Return Fraud – 3 WC Blog 362
Wardrobing Tags – 4
Don’t Get Bummed Over Bikinis And Beachwear That Have Been Worn; Stop Return Fraud With Wardrobing Tags
As a veteran and an avid reader of military books, especially biographies and autobiographies, I have a high regard for those brothers and sisters who have served in uniform and especially combat veterans. I did not serve during a period of combat so though I am a veteran, I have a high esteem for those who have. That being said, as I read my books, watch military movies and documentaries, I pick up on some things that just stick with me. One of those things is a term I have read over and over in books about Navy SEALs, when the authors talk about their experiences of BUDs training, they almost always reference getting “wet and sandy”. This expression is derived from one of the torturous exercises that they constantly endure of running into the cold surf water and then coming out and rolling or crawling through the sandy beaches. To be one of the best of the best, every SEAL goes through it. If you are like me and want a great read, I am going to stray a little and suggest you take time to read the book “Lone Survivor” by Marcus Luttrell. Now I know you are wondering, “what in the world does the term “wet and sandy” have to do with return fraud or wardrobing?” Hold your horses, I’m getting there. Working in retail in a beach resort area we often get vacationers who go through our stores looking for the hottest new beachwear. They are only here for a few days to a week so they tend to pack light, intending to buy something when they get here and boy do they have a lot of stores and shops to choose from to find a new bikini or swim trunks. The problem for retailers is that many of the visitors wear the swim clothes to the beach, get “wet and sandy” and attempt to return the items, with the tags and receipts. Because they have receipts and store managers don’t want to risk a negative customer survey or the scene that may be caused, they allow this type of return fraud to take place. This kind of fraud could be prevented with the use of wardrobing tags.
Wardrobing tags are applied to garments in a very visible location where they will be very hard to hide. The purpose is to make the clothing unable to be worn in public without people knowing the item is going to be returned. Basically it shames the purchaser of the item if they try to wear it to an event or out in public. Those who engage in this kind of fraud want to be seen in the clothes, they just don’t want others to know they don’t intend to keep them. In many situations, the practitioners of wardrobing hide clothing hang tags inside the garment or they are very clever at removing the tags and reattaching them. The attachment guns can be bought at any office supply store along with refill plastic attachments. After wearing the clothes the “customer” returns the item(s) to the store with tags intact and receipt in hand and get a refund. Many stores have liberal return policies and make no issue of odors or minor stains on the garments. If they do get pointed out, the “customer” frequently causes a scene so the manager or employee will want to get it taken care of and get them out of the store.
Does this really happen even for swimwear? Yes it does. I have dealt with customers who have brought in merchandise that I believed had just come off the beach. Sand still in the seams, water can be wrung out and the customer has sworn the bathing suit shrank up on them and could not be worn! Yes, they have the tags and the original receipt and no, there is simply no way this garment can be resold, marked down or salvaged. The managers take the clothes back and the merchandise is marked out of stock, costing the store money. The best way to defend against these outlandish returns is to use the wardrobing tags on the merchandise. The customer either has to cut it off which then renders the possibility of a return null and void OR they wear the swimwear with the tag right where it is so all the world can see it.
Wet and sandy is appropriate for Navy SEAL trainees and for beachgoers while on vacation. It is not an appropriate descriptor for bathing suits when the customer is trying to do a return. Prevent return fraud and use wardrobing tags on all of the clothing you sell, including bathing suits.
Need information on wardrobing tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
As a veteran and an avid reader of military books, especially biographies and autobiographies, I have a high regard for those brothers and sisters who have served in uniform and especially combat veterans. I did not serve during a period of combat so though I am a veteran, I have a high esteem for those who have. That being said, as I read my books, watch military movies and documentaries, I pick up on some things that just stick with me. One of those things is a term I have read over and over in books about Navy SEALs, when the authors talk about their experiences of BUDs training, they almost always reference getting “wet and sandy”. This expression is derived from one of the torturous exercises that they constantly endure of running into the cold surf water and then coming out and rolling or crawling through the sandy beaches. To be one of the best of the best, every SEAL goes through it. If you are like me and want a great read, I am going to stray a little and suggest you take time to read the book “Lone Survivor” by Marcus Luttrell. Now I know you are wondering, “what in the world does the term “wet and sandy” have to do with return fraud or wardrobing?” Hold your horses, I’m getting there. Working in retail in a beach resort area we often get vacationers who go through our stores looking for the hottest new beachwear. They are only here for a few days to a week so they tend to pack light, intending to buy something when they get here and boy do they have a lot of stores and shops to choose from to find a new bikini or swim trunks. The problem for retailers is that many of the visitors wear the swim clothes to the beach, get “wet and sandy” and attempt to return the items, with the tags and receipts. Because they have receipts and store managers don’t want to risk a negative customer survey or the scene that may be caused, they allow this type of return fraud to take place. This kind of fraud could be prevented with the use of wardrobing tags.
Wardrobing tags are applied to garments in a very visible location where they will be very hard to hide. The purpose is to make the clothing unable to be worn in public without people knowing the item is going to be returned. Basically it shames the purchaser of the item if they try to wear it to an event or out in public. Those who engage in this kind of fraud want to be seen in the clothes, they just don’t want others to know they don’t intend to keep them. In many situations, the practitioners of wardrobing hide clothing hang tags inside the garment or they are very clever at removing the tags and reattaching them. The attachment guns can be bought at any office supply store along with refill plastic attachments. After wearing the clothes the “customer” returns the item(s) to the store with tags intact and receipt in hand and get a refund. Many stores have liberal return policies and make no issue of odors or minor stains on the garments. If they do get pointed out, the “customer” frequently causes a scene so the manager or employee will want to get it taken care of and get them out of the store.
Does this really happen even for swimwear? Yes it does. I have dealt with customers who have brought in merchandise that I believed had just come off the beach. Sand still in the seams, water can be wrung out and the customer has sworn the bathing suit shrank up on them and could not be worn! Yes, they have the tags and the original receipt and no, there is simply no way this garment can be resold, marked down or salvaged. The managers take the clothes back and the merchandise is marked out of stock, costing the store money. The best way to defend against these outlandish returns is to use the wardrobing tags on the merchandise. The customer either has to cut it off which then renders the possibility of a return null and void OR they wear the swimwear with the tag right where it is so all the world can see it.
Wet and sandy is appropriate for Navy SEAL trainees and for beachgoers while on vacation. It is not an appropriate descriptor for bathing suits when the customer is trying to do a return. Prevent return fraud and use wardrobing tags on all of the clothing you sell, including bathing suits.
Need information on wardrobing tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
