Dressing For Success May Result In Stores Being Victims Of Wardrobing; Prevent Return Fraud With Alpha Shark Tags Part 2

In part 1 of this series I discussed the difficulty that can experienced by someone who has been in the workforce for a while and is now having to job hunt. New college graduates can face similar problems since they tend to be on fixed budgets. My wife and I are the parents of three young adults. We have two sons who are in college and will be graduating in a year and two years respectively. One will be entering the job market as a teacher, the other may take an extra year or two and get his MBA and go into the world of business and finance. They will all be competing for jobs against other ambitious job seekers, some with prior work experience and some that are on the same “fresh out of college” level. It is important that as they begin interviewing they make strong first impressions, and part of that involves what they wear to the interview. The problem is that a new interview outfit can be expensive and it may be tempting for someone to buy an outfit or suit, wear it to their interview then return the clothes to the store for a refund. In retail this is called wardrobing and unfortunately it is more common than many people realize.  

Wardrobing is a form of return fraud that takes place when a customer makes a purchase with the intent of wearing the item out someplace, maybe a party or special event and then returning it for a refund of what they paid for the items. Often those who are wardrobing will tuck price tags under the sleeve or the neckline and tape it up so the tags won’t be seen. Some will go so far as to purchase swift attachment guns and reattach the tags to the clothes. When they are done they return the clothes, with the receipt and tags in place, often saying the reason for return is that they changed their mind. This is fraudulent, because it deprives the retailer of the sale, and even the sales clerks, in some instances, lose commissions. The clothes sometimes have all sorts of odors on them, perfumes, food smells, cigarette smoke, that makes them unsellable, but if they are free of stains it is difficult to refuse a return. A retailer can take steps to prevent this type of return fraud if they will use Alpha Shark Tags on the clothes they sell.

Alpha Shark Tags can only be used once and when removed cannot be reapplied to a garment. The tags are put on by store associates and are removed by the customer when the customer gets the item home.  The tags are not obtrusive and they won’t interfere with trying on a piece of clothing. By using Shark Tags the store benefits by requiring the tag to be intact on the merchandise to return it.  

So what is my point in reference to job interviews and the chance of wardrobing?  Well, according to an article in http://www.businessinsider.com/mens-interview-suits-2014-8 by Breton Fischetti, August 25, 2014, titled, “4 Things To Know When Buying Your First Interview Suit”, “A solid price point for the first suit should be around $500, give or take. Plenty of options can be found around and below that amount, but avoid very inexpensive suits, as they are often poor quality and will look cheap.” Now, I fully understand the writer’s point, making a good impression and buying a suit that will last is important. On the other hand, I would argue that for the first time interviewee, this may be a financial burden at this stage of a new career. If this is the trend that being promoted then it is easy to see how someone could be tempted to “purchase” a new suit and following the interview, return it to the store where they purchased it. The $500 investment would be for a few days at most and then refunded at the time of return.

Job interviews are important and dressing well is just as important, but it should never be a burden to a retailer. Interview attire should become part of a person’s professional wardrobe. Sell the clothes, be fair in your return policy but don’t be the victim of wardrobing and return fraud. Use Alpha Shark Tags and stay profitable and help future interviewees look great.

Get more information on Alpha Shark Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today. 

Dressing For Success May Result In Stores Being Victims Of Wardrobing; Prevent Return Fraud With Alpha Shark Tags Part 1

I have not had to go to a job interview in several years and I know if I were to start looking for work, I would have to invest in some new “interview” clothes. In my current jobs, I wear business casual in an academic library and I wear a company supplied shirt and black slacks in my retail job. Neither set of attire would be appropriate for an interview with a new company. This caused me to start seeking the latest train of thought on what to wear to a first interview since expectations do change over time. As I started reading on the subject I was taken aback by some of the prices that would be incurred in that first suit investment and have to wonder if there was the potential for some return fraud or wardrobing? If someone is seeking their first job can they really afford the cost of the first interview suit, let alone a wardrobe? What is an appropriate amount to spend on that suit?
     

What is wardrobing is and how it is a form of return fraud? Wardrobing is a term used to describe someone who buys clothing, wears it once or twice and then returns it with the receipt and the tags for a full refund. The intention of the person who wardrobes is not to keep a purchase, it is not even a “rental” since they generally receive all of their money back. The purpose, for a wardrobe, is to be seen in a new outfit then return it at no cost to themselves. Having worked in retail over 26 years now, I have seen this activity. It is frustrating as a manager to deal with it because you can have a strong suspicion the item was worn but company policies require the return to be taken back since all tags and a receipt are presented. There is a way to fight this kind of fraud and that is by using Alpha Shark Tags on all apparel sold in the store. Alpha Shark Tags are brightly colored tags that are pinned to an item and unlike electronic article surveillance tags, NOT removed at the check lane when the purchase is made.  
     

