Bad policy

[Willy]

More and more stores are adopting a policy of intrusive information collection of customers regarding their "return policy". If you must return a product for what ever reason and have no receipt they  now require your drivers licence which they take and enter all the information contained therein into their computer. I have encountered this on several occasions, and most recently at Miejer. I understand they must verify that the merchandise is theirs, however if the tags are still on the item/s that should be enough. They claim that by taking our personal information they can make sure that their employees are not committing fraud by making up phony names and pocketing the refund money. Keeping their employees honest is not the customers responibility and we should not have to fork over our personal info. so they can keep track of their help. What most people don't know is that there is an entire industry that buys and sells personal information and all companies or their sister companies sell this information. If more people refuse to give out their information and refuse to shop at stores that have this intrusive policy then maybe this practice will cease.

[XLFD]

Willy,

Can you be more explicit on your return?  Often stores will have many different procedures for returns depending on what's being returned, and the mode of purchase.   And whether Dave wore them on his feet ; )

Irregardless, the taking of such information is more intrusive than it should be.   Credit and debit card refunds shouldn't require such, but presuming you got a cash refund, if they want to reduce fraud for both them and unscrupulous returners, they should look at ID and enter something that is not a total invasion of privacy, like perhaps the last 3 digits of the DL#. 

A very good point.

[Lisa O'Brien]

This information is also used to create a database of customers that regularly return items without a receipt. Just because it has the stores tag on it does not mean the item was purchased it could have been stolen in hopes of returning it for cash. Stores also keep a listing of items that are often pilfered. I think it's highly reasonable to expect to give personal information when returning items without a receipt.

[AQUAMAN]

Interesting dilemma for more invasive intrusions into the individual for sure. This is the condition of society to be expected as the financial base crumbles, imho. Sad but more real now than ever, unfortunately. Both sides have very valid points, except for the Dave comment.....lol. You'd have to be there to understand that joke.

[Willy]

XLFD

I purchased  some packets of hand warmers. They were defective and did not heat up. I tried to exhange the unopen packs for a different brand and did not even request credit for the defective ones.

Lisa

All a company needs is your name which they can verify by seeing your ID. They do not need to enter into their data base your adress, drivers license #, or phone number. If the package is unopened and has their tag which can be easily scanned and verified by their computers where the item came from. Stores keep track of every single item from A to Z. They know what's on their shelves. What is the purpose of a database of customers who return items without a receipt. If they return more than 1 item and they are added to the database and are given a refund what does that prove. I know lots of people who return items on a regular basis.  If stores are so concerned about fraud why is it that 99 out of 100 times I have used my credit card that noone asked for my ID? Even Meijers doesn't ask for it. Credit card fraud is a much larger problem.

[Lisa O'Brien]

Stores try to keep track of every item - but they can't it's physically impossible. Ex: The computer says there are 20 items in stock. That number comes from the last inventory and sales/returns figured in. If someone has stolen 2 items the store will not know it as a loss until the next spot inventory or full inventory is done. As for returning merchandise without a receipt a lot of stores require a receipt for a cash refund some stores opt to give an in store credit, some also chose only refund the lowest sale price on the item. Just about every major retailer prints their return policy on the back side of the receipt. I personally do not have a problem providing my information when I misplace my receipt.

[Willy]

Therein lies the problem. Folks like you are to willing to release your personal information. A computer can track each item seperately if retailers wish to do so.

[Lisa O'Brien]

Personally I think the problem lies with the people who like to steal from retailers.  And yes I am more than willing to give my personal information away to get my money refunded for an item I would like to return without a receipt. The moral of the story is keep your receipts. The store is under no legal obligation to refund a purchase without a receipt - they are doing it as a courtesy. Why should they spend countless dollars on keeping track of every single item, when it is much easier to just require a receipt for refund.

[Willy]

You still don't get it. They sell your information for money $$$. They don't need all that info. The no receipt policy is only a scam to collect your personal information.

[Lisa O'Brien]

I used to work in loss prevention - I get it. If they sell the information to make up some of the revenue lost from customers pilfering items so be it, at least all of the cost associated with it doesn't reflect in item pricing.

[XLFD]

Being that this was packets of defective hand warmers, perhaps you may have been better served by contacting the company that makes them, Willy.  After a certain amount of shelf life, I think those lose some efficacy, at least that's what I hear and have experienced.  Maybe Meijers had these in a back storage room for a couple years, which could be likely due to their seasonal appeal and sold them to you.  Maybe the return specialist you dealt with might have had thoughts that you purchased the warmers years ago yourself, and were just trying to get fresher new ones. 

No store's return policy would allow you to return that gallon of milk you only had only one cup out of in the last two weeks, with a fresh gallon.  But neither should they need to take overly private information to facilitate a return.  If a store does something out of a courtesy rather than an obligation they should also have a modicum of courtesy in not having you submit overly private data

[Sweater Cows!]

I have learned that in most cases if a person says 'no' when asked for zipcode or phone # when at the checkout the cashier will just click a button and move on.

In regards to returns I think it is only fair to the store that if a person does not have a receipt then they should have there name and address and phone stored, it will help stop those who are returning stolen goods for cash.

Now, with a receipt there is no way in H that they should need the info and I would politely say no way are you putting my name in that PC, but without one, I don't think it is wrong at all. But there should be a privacy policy in place that they can only keep the info for theft reduction purposes and not for selling to make a mailing list.

 

[masonco]

Is there proof this is for a mailing list? I know that there is always an issue of some people taking advantage of any return policy. Back in the 80s I knew someone who purchased clothing from Meijers, wore them for a special occasions, then returned them saying they did not fit.

You can contact corporate offices of any store chain and ask them if this type of thing is their return policy and  ask why.