Please answer this question.

[JLG]

This week I had two associates say things to me that made me and most people I asked if they felt as I did said no. So I thought I would see what some of you thought.

The first associate was reading this book series that she really liked. She actually bought the first book at our store for $5.00 on clearance and the second book at our store for regular price at $6.99 There was one more book to complete the series and we did not have it but I thought I saw it around some where so I kept a look out for her. We keep books in either our kids department with the toys or in our home department. I found the third book for her and we had it on clearance for $7.00 it was the hardcover as the other two were paperback. I told her and she said "oh I bought it at Borders and read it and RETURNED it" I asked why did she think it was OK to do that and her response was "The book was $19.99 and that is a lot of money." The other associate that was standing there said good for her and gave her a high five.


The second associate wore jeans to work the other day and that is a huge he said his only pair of work pants were in the laundry. I told him mayble it was time to buy another pair of pants for work. Of course his reaction is he does not have the money. When you were jeans to work you get sent home. So last night he bought a pair of pants at our store on clearance for $10.00 as he was leaving I told him his new pants were nice and he said "Ya I was gonna return them tomorrow but I kinda like them now." An associate standing by just laughed.

So am I the only one that thinks these above situations are wrong?

[Plaidman]

I don't know. It depends. Seriously. Like for example, book returns. 20 dollars is alot for a book your only going read once. Then again, thats what libarys are for.

Another example. Wedding Dresses. Some can cost up to the thousands of dollars. But you can rent them for alot cheaper. Its a dress your going to wear once.


Well.. I don't know. I only ever returned one thing in my life, and that was donuts.

[Amina516]

Returns are abused, thats for sure. I saw a guy in a bar with an expensive pair of pants....with the tag hanging out of his pocket...I laughed for a good 10 mins afterwards b/c when someone pointed this out to him, he shoved the tags back into the pocket instead of ripping them off.

The book thing wouldve annoyed me...That IS what libraries are for. But i guess as long as its in good condition, that shouldnt be an issue.

And your friend might want to consider having more than one pair of work pants, esp if he works everyday.

[Seshat]

Returns are for when a product is defective, and it's the retailer's or manufacturer's fault (not your own).

Some companies are generous enough to allow returns if the product is the wrong size or colour, and is returned in fully saleable condition.

Returns are NOT for 'I used it and don't need it anymore'. That's what rental/library systems are for.

[BookstoreEscapee]

The book thing bugs me. Technically I have read books that were then returned to the store for sale, but they were through the store's book loan program. They let you sign out hardcovers (you have to leave the dust jacket at the store). If you damage the book, though, you have to buy it. (I am very good at reading something and leaving it in pristine condition. I also bought one of those stretchy book covers to protect them. Even so, I do own at least one book I would not otherwise have bought, because I spilled hot chocolate on it. One of my coworkers said I should just sign it back in and put it in the returns as damaged, but I wasn't going to do that. Even if I was so inclined, the damage would have been hard to hide from the manager, and there's no way they would have believed I took it from the store like that.) But I'm sure I have taken back plenty of books that were read. Unless they are not in saleable condition, we can't say anything. Yes, people should go to the library, but if it's a new release the library won't likely have it right away, unless it's a popular author, in which case there is often a waiting list. So people buy-read-return.

I'm not clear on the pants thing. Did he buy them to wear for the rest of his shift, planning to return them? Yes, I agree, that's wrong. Frankly, it's kinda stupid to only own one pair of pants that you can wear to work. Unless you only work one or two days a week, it is quite likely you will need more than one. When I was in college I worked 2 shifts (one semester I worked 3) a week, and I had 3 t-shirts (I got the extra when I picked up a 3rd shift, though; they were supplied by my job, though, and we could wear whatever pants and shoes we wanted as long as they complied with the safety regulations).

[JLG]

I'm not clear on the pants thing. Did he buy them to wear for the rest of his shift, planning to return them? .

Yes that was his plan. He had been staying at a friends house and only had jeans with him. So he was gonna wear the pants for his shift then return the pants he bought the next day when he worked.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Yes that was his plan. He had been staying at a friends house and only had jeans with him. So he was gonna wear the pants for his shift then return the pants he bought the next day when he worked.

OK. You know, if you are going to do that sort of thing, it's probably best to do it someplace where the people who would be taking it back aren't likely to actually see you wearing it.

[Jester]

Returns are for when a product is defective, and it's the retailer's or manufacturer's fault (not your own).

I think that the people returning the things after using them are ethicsless douchebags.

However, there is another reason for returning something besides what is listed above. And it is no fault of the manufacturer or the retailer.

It's when you buy the wrong damn thing.

Let's say you are buying a gift for someone, and you remember they are Carl Hiaasen fans. So you buy them the latest Carl Hiaasen book. And then a mutual friend reminds you that they are actually Tim Dorsey fans. I don't think there is anything wrong with returning the Hiaasen book and purchasing the Dorsey book. This all assumes, of course, that the book (or whatever item it is) is unused. In such situations, I see no problem with returning it, even though it is the customer that (in a way) fucked up.

[JoitheArtist]

I have to agree on the book thing, that's a crappy thing to do. Number one, it's what libraries are for Number two, when you can get paperbacks on Amazon Marketplace for $5 with shipping, why are you dropping $20 on a book you're not sure you'll like??

[El Pollo Guerrera]

I'm guessing that the two people in question do not have to deal with returns as a regular part of their work day...

I'd be making jokes at their expense for the next few months...

"Are you SURE that you want that Sprite? You're not just going to take it back in 5 minutes?"

[BookstoreEscapee]

I'm guessing that the two people in question do not have to deal with returns as a regular part of their work day...

Or they do, and they've gotten jaded...

"No one does anything to stop it, why shouldn't I benefit too?"

[JLG]

I'm guessing that the two people in question do not have to deal with returns as a regular part of their work day...

They actually do. The guy that wanted to return his pants works the service desk almost every shift. And the girl that returned the book is a supervisor like me and she deals with the many returns we get. Like the lady that bought a purse in October 2008 and wanted to return it because she said it was to heavy to carry around. I was the MOD at the time and I said no to that return but I am sure another manager would have said yes.

Or they do, and they've gotten jaded...

"No one does anything to stop it, why shouldn't I benefit too?"

That is what I think now. These two associates see all the crap we take back and probably figured hey why not.

[Peppergirl]

I think it's disgusting. People like this contribute to EW'dom and we all pay the price in the long run.

Assholes.