The Alpha Shark Tag prevents return fraud because the store sets a policy that an item cannot be returned once the tag is removed, period. When the item is purchased, the patron takes the item home, tries it on (or gives it as a gift with a gift receipt) and when they are sure they like it and the way it fits, they cut the tag off. It cannot be replaced since it is a one-time use design. When properly placed on a piece of clothing at the store, the Alpha Shark tag will be in a prominent location that ensures it will be seen if worn in public. Since the idea is to give the impression a new outfit has been bought, being seen with a wardrobing tag on the clothes would be embarrassing.
     

What should the new job seeker expect to pay for that interview suit?  According to an article titled, “Top 5 Job Spending Splurges You Should Make by Kathryn Tuggle, published May 11, 2012, in foxbusiness.com, “Although spending thousands of dollars on a suit isn’t always necessary, Tolan says you should expect to spend at least $500 to get a suit that looks sharp…even if your current suit isn’t worn out, Victor Talbot Scognamiglio, style consultant and Owner at Victor Talbots Menswear in New York, says if you haven’t purchased a new suit in the last three years, you should do so.” Most articles I have found on the subject seem to lean towards the $500 price tag to spend on a new suit, although some recognize there are people on tight budgets and suggest shopping with discount retailers and even consignment shops.  
     

Whatever the situation may be, an interview may be pricey and some may be tempted to engage in wardrobing rather than risk breaking the bank for a suit they may only wear once. You don’t need to take a loss in order for someone else to land a job, use Alpha Shark Tags and keep yourself in business.

Need information on wardrobing?  Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now. 

Perturbed By Return Fraud? Alpha Shark Tags Prevent Wardrobing By Patrons

What are some of the things that used to drive me crazy as a Retail Loss Prevention Manager and A Manager On Duty that I would like to clear up for people:

• No, the “sampler” chocolates with a cellophane wrap and a price tag on them are not free samples.
• Yes, we have a cooler of drinks at the checklanes and bags of chips, and no they are not complimentary to start your shopping journey as you enter the store.
• Yes, the size small shirt that is blue at the bottom of the stack is the same size small as the small red one you looked at on the top of the stack.  And no, the shirts are not self-folding after you toss it back on the fixture.
• Yes, the price you see is the best price you will get, and no we are not a yard sale where you can dicker on a price.
• No, we don’t have a service to pick up the shopping cart you rolled all the way home and left there.
• Yes, a limit of six items at a time in the fitting room means six and not twenty.
• Oh, the lawnmower you want to return three months after buying it that has grass, dirt, scratches and dents doesn’t work so you want your money back?  Gee, I don’t see why that would be a problem, and you say it hasn’t worked right since you bought it?

Finally; Yes, I see the tags are on the bathing suit you are returning and yes you have a receipt, and while I am sure that you bought it with sand already in it, I still can’t believe you are returning this!  It was true I had people return swim wear they had obviously worn to the beach and at the end of their vacation return to the store.  Tags were put back on the merchandise, they had receipts and policy dictated I had to accept the returns.  Had Alpha Shark Tags been available to us, we would not have had those problems.

Why would Alpha Shark Tags have helped to prevent the return of used swim wear (or any other clothing for that matter)?  These tags work because they are attached to clothing and not removed until the purchaser does so when they get home and decide to keep the item.  Unlike manufacturer labels and price tickets that are attached by a plastic hang tag, the Alpha Shark Tag is clipped together and must be cut off to be removed.  Once removed the tag cannot be reattached and is rendered useless. What does this matter? There are customers that commit return fraud by wardrobing.  Wardrobing is the act of purchasing merchandise with the intention of wearing it once or twice and returning it.  By using Shark Tags on garments a store is able to prevent wardrobing.

Wardrobing requires a customer to keep receipts and often they reattach price tags and merchandise tickets. With Alpha Shark Tags stores can enforce a policy requiring a tag to be on the merchandise in order to return it to the store. Yes, the clothing can still be tried on without any problems and a customer can know exactly what it will look like when they wear it.  Clothes can even be given as a gift along with a gift receipt and then returned if the item doesn’t fit, as long as the tag is in place.  For retailers, the beauty of the Shark Tag is that without the tag in place and attached, they can deny the return.  The clothes that are returned will still be new and ready for resale, there is no necessity to markdown the garment due to wear.

Don’t lose profits due to wardrobing return fraud, use Alpha Shark Tags and have confidence that returned clothes are new and unused.  You can also avoid some of those pet peeves that I was forced to endure.

