What kind of person thinks it is okay to go to the store, buy an outfit, wear it out on the town and then return it for a full cash refund. For most customers, they would not dream of such a thing. Most normal customers know it is nothing short of return fraud. But for one in six women across the nation, it is a normal and acceptable way to shop. In their heads, they have made up excuses and told themselves that they are just borrowing the items for the night. Wardrobing is the sneaky way to stay stylish, and they do not consider their actions as return fraud at all. It is very costly to look good and stay up to date on the current fashions. In this social media bound world, they cannot take the chance that they may be tagged in a group picture wearing the same outfit from the last weekend’s party. Talk about a photo bomb.
These women want to look fabulous at every event without having to move into the poor house. Weddings, job interviews, proms, and other big events are the major excuses many women use for wardrobing. She can’t show up the bride in her dress, but she can certainly make sure she is the best dressed guest there. Wardrobing success involves some planning ahead. She has to make sure she is fully aware of the store’s return policy. How long can she keep the dress? Does she have to bring it back the next day or can she wait a couple weeks? That matters because she really hopes when she brings the items back, there will be different people working that day. She knows she will need to bring her original proof of purchase back with her. If she loses the receipt, she knows that will be a deal breaker. Can she claim the dress ended up fitting too tightly or that the garment was poorly made? She has to know for sure she can get away with tucking in the price tag and avoiding red wine all night. Then she knows she just needs some air freshener to do a good job covering the smoke and sweat smell, so she can take the walk of shame back in there and get her money back.
Many stores have begun making changes to their return policies to combat this free rent mentality. Some have added restocking fees to their merchandise. Some have shortened their return time periods. Some smart retailers have started adding gadgets called Alpha Shark Tags to their return policy, however, and that seems to be the most effective way to stop wardrobing so far. These tags are clipped directly on to the garment, right on the front, where they cannot be hidden or tucked away. The customer is told at the time or purchase about the store’s restrictions on returns. They should be shown the Alpha Shark Tags and told- do not remove it and expect to return it. Once the customer gets home with the item, the tag can be removed with a pair of household scissors. There is no way to reattach the tag once it has been cut. Free rent amounts to nothing short of return fraud and Alpha Shark Tags are here to help your store put a stop to it.
Putting a stop to wardrobing is important and we can help you with it. Contact us or call today: 1.770.426.0547
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