Dishonest customers are the reason the innocent ones suffer

[Crosshair]

Actually, your aunt isn't the only one to do this. Electronics stores have noticed that sales of big-screen TV's increase in the days leading up to a big game (ie: the Super Bowl) and then returns of big screen TV's spike the day after.

Thus why many places now have restocking fees.

[MadMike]

Or buying a big screen TV for a Super Bowl party, then returning it......another good one.

As much of a PITA it must be to lug one of those things home and hook it up, I can't even imagine unhooking it, repackaging it, and lugging it back to the store.

I actually have a motherboard in my computer that I don't really need, and could have returned (problem with the computer that I thought was the motherboard, but turned out not to be), but I don't feel like yanking the thing back out, repackaging it, sending it back, taking a couple hours to put the old board back in, and then having to reinstall Windows again (XP tends to get cranky when you switch motherboards, can't seem to get away with it like I could with 98), all to get $65 back. Just doesn't seem worth the trouble.

[DesignFox]

As much of a PITA it must be to lug one of those things home and hook it up, I can't even imagine unhooking it, repackaging it, and lugging it back to the store.

I actually have a motherboard in my computer that I don't really need, and could have returned (problem with the computer that I thought was the motherboard, but turned out not to be), but I don't feel like yanking the thing back out, repackaging it, sending it back, taking a couple hours to put the old board back in, and then having to reinstall Windows again (XP tends to get cranky when you switch motherboards, can't seem to get away with it like I could with 98), all to get $65 back. Just doesn't seem worth the trouble.

That's because you're not a cheap bastard, MadMike!

Seriously, when I worked at my photo jobs, I witnessed people ALL THE TIME doing corporate "borrowing." It was especially prevelant in one group of customers...they would buy childrens clothes at the expensive place in the mall, let their kids have photos taken in them, then get them changed right in the lobby, fold all the clothes and bring them back. Which, IMO, is pretty disgusting considering these kids just wore the clothes for almost an hour, ran around the store in them, crawled along the floor, etc. And I mean, whole outfits! Socks and all! Not just a shirt or pair of pants...YUCK! One woman even "borrowed' clothes for her infant. When I asked her if she would like to remove the tags so that they wouldn't show in the picture, she just said, "Well, can we hide them? You see, it really is too big for him and we need to return them after this." Um...baby's puke and spit and crap themselves...that's really gross....
Needless to say, if I were a parent, I would never buy clothes at this place, because I've seen first hand what happens! What a big loss for the company...

[wagegoth]

I noticed a few years ago that even high-end stores are refusing to take back formal clothes unless they come back with the tag still attached and obviously unworn. The signs are usually prominently posted around the holidays and prom season.

It's pretty obvious from what retail workers deal with and the posts on this board, that people will always have some excuse that they will use to justify when they specifically don't obey the law.

[rvdammit]

snip
Murderers are being convicted even though the police can't find a body."

It has been done. It's harder to do without a body. One example is http://www.sdreader.com/php/ma_show.php?id=515 .

[greensinestro]

UPDATE ON THIS POST

Hey! After reading all the replys I have received, it gives me a great idea. Yesterday, I bought an electric carving knife at Target for $19.99 so I'll be able to easily carve my Thanksgiving turkey. I think I'll use it, then on Friday, take it back to Target for a full refund, stating it was defective.

Does anyone else find this to be a great idea? Let me know.

[Spiffy McMoron]

Does anyone else find this to be a great idea? Let me know.

You'll find out how good an idea this is when we have a new member sign up on Friday, bitching and moaning about this buttwipe who tried to return a clearly used electric knife, and how the manager told her to process the return after said buttwipe started to repeat his lawyer's phone number to himself.

[ArenaBoy]

You'll find out how good an idea this is when we have a new member sign up on Friday.

That might be a girl I pimped the site to. As soon as she saw the name she burst out laughing and said she is visiting this site first thing after work Friday.

[Seanette]

It has been done. It's harder to do without a body. One example is http://www.sdreader.com/php/ma_show.php?id=515 .

Or this one:
http://www.crimelibrary.com/notoriou...der/index.html

[kerrisan]

Grr, just like with the Subway sandwich shop. I loved my frequent buyer card! I loved my free 6" subs even more . . .

And then Subway had to get rid of the cards and free subs because someone stole the stickers. Again: grr!

[arina_ketchum]

Is that why they stopped the program? Man....I loved the Subway frequent buyer programs.

[flybye023]

I heard it was because of counterfeit stickers.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

I work at a home improvement/hardware store. We sell, among other things, drywall (or sheetrock). For awhile each year, we sell broken pieces of it for $1-$2 apiece, depending on size. Customers really love it because it came in 4'x8' sheets, which is kinda big if you're only patching a spot. The catch is that it has to be already broken--such as during transport to our store or by one of the employees while they're moving/unloading it.

However, each year we have to stop for awhile because dishonest customers will break the drywall and then try to get a discount on the whole sheet. I actually saw one guy do it. He came up, lifted a corner of the sheet as if to judge thickness, or weight (customers did this alot so it wasn't unusual to see) then dropped it back on the stack. He walked away. A few minutes later he came back and did it again. I still don't really realize what's going on because it looks like he's thinking about whether or not to buy it y'know? He walks away again. Comes back and does it again.

This time I realize what's going on but then the sheet breaks. He casually walks away. I call a manager and tell him what just happened. I also tell the cashier who came to give me a break. Well, while I was on break broken drywall becomes an item we no longer sell. This guy comes back to buy a broken piece only to be denied. He was royally pissed and I was much amused .

We go through this cycle each year though. Selling broken pieces at a low price for a few months until the theives figure it out then not selling them until the thieves forget.

[kerrisan]

Maybe it was counterfeit stickers, I don't remember. Either way, they ruined the program!

[Canarr]

Subway still has that program in Germany. Speaking of, I haven't been there in a while...

[Kogarashi]

Last I recall, Subway still has that program, only now it's cards you swipe that store points or something. My parents have one.