Do DU'ers RESENT having to give name, address and phone # to Store Clerks when You Return Items You

[KoKo]

Purchased?

What if your Phone Number is Unlisted? What if you have your "Receipt of Purchase" and are returning the "item" within the Time Frame of Return where there should be, NO QUESTION?

What if you are a "Privacy Freak" like Me...and have to deal with a Sales Clerk who harasses you and says that before they can start their "Processing" of your "Return" they need your "Name, Address and Phone Number?

The stores I've had MEGA PROBLEMS WITH ARE..."Coldwater Creek, Chico's, Christopher & Banks."

I wonder if fellow DU'ers are subjected to the "GRAND INQUISITION" when you have your receipt of purchase and are returning an item WITHIN the Deadline for returns and are subjected to this?

I know..folks might say: "WTF! Don't shop at those stores, ANYMORE IF THEY HARASS YOU!...but what if You REALLY LIKE THOSE STORES but hate HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE RITUAL OF NOT GIVING THEM YOUR PRIVATE INFO??? :shrug:

[Ian David]

1. If it's something that's been inside my ass, sure. n/t

[Ian David]

2. The reason why they have these rules...

Former Bush Aide Charged in Felony Theft
Claude Allen had recently resigned as White House domestic-policy adviser.
By Rachel Shteir
Updated Friday, March 10, 2006, at 5:44 PM ET

When Claude Allen, President Bush's longtime domestic-policy adviser, resigned suddenly on Feb. 9, it baffled administration critics and fans. The White House claimed that Allen was leaving to spend more time with his family, while the Washington Times speculated that the 45-year-old aide, a noted social conservative, might have quit to protest a new Pentagon policy about military chaplains. Allen himself never publicly explained the reason for his departure.

News today may shed light on the mystery of Allen's resignation. According to the Montgomery County Police Department, Allen was arrested yesterday and charged in a felony theft and a felony theft scheme. According to a department press release, Allen conducted approximately 25 fraudulent "refunds" in Target and Hecht's stores in Maryland. On Jan. 2, a Target employee apprehended Allen after observing him receive a refund for merchandise he had not purchased. Target then contacted the Montgomery County Police. According to a source familiar with the case, Target and the police had been observing Allen since October 2005.

Allen is charged with practicing a form of shoplifting called "refund fraud."

n general, a refund-fraud scam goes like this: You purchase an item—a CD player, let's say—and leave the store with it. Then you come back to the store and pick up exactly the same CD player; you take the CD player and receipt from the original purchase to the returns desk, claiming that this is the item you bought, and get a refund for it. You keep the original CD player, and pay nothing. Professional shoplifters like refund fraud because it's relatively safe. Since you never actually steal an object from the store, no one can chase you out to the parking lot. According to Richard Hollinger, a professor at the University of Florida-Gainesville and the author of the only yearly survey on retail theft, figures vary but "some say that figures lost to refund fraud reach $16 billion a year."

According to the department, Allen sought refunds for more than $5,000 in the past year. Allen allegedly stole items as expensive as a Bose theater system and a photo printer. Theft of more than $500 is a felony in Maryland.

More:
http://slate.msn.com/id/2137895/

[Madspirit]

12. An Excuse

There have been thieves/shoplifters since the beginning of time. It's one thing stores have insurance for...(remember that when they try the "you break it, you buy it" which is also not legal. That was in our paper just recently.) Stores have insurance for their losses and they make huge amounts of money. Anything else is just an excuse to get private info so they can target you for snail mail spam. I don't give some creepy guy my personal info.
Lee

[Sherman A1]

16. You may consider it an excuse as you wish, however

it is still theft and it still comes with a cost to the business which does translate into higher prices for you the consumer. Enough of this type of shrink and a store has to make changes in either policies, reduce selections, cut labor or something. To my knowledge (30+ years in retail) insurance really doesn't cover this as first you have to know that the item was stolen and unaccounted loss isn't always easy to track down. Just because your P&L statement doesn't balance in a business doesn't mean you get a check from the insurance company. I chased after a guy last Sunday who was running out of my store with a load of steaks under his jacket. Broke off pursuit when I saw no chance of catching him (and with asthma that didn't take me too long).

So believe as you will, but stealing is stealing and we all do pay.

