Articles the national media is posting on merchandise returns and return fraud issues
Tampa Bay Times — Returning a gift? Better have an ID and receipt (Dec. 25, 2012)
Shoppers should do their homework before attempting any return or exchange because rules vary widely from store to store, and even within stores. Come without a receipt, and it won't be easy.
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National Retail Federation — Return Fraud To Cost Retailers $2.9 Billion This Holiday (Dec 4, 2012)
Return fraud costs retailers billions of dollars every year in the form of criminals who return stolen merchandise, use counterfeit receipts, or even return items already worn and/or used that are not defective. According to NRF’s 2012 Return Fraud Survey the industry will lose an estimated $8.9 billion to return fraud this year, and $2.9 billion during the holiday season alone.
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TIME — Why a Good Return Policy Is So Important for Retailers (Sept. 4, 2012)
While stores are doing what they can to protect themselves, shoppers must do so as well. Besides being more careful with what you buy in the first place, her are a few simple tips shoppers can take to minimize the agony of store returns.
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Finances Your Way — The Ugly side of Consumer Fraud (Dec 23, 2011)
On top of the retailers losing money from the extra time and resources and possibly from being unable to resell an item, there is also a loss in sales tax revenue for states.
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MSN Money — Is 'wardrobing' thrifty or is it theft? (Jul. 22, 2011)
Wardrobing – buying something that you have no intention of keeping – may sound cool and edgy, but if you called it "theft," would people still want to do it? A blog post called "Wardrobing on the rise in tough economic times" says it's no different than stealing.
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LearnVest.com — Are You a Returnaholic? (Mar. 23, 2011)
Returnaholism is a close cousin of shopaholism, from which 6% of the country suffers. Some shopaholics also
become returnaholics as a way to get around the budgetary constraints of their shopping addiction–this pattern is
like the bulimia of shopping. Constantly buying and returning allows addicted shoppers to get the repeated
adrenaline rush from buying, without having to suffer the consequences of a depleted bank account.
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New York Post — Meet the shopping bulimics (Mar. 8, 2011)
She’s got company; (she) is just
one of the growing number of women
who are shopping bulimics — otherwise
known as circular shoppers or chronic
returners.
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Consumer Reports — 5 steps to happy returns (Jan. 2011)
For hassle-free returns, read the fine print and follow these tips (including "take your driver's license").
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