Alpha Shark Tags-5 , Wardrobing-4 , Return Fraud-4
Shark Tags Help Balance Return Policy With Customer Service
Returns are a necessary evil when it comes to the retail business. There is a fine line between being a pushover and being too strict on customers that need to make a return. Businesses have to fight return fraud, but they have to maintain exemplary service in order to keep loyal customers. Wardrobing is the one particular type of return fraud that is considered to be the most heinous. That is where people purchase an item with the full intention of returning it. Basically, they want to “rent” what they want or need for free. Then they use the store’s return policy against them by having all the requirements like the original receipts, packaging, and price tags with the item. But of course, the store cannot resell the merchandise because it has been clearly used.
I am an avid online shopper. (I am excitedly waiting for a pair of shoes I just ordered a few days ago.) I have seen all kinds of return policies, and some are pretty stuff. I have seen restocking fees that range from 10% all the way up to 20% of the original purchase price for a return. Some stores require the customer to request a return authorization number within a certain number of days after receiving the item. Many times the customer has to pay for the return shipping if they bought the item online. I was looking at dresses for my daughter at a couple online dealers and most of them have posted they do not accept returns under any circumstances. That seems a little harsh. If I buy a dress online, I expect to be able to return it if it gets here and the sizing isn’t correct! But I get where these business are coming from. Wardrobing is a huge problem for retailers that sell formal wear. Many surveys put return fraud as one of the top of theft issues clothing retailers face.
Not to sound too cliché, but someone had to take a bite out of this type of crime. That problem is probably one reason the Alpha Shark Tag was invented. This is a nifty little tag that clips directly to an item or can be attached via lanyard. Many retailers that utilize the Alpha Shark Tag also use it to clip on a small copy of the return policy. The problem with wardrobing is the customer comes back with a wrinkled, soiled, smelly, spotted and stained garment they wore to go out on the town and they are now standing at the counter expecting a full refund. The store can no longer sell this item so they lose the original sale and the inventory. The purpose of the Alpha Shark Tag is to dissuade the buyer from attempting wardrobing. They are informed at the time of purchase that the tag must remain on the dress or other garment. It will not be removed by the clerk like most other tags on clothing. It is designed to be removed at home with a simple pair of household scissors. Once removed, however, the item is no longer eligible for any type of refund. It is important to note that the Alpha Shark Tag is meant to be clipped onto a very prominent area of the garment in order to discourage the customer from trying to wear it anyway. Instead of changing your return policy to a bunch of strict rules that punishes your loyal customers, try Alpha Shark Tags instead. Your customers will appreciate it.
For more information on how to stop Alpha Shark Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Returns are a necessary evil when it comes to the retail business. There is a fine line between being a pushover and being too strict on customers that need to make a return. Businesses have to fight return fraud, but they have to maintain exemplary service in order to keep loyal customers. Wardrobing is the one particular type of return fraud that is considered to be the most heinous. That is where people purchase an item with the full intention of returning it. Basically, they want to “rent” what they want or need for free. Then they use the store’s return policy against them by having all the requirements like the original receipts, packaging, and price tags with the item. But of course, the store cannot resell the merchandise because it has been clearly used.
I am an avid online shopper. (I am excitedly waiting for a pair of shoes I just ordered a few days ago.) I have seen all kinds of return policies, and some are pretty stuff. I have seen restocking fees that range from 10% all the way up to 20% of the original purchase price for a return. Some stores require the customer to request a return authorization number within a certain number of days after receiving the item. Many times the customer has to pay for the return shipping if they bought the item online. I was looking at dresses for my daughter at a couple online dealers and most of them have posted they do not accept returns under any circumstances. That seems a little harsh. If I buy a dress online, I expect to be able to return it if it gets here and the sizing isn’t correct! But I get where these business are coming from. Wardrobing is a huge problem for retailers that sell formal wear. Many surveys put return fraud as one of the top of theft issues clothing retailers face.
Not to sound too cliché, but someone had to take a bite out of this type of crime. That problem is probably one reason the Alpha Shark Tag was invented. This is a nifty little tag that clips directly to an item or can be attached via lanyard. Many retailers that utilize the Alpha Shark Tag also use it to clip on a small copy of the return policy. The problem with wardrobing is the customer comes back with a wrinkled, soiled, smelly, spotted and stained garment they wore to go out on the town and they are now standing at the counter expecting a full refund. The store can no longer sell this item so they lose the original sale and the inventory. The purpose of the Alpha Shark Tag is to dissuade the buyer from attempting wardrobing. They are informed at the time of purchase that the tag must remain on the dress or other garment. It will not be removed by the clerk like most other tags on clothing. It is designed to be removed at home with a simple pair of household scissors. Once removed, however, the item is no longer eligible for any type of refund. It is important to note that the Alpha Shark Tag is meant to be clipped onto a very prominent area of the garment in order to discourage the customer from trying to wear it anyway. Instead of changing your return policy to a bunch of strict rules that punishes your loyal customers, try Alpha Shark Tags instead. Your customers will appreciate it.