Need more information on Alpha Shark Tags?  Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now. 

Wardrobing- No Excuse To Borrow An Item You Can’t Afford

Celebrity stylists do it.  Soccer moms do it. Young professionals that can’t afford to pay for an “interview” suit do it. Wardrobing is a more common practice than you may think.  You may have overheard a lady at a party even say it out loud. “Be careful and don’t spill your wine on my dress; I have to return it tomorrow.” And they’ll say it like it’s perfectly acceptable, as if they’re oblivious to the fact that it is clearly return fraud. Some blame it on the fact that they simply cannot afford a nice outfit for a wedding or a party. Some blame it on social pressure. They wouldn’t dare post a selfie wearing the same outfit twice.


Wardrobing is the act of purchasing an item with zero intentions of keeping it. The people that do this don’t purchase items like normal customers. They know the store’s return policy where they shop. They know exactly how long they have, and as long as they return it on time, they will be able to receive a full refund. They want to be able to use they products they want for free, treating retailers as if they are simply a library. Basically, they pay nothing in the end for the items they use. They may bring back high heels with scuffs on the bottoms. They may bring back a purse with crumbs in the pockets. There’s nothing more gross than a party dress with sweat stains in the armpits. However, if the customer claims they were not happy with the dress, even though it has clearly been worn, the store may have no choice but to accept the return, as long as they have their receipt and they are within the valid return time period.  And the store is the one that suffers for this type of return fraud. After the customer returns the less valuable items, if they are still salable at all, they are usually still sold at a deep discount for being used. That just eats up a retailer’s profit line.


There is a solution to wardrobing, however. It is a simple, yet extremely effective way to put a stop to free renters. The tools are called Alpha Shark Tags.They are meant to be attached to the front of a garment in a very prominent area. As for shoes and other accessories, they can also be attached via lanyard. They are bright red and call immediate attention to themselves. The customer can still try on the item in the store or in the comfort of their own home.  It does not affect the way the garment fits.  Alpha Shark Tags are designed to work as part of your store’s return policy. You can even attach a copy of that return policy to the item with the tag itself. They are to be removed at home with a simple pair of household scissors. But, once removed, the item is no longer eligible to be returned. That’s the main reason you attach it in a conspicuous area of the item. The idea is to place Alpha Shark Tags where they cannot simply be tucked away. They are designed to deter return fraud, and to send a clear message that your store does not participate in wardrobing.


Get more information on Alpha Shark Tags.  Contact us or call:1.770.426.0547

Return Fraud Can Get Out Of Hand

Some people will go to extremes to get a full refund, even if it means committing return fraud. Returns cost retailers billions of dollars every year and the number continues to rise. Wardrobing is one of the most common problems that many stores face. Lots of companies have policies that allow returns as long as the customer has the proof of purchase, either from in the store or online. This is where the criminal customer takes advantage of the store and basically”rents” what they want for free. There is a simple solution to this problem: Alpha Shark Tags.


First, let me tell you about some horror stories I found about some of the craziest customer returns that employees had to deal with. One young lady worked in a small independent clothing store. Every week she had a regular customer that would come in and she would help her put together outfits. They would get it all picked out together, even the accessories. This customer would always make such a big deal about how great she felt when she wore these outfits out, and how many compliments she received. The clerk felt great because she thought she was helping this woman. Truthfully the poor clerk was just being scammed, and this loyal customer was actually engaging in wardrobing. The customer had figured out this clerk’s weekly schedule and on her days off the woman would come back to return everything she had previously purchased. The clothing was clearly worn when she brought it back, but she would insist that the clerk had told her it was fine to bring it back if she wasn’t completely satisfied.


Return fraud doesn’t just happen in your basic clothing retailers. Imagine working for a formal wear dealer.  Those employees dread prom season. Moms and daughters will come in and buy the most expensive dress in the store and then come back the day after prom to get their money back. They claim they were not happy with the quality of the dress.They come back with their credit card receipts and expect full refunds.  Of course the garments reek of cigarette smoke and beer. And that’s not to mention the nasty sweat stains.


Alpha Shark Tags can help retailers stop this free renting phenomenon in it’s tracks. Simply attach the tags to the clothing. It is recommended that you put them in very obvious areas so they cannot be hidden or tucked in. They stop wardrobing because they are part of the return policy. They are not like price tags that can just fall off. Alpha Shark Tags are intended to be removed at home with a simple pair of household scissors. So, once the customer cuts the tag off, the item can no longer be returned to the store. Some stores even attach copies of their new return policy right to the garment so there can be no confusion.  These are great, easy to use, tools that will save your staff from arguing with customers about refunds.


For more information on Alpha Shark Tags, contact us or call: 1.770.426.0547