SOME responsibility in the matter.....And I dont trust these vendors that tell you to size up or size down and the website measurements cant be trusted...🙄

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

Spurt — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:04:26 GMT

@Isobel Archer wrote:
The garment measurements should tell you whether the item will fit or not.

And yes, I have returned items where the actual item does not match the stated garment measurement - but that makes the item defective.

@Isobel Archer

I dont know about other Retailer Websites, but QVC's cannot be trusted...Here's just one example, I purchased what was supposed to be a tunic top 29 inch length to wear with leggings and when I received it the actual length was 26.didnt work with the leggings so here goes a return......and thats not the only time the garment and CLICK HERE measurements were WAY OFF!!! And because of this there's only a couple QVC vendors I trust and my clothing purchases have greatly declined

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

50Mickey — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:03:29 GMT

@On It I must have been behind the customer in line who returned so many items that she needed an organizer to find her receipts. Right before Christmas I was picking up an online order from Macy's. I stood in line at customer service for over 30 minutes while a lady returned 3 huge bags of clothing, shoes, underwear and jewelry all purchased for a wedding. Either the wedding was called off or she bought all of the gowns and men's suits and accessories and the wedding party didn't like them. At least the items still had tags and she had the receipts but it was a pain the the you know what. The associate had to check each garment to make sure it was clean and in new condition and hang every one of the garments on a rack. If I had not been there to pick up a Christmas present for my granddaughter I would have walked out of the store. Retail sales associates have my respect.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

Isobel Archer — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:16:00 GMT

@Spurt wrote:
@Isobel Archer wrote:
The garment measurements should tell you whether the item will fit or not.

And yes, I have returned items where the actual item does not match the stated garment measurement - but that makes the item defective.
@Isobel Archer

I dont know about other Retailer Websites, but QVC's cannot be trusted...Here's just one example, I purchased what was supposed to be a tunic top 29 inch length to wear with leggings and when I received it the actual length was 26.didnt work with the leggings so here goes a return......and thats not the only time the garment and CLICK HERE measurements were WAY OFF!!! And because of this there's only a couple QVC vendors I trust and my clothing purchases have greatly declined

@Spurt Yes, I've had those issues too. Whenever the stated garment measurements are different enough from the actual ones to make a difference in fit or looks, I've returned them as defective. I have no had to pay return shipping. I don't know the Q's policy, but defective returns should not count against you in my view.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

drizzellla — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:19:36 GMT

This subject hit a nerve with me. I worked in retail and the awful and sad things I show. I could never work retail again. I am surprised that there are any brick and mortar stores still open. No wonder malls are dying. As one person stated returning has become a game.

And @sometimesQVCaddict you are so right most returns are thrown out.

I was watching Hoarders this weekend. There was a woman who had volunteers cleaning up her hoarded house. One volunteer opened her small refrigerator. It was a little one with one shelf. Everything was rotten and the smell was overpowering. The volunteer asked if he could throw it out. The homeowner replied she was going to return it.

She said it didn't work right. The stuff in the refrigerator was mush and I bet was years old. And yet she was determined that she was going to return it. She clearly had it for quite awhile.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

faeriemoon — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:24:06 GMT

Serial returners are responsible for the high cost of making returns, the bogged down (slow) return system, and all the waste of resources needed to make the returns.

If you're returning too much, you're buying too much.

Re: Serial returners are a big part of the problem

jlkz — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:27:53 GMT

Just last week there was a video feed on my stock market app that showed the different places " returns " went:

landfills brimming with items that could have been resold except for the additional costs to process and return to stock if the season hadn't been over.

warehouses that had pile after pile of things strewn all over, costing someone $ for rent, storage, processing, etc

trash-to-steam sites where smoke billows and pollutes the environment

New industry ( Similar to "Storage Wars" ): where you buy a fixed amount of stuff sight unseen and hope there is something useable or profitable inside.