Is This Kosher(retail related)?

[MaryNH]

Yesterday I went to Ross to return a skirt I had bought only a few days efore. The tags were still on it, I had the receipt and I had paid with cash. The salesgirl at the service desk wanted my name, address and phone number on a slip of paper. I refused. I've worked in retail and I know that this is done to track people who might be trying to rip off the store.
My question is-Can this be done?

[Dennis]

As long as they clearly state it in their return policy, I don't see why not.

Dennis

[Wendy]

As long as they clearly state it in their return policy, I don't see why not.

Dennis
I agree.....

[Carla]

I worked in retail 12 years and that was standard policy for a return. If we wanted to track someone who was ripping us off, we would get management involved in the return transaction. That's when I personally would worry :lol:

[MaryNH]

I worked in retail 12 years and that was standard policy for a return. If we wanted to track someone who was ripping us off, we would get management involved in the return transaction. That's when I personally would worry :lol:
Hmmm....I was just perturbed as a)I had my receipt b)It had the tags c)It had not been worn and d)I paid cash(eg-no checks to clear or credit card payments to be "bounced back")..If I had walked in w/o a slip, I would have understood....At any rate, thanks for the feedback everyone:)

[Ami]

That would piss me off also, I understand why they do it but still.

[Faye]

I've often wondered why places ask for my license number as well. If you want to you can put down a fake address if you don't feel comfortable leaving yours and tell them you don't have a driver's license :) what can they do? and I think I agree with you (the original poster) if the item has the tags still attached and is in the same condition as when it was just bought then why would they need to think you might be trying to rip them off :rolleyes:

[AmyP]

I worked at Ross while I was in college, and that was just what was printed on the return slip that is automatically generated. I never pushed anyone to put that information down if they didn't want to.

[abc]

I think that info is optional, but I usually supply it. I mean, they have your credit card numbers when you charge things, they could easier get your address and name that way. They may just be doing it to keep track of returns. It's never bothered me, although I don't put my phone number down since it's unlisted.

allie

[Cazzle]

I thought they did it to see if any one person is a frequent returner. Some people will make a habit of buying and returning things. If you have a record of the people who return things, you can identify who is abusing the system.

You can give them any information you want. It's not like lying to the police!

I've had a store refuse to allow me to return a garment that had the tags on it. They told me that they've had people carefully take the tags off, wear the clothes and then return them. Actually, they were horribly rude and I now boycott that store, but that's another story! If they had accepted the return and asked for my name, etc, I would have made information up. It's not that I return things often (heaven knows I almost never do it), it's that I don't think it's any of their business.

[Kate]

They want the information to track frequent returners. I worked for loss prevention for a little bit. The computer system that our store had tracked everything via your license #. I could find out how many stores you returned to, how much money back you had received, I could cross reference your receipt. Also, some people will have a receipt and garment with tags to return. But they had switched the tags, so instead of a $250 Dolce & Gabbana shirt that they purchased they return a $10 special from KMart. They usually go to new sales people who don't have a clue.

There are so many scams out there that the stores are trying to protect themselves. If you create a hassle and don't give the information then you usually are put on a watch list and your picture is printed and shared through stores.

~Kate

[Demetria06]

Wow, I didnt know that the name and address thing was done to track people trying to rip off the store, I thought it was so unsure that employees werent stealing from the store by making false returns...(that situation happens here at Walmarts all the time) but I think that as long as you have a reciept, and its unworn and still new, there shouldnt be a problem....however I do understand that there are a lot of scammers out there! So I guess its sort of a bittersweet thing.

[Amythest]

I worked in retail for 12 years and we always required it. I never had a customer refuse. I know we did it to track frequent returners as well as to make sure our staff weren't doing fake returns to get themselves a little cash (which happened alot!!).