[Madspirit]

19. We're talking about

Asking for personal info for returning purchases when one has the proper receipt. That should be sufficient. I will NOT give personal info. You can make this about something else if you wish.
Lee

[Sherman A1]

36. I believe that you were the one moving the subject

to store losses and insurance. Losses to fraudulent returns are the reason that your name and such are requested to help curtail frequent or fraudulent returns from an individual. You can make it about anything you want it to be as you wish...... which you seem to have no real problem in doing.

[ben_meyers]

38. If you understood the op

Very common to purchase an item for cash, leave the store, return and pick up same item from shelf and go to return desk asking for a refund. If it makes you feel better only a republic would do this, but if you don't have a Democratic bumper sticker on your butt how are we, the retailer suppose to know? My insurance, which you pay for in my pricing, doesn't automatically cover shop lifting.

[Sherman A1]

51. Well Said!

and the point I was trying to explain in my posts as well, however it seems that those of us in Retail are the bad guys for trying to stay in business and treat people fairly, as we would like to be treated.

:toast:

[Ian David]

52. But insurance companies are always so cooperative and downright eager to pay out claims, right?

:sarcasm:

[KoKo]

17. No! I have my receipt the garment and proof of purchase is Not in Question.

How does this relate to Claude Allen? :shrug:

[ingac70]

3. How often do you return stuff?

I've returned one item in the last 10 years. Be more careful when shopping in order to protect your privacy!

[Donnachaidh]

4. You are NOT required to give them this info when buying merchandise

And if you have a receipt they have NO reason to ask for this info. They *might* squeak by if you have paid with a credit card, because they can claim they need to verify accounts, etc.

But it shouldn't be the case with cash purchases.

I don't feel harrassed when they ask. I usually ask WHY and that shuts them down totally. :shrug:

[KoKo]

18. I KNOW THIS..but when I say..."You don't need this info" they tell me they can't return

my item to my credit card unless I provide, Name, Address and Phone Number...even when I have "RECEIPT OF PURCHASE" and the ITEM with the TAGS ALL PROPERLY AFFIXED ON IT...(having never worn it) and YET...they still ask all this info.

I could understand this if I "Lost Receipt of purchase" ..."returned item without Proper Tags still Affixed to the garment showing I had not removed them or worn the garment in question"

SO ...WHY AM I STILL HARASSED?

[Donnachaidh]

21. why do you consider this harrassment?

IF you are using a credit card -- that's the price you pay. And I'm not saying this to flame you. They can say that they need to verify the original purchase records, which includes your personal info - in order to credit your account.

Identity theft has become a huge problem with stores. They have to double-check CHARGES because they handle so many of them.

There are privacy trade-offs when shopping using credit cards. No flame - just the reality of the situation.

That's one of the main reasons I cut up my cards years ago. I've never regretted doing it, either. :shrug:

[KoKo]

33. I had the Original Receipt with the Tags still on the garment for a purchase 3 Days ago!

I had ALL I NEEDED...nothing was missing. They had my credit card number and I had my credit card in hand to "swipe" for the return.

Garment wasn't damaged, missing tags and I had my Original Purchase Receipt. Why was I grilled? Why did they need to do more than "swipe" my credit card for the return.

ALL MY PAPERS WERE IN ORDER! :shrug:

[Solo_in_MD]

5. I have some empathy for them as long as it is a fraud prevention measure

I also have a bogus phone number and address and email I use for such transactions when the refund is going to be in cash.

[KoKo]

34. Where was MY FRAUD? n/t

[Jonathan50]

6. Lie..

[Madspirit]

7. I just give false info.

If I have the proper receipt, which is all they should need and they still ask me crap that is none of their business, I give them false info and act like I'm going to have a temper tantrum. When they ask to see ID, if I already have the proper receipt, I give them an old fake one I had made just for fun. They have no right. They just want it so they can spam your snail mail with their stupid-assed ads.
Lee

[hulklogan]

23. Some probably do spam people, many don't

I worked at a large retail clothing chain while in college and we kept all those name and address slips in boxes in the secured area of the store, then destroyed them after twelve months. In no way did we capture that information so the company could send junk mail to customers.

I'm sure some companies want to spam people, but from my experience collecting that kind of information helped store security catch people stealing hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise on almost a weekly basis.

I do like you do, just give them false information. But I don't put up a fuss with the minimum-wage cashiers, they're just doing what corporate tells them to do.

[WinkyDink]

8. My Sears did that just to PURCHASE an item. I said no; no address, no phone number. The young man

asked his superior about it (I told him my credit card was plenty enough info), and presto! I was ALLOWED to spend my money there!

[Madspirit]

9. Radio Shack does that too...for PURCHASES...crock of crap...n/t

[left is right]

11. I hate having to show ID to make a debit card purchase

I ususally flash my ID and then cancel the order. Burns me up. I walked out of ToyRUs at Christmas/buying for my grandchildren because of their policy

[kestrel91316]

10. I've been known to give a fake phone number or address under the

circumstances, if I'm in a pissy mood.

What I REALLY hate is the ones that demand a ZIP code when you are making a cash purchase. I tell them it's none of their business. Yes, I realize they want it for "marketing purposes". Too bad. I want to be able to shop in anonymity.

[Donnachaidh]

13. I just tell them NO

I only seem to get cashiers who get pissy about it after the major holidays. I don't care if it is a marketing program, it's none of their business.

[Madspirit]

14. Right On Kestrel! Me too...n/t

[SoCalDem]

42. I do too. Even using a slide it yourself gas card at the pump, they want my zipcode

I just punch in any ole random numbers. let them think someone from New jersey bought gas :)

[ncrainbowgrrl]

44. Phone number gets me- especially since all i have is a cell.

Nope, no way am i giving that out at Bed Bath and Beyond- just so they can send me some coupons... 'cause they couldn't even do that from reversing my number... it's a cell phone.

But, I'm always nice about it, and give a real phone number... Let's just say that Domino's shops at alot of the same places that I do....

[Uben]

15. Do you actually give them factual info?

I do not. I give name only, fake address, fake phone number. Also, some store ask for your telephone number when checking out so they can pull up your file. I give them a different one every time.

I bought a new vehicle the first week of January. The gentleman filling out the paperwork ask for my SS number, and I refused to give it to him saying there was no reason he needed it. He called in a manager, who said it was standard procedure. I told him I was buying a car, paying cash, and asked him if he was interested in making the sale. He said yes, so I told him to put something down, because he was not getting my SS number. He left, stayed gone for about 15 minutes, and came back and said he had it taken care of. Now, I don't know if he had some secret data base where he got my SS number, or just decided to leave it blank, or put in a bogus number, but the sale went through!

I am sick and tired of all the info sellers oout there, and I do my best not to be a victim!

[Kingshakabobo]

20. I thought I read somewhere that stores were gathering info and sharing it to stop serial returners.

Kid of like a credit bureau for blacklisting customers.....here it is,,,,

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041228/news_1b28returns.html

Retailers crack down on returns

Some shoppers being monitored, blacklisted

By Barbara Whitaker
NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE

December 28, 2004

Tina Orkin said she thought she was making a routine return.
Orkin said she had her receipt, the tags were on the item, the item was undamaged and she was within the 60-day time period set for such transactions.
But after scanning her driver's license, the clerk at the Express clothing store told Orkin that her request to return was denied.

To receive an explanation, Orkin was told to call a toll-free telephone number at the Return Exchange, which has developed a state-of-the-art database to monitor returns at retailers. Each retailer that signs up for the company's service determines the criteria – like the frequency of returns and the value of the items being returned – for denying an exchange.

The service – which consumer advocates say is being used by companies such as Express, KB Toys, the Sports Authority, Staples and Guess – has been criticized for monitoring and blacklisting shoppers.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the practice and has proposed legislation to require stores that limit returns to clearly warn shoppers before they make a purchase.

.............more at link....

[KoKo]

28. That's TJ MAXX and believe me they don't hassel me when I buy something

and return it. They even allow me to get store credit without hasell when I lost the receipt.

And...NO! I'm NOT a "Serial Returner." :D

[Clark2008]

22. You don't have to do it.

I always tell them that I don't want to and they oblige.

Did you try asking?

[KoKo]

25. She said: "The computer will Not Allow Me to Proceed with Your Transaction

until you give me this information! I felt I was in Nazi Germany. This was at "Christopher & Banks" this afternoon in my NC Mall...where I had receipt for item I purchased Just THREE DAYS AGO on my Credit Card!

I told her: "My phone number is unlisted" and asked "Why do you need my NAME when it's on my Credit Card which you will "swipe to credit my account. She said: "let me see if I can bypass this on the computer as she stood there "clicking keys" and then said: "I need your address." I said: "YOU NEED MY ADRESS! (with emphasis) and she said: "Yes." I said: "You don't need my Address because I have Receipt, Credit Card and you can see MY NAME on Credit Card and I JUST BOUGHT THIS THREE DAYS AGO!

She said: "Okay, I will work to bypass this in the Computer but you need to know this is required of ALL OUR RETURNS." I said...there's "No Policy Posted about This!" She said: "It's required of all our customer returns." I said: "But it's not posted as policy in the store or on my Receipt."

She said: "It's our policy and I'm trying to work around it for you."

She kept me there for maybe 10 more minutes and then said: "I've bypassed the Computer so just swipe your card."

I was in an "INQUISITION" at a store that isn't a "Dollar Store" being treated like a CRIMINAL being asked for "NAME,RANK, SERIAL NUMBER!"

If I had lied, my credit card would have given my NAME ANYWAY and a simple "GOOGLE" would reveal my Address...but she was holding me up there REQUIRING SHIT STUFF that SHE DIDN'T NEED to PROCESS MY RETURN! WHY....WHY....WHY!!!!!! :shrug:

Why was this WORTH HER TIME and MINE?

[Hamlette]

24. as a former store owner, who had people return things that were not from my store

or worse, stolen from my store.

I'm sympathetic.

One person tried to return an expensive watch which had been stolen from my store. Pissed me off.

[KoKo]

29. I had the Credit Card RECIPT from THREE DAYS AGO for my Purchase...

and if you read my OP ...I detailed what this was all about. I wasn't returning an item from another store and had the merchandise with the TAGS in place.

I was returning a simple purchase purchased by credit card three days ago WITH RECEIPT and TAGS AFFIXED and was given the GRAND INQUISITION!

Just saying...

[dysfunctional press]

32. what you described in your post was hardly the GRAND INQUISITION...

and yes, stores have a right to know who's returning what. it's one way to look for patterns that might indicate return fraud. when i was a store detective for marshall field's, there was a woman who spent thousands every month on clothes, but returned almost 95% of what she bought within two weeks of the purchase date- her co-workers probably just thought that she had a HUGE wardrobe.

the information they asked you for is no big deal- they could get it through your credit card company fairly easily- but not as easily as just asking you for it.

[Hamlette]

39. well, you establish policies and tend to apply them to all customers

I'm not saying it was right in your case but some people think it is okay to rip off businesses. It's a tough way to make a living.

And yes, I've been put through the drill when I had the receipt but I've also been treated well.

[AZBlue]

26. No. It's the way that stores can prevent employees from stealing through false returns.

You don't have to give your phone number - I always write or say unlisted and have never gotten any comment back on that. If you protect your privacy that much, get a USPS or private post office box - they are useful for many things.

[KoKo]

30. I did tell clerk that my phone # was unlisted...she requested it again and

said she needed it to return the purchase and then asked for my Address after I said phone # was unlisted. I had my credit card in hand...and she didn't ask for my driver's license but seemed to insist on my phone number and address.......even though my NAME is on the Credit Card she didn't want to Process until she had entered all my INFO in her store Computer!

I try to be clear in my posts but most don't read past the subject line it seems. :eyes:

I wouldn't make a fuss about this if it wasn't serious...and if I wasn't documenting my experience.

[AZBlue]

46. Sorry, I did read the post but I'll admit I scanned - I was logging off in a second & wanted to post

in reply first. My bad.

That is obnoxious. In that case, I would have lied - not nice, but they deserve it at that point. I would have just given them a fake number.

I've always heard about women (and men) memorizing some particularly "annoying" number to give out at bars, etc (like giving out the VD clinic's number or the number to the army recruiting office or sexaholics anonymous). Perhaps we should all do that for returns! ;)

[karlrschneider]

27. I guess the practice varies, stores around here don't ask for that info.

...

[earth mom]

31. It irritates the hell out of me mainly because I pay cash for most purchases and

I save my receipts so I have proof whatever I'm returning is not a stolen item or from another store. But what I find even worse is when I'm asked for my zip code or phone number when I'm making a purchase, which happened recently at Best Buy and TJ Maxx. Like :wtf:

[HughMoran]

35. I don't mind

...but I always feel free to put down fake information if I do not like or trust the store.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

37. No, Because I'm A Sane And Rational Adult Who Can Understand And Tolerate Such Concepts In Life. nt

[Cleita]

40. I've had to do it at K-Mart too.

I don't know their reasoning, but maybe it has to do with possible theft scams in which returns are used as part of the scam.

[SoCalDem]

41. Why they do it...

Stores are not in business to refund money, and there are some people who buy impulsively, and then return stuff ad infinitum.

By getting ID from the returners, it puts them on notice, that the stores are "on to" them, and that they need to stop returning so many things.

People have even picked up discarded receipts, and then taken an item from the shelf & returned it for cash.

[KoKo]

43. Love your Rummy/Bunny...but don't you remember when Customers were valued?

I bought four items and returned one that wasn't right...and got the Grand Inquisitor. Should the thiefs and liars cause the rest of us who have Receipt, garment (bought only three days earlier) and a credit card in hand with name and number and the original bag be harassed like this because some people return too much these days?

I'm old enough to remember NOT being Harassed in a reputable stores when I return one purchase out of four that I bought just three days before with recipt, original tags, and credit card number on receipt and in my hand. She didn't ask for my Zip...but my full address, phone number and name which she could see from the credit card in my hand...

The Credit Card companies must already have "flags" on known suspects and since I wasn't missing receipt or tags to prove my purchase why did she grill me? She only needed to see my Driver's license with my photo to see I matched the person returning purchase and that my name matched the credit card. With all tags on garment intact and the orignial bag and proof that I was only returning one item...it would seem a GRAND INQUISTION...and I've mentioned the stores the problem is with and all are "high end" stores that behave worse than TJ Maxx and Marshalls or the major dept. stores for this kind of crap.

I don't think we should give this info out when we are returning an item with all tags, proof of purchase and our ID (drivers license...which was not asked for).

:shrug:

[SoCalDem]

45. true..but the employees have to follow the policies or they risk their own jobs

Somewhere in the bowels of the corporation, some "suits" decided that they needed all that information, and once it's "store policy", the rank and file employees have no choice..

If every line on their screen is not filled out, the program probably won't allow them to finish the transaction..

I was once asked for all that info at radio shack when I was paying cash for a BATTERY.. I laughed at the guy, and walked out :)

[Hekate]

47. Long's Drugs makes a production of it, but what the hey.

Most places it's just a routine you go through, some places more easily than others. I've changed my mind, or the thing isn't right -- they have their policies.

I used to work retail a lifetime ago, and there are customers who make a practice of returning used merchandise for no reason -- like fancy dresses after the party. I've had shoplifters try to "return" merchandise for money, too. And all us honest customers end up paying for that kind of behavior.

Costco had to amend its generous return policy for electronics because too many people misused it. :shrug:

The point is: it isn't about you, really it isn't. It's about the cheaters.

Hekate

[Catherine Vincent]

48. I picked up a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut earlier today and

they not only want your phone number but they want your name also.

[Duer 157099]

49. Yes. I hate it too, drives me nuts. But the worst is when

they verbally ASK you for it! Asking you to write it down is one thing, but asking you to verbally announce it within earshot of everyone behind you, now that REALLY REALLY pisses me off.

I once (emphasize ONCE) purchased some items from a coin shop, not a large purchase, only $20-30 worth -- and the salesperson hand filled out a receipt and verbally ASKED me for my name, address and phone number. I was floored. It's a little shop, so everyone in the shop can hear everyone else speaking, and you would THINK (or thinking people would think) that especially people who are buying something like coins, which just *might* indicate that they are a collector and just *might* have a collection at their home, just MIGHT not want to advertise their home address to everyone in the store????

WTF are people thinking anyway???

Yes, I share your outrage. I despise when they ask my zip code even, and I loathe when take out places ask for your name instead of just giving you a number/receipt. hate hate hate it.

[RB TexLa]

50. 1060 West Addison Chicago, IL 60613 works just fine

[symbolman]

53. There's a really simple answer to this

and I use it all the time - whether it's Radio Shack or whatever..

When someone demands this information, then YOU ASK THEM to give YOU THEIR PERSONAL Info.. Tell them it's YOUR POLICY, they'll love it :)

Every time I do that, they FIND some way Around it, seriously..

And I think I'm well within my rights to demand THEIR personal info if they can demand mine.. as in I want the VPs HOME address and PHONE Number FIRST..