For more information on how to stop Alpha Shark Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
RETURN FRAUD ON THE SKI SLOPES?
Last month, my girlfriend and I took a little winter vacation to a resort town high in the mountains of Colorado. I had just wrapped up another stressful and incredibly long holiday season, so getting out of my stores for a week was just what the doctor ordered. Of course, being in the LP world, I can’t really turn “It” off. You all know what I’m talking about. No matter where I go, or what store I’m in, I can’t help but to look at things from an LP perspective. I would have never imagined I’d be talking about Alpha Shark Tags on my ski trip, but what can I say?
What does one do in a mountain resort town after a week of fresh snow? You ski. Or at least, you attempt to. Well, we were not prepared so we went down to one of the retail stores and had to buy a couple of jackets and pants that would protect us from the cold. These items cost more than a night in the hotel. There it was. There was the “It” I couldn’t turn off. I looked at my girlfriend and asked her if she thought return fraud was a big problem at this particular store. She rolled her eyes and kept shopping.
I have to say, we were assisted by a sales associate that I would love to clone. She greeted us upon entry, helped us pick out everything we needed and really took the time and provided us with one on one service. When we were wrapping things up, I asked to speak with her manager. I like to recognize good service when I receive it. The manager came over and I let him know how impressed I was, and we began talking for a bit. I told him I was an LP manager for my company and I just had to ask about return fraud. I couldn’t help myself.
I was curious to know about how many people come into town for the week, get set up with their snow gear, only to return it at the end of their vacation. Not surprisingly, the manager told me it was pretty common, and they struggle with it almost on a daily basis, but they hadn’t figured out a way to really combat their issue in a manner that mirrored the owner’s philosophy of taking care of the customer. Sound familiar? I asked if he had ever heard of Alpha Shark Tags.
Of course, he hadn’t, so I grabbed my phone and Googled it for him. We talked a bit more about return fraud and he asked my opinion on how these tags could be applied to items in his store. Well, it was simple. Take the Alpha Shark Tag and place it front and center of all winter gear. Snow jackets, pants, boots, goggles, whatever. You put them in a place where they are visible and incredibly obvious to the wearer. You also make sure that your customer is aware of your return policy. That policy should clearly state that once the Alpha Shark Tag is removed from the garment, it can not be return. This will effectively stop vacationing families from using your store as a rental outlet.
Whether or not this store manager takes my advice, or not, you should. Return fraud is one of the biggest and most financial impactful fraud schemes out there currently. You can’t make a profit if you are constantly renting out your merchandise. Take a stand against this practice and refuse to be the victim anymore. Oh, in case you’re wondering, I did not return my ski clothes!
For more information about Alpha Shark Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Last month, my girlfriend and I took a little winter vacation to a resort town high in the mountains of Colorado. I had just wrapped up another stressful and incredibly long holiday season, so getting out of my stores for a week was just what the doctor ordered. Of course, being in the LP world, I can’t really turn “It” off. You all know what I’m talking about. No matter where I go, or what store I’m in, I can’t help but to look at things from an LP perspective. I would have never imagined I’d be talking about Alpha Shark Tags on my ski trip, but what can I say?
What does one do in a mountain resort town after a week of fresh snow? You ski. Or at least, you attempt to. Well, we were not prepared so we went down to one of the retail stores and had to buy a couple of jackets and pants that would protect us from the cold. These items cost more than a night in the hotel. There it was. There was the “It” I couldn’t turn off. I looked at my girlfriend and asked her if she thought return fraud was a big problem at this particular store. She rolled her eyes and kept shopping.
I have to say, we were assisted by a sales associate that I would love to clone. She greeted us upon entry, helped us pick out everything we needed and really took the time and provided us with one on one service. When we were wrapping things up, I asked to speak with her manager. I like to recognize good service when I receive it. The manager came over and I let him know how impressed I was, and we began talking for a bit. I told him I was an LP manager for my company and I just had to ask about return fraud. I couldn’t help myself.
I was curious to know about how many people come into town for the week, get set up with their snow gear, only to return it at the end of their vacation. Not surprisingly, the manager told me it was pretty common, and they struggle with it almost on a daily basis, but they hadn’t figured out a way to really combat their issue in a manner that mirrored the owner’s philosophy of taking care of the customer. Sound familiar? I asked if he had ever heard of Alpha Shark Tags.
Of course, he hadn’t, so I grabbed my phone and Googled it for him. We talked a bit more about return fraud and he asked my opinion on how these tags could be applied to items in his store. Well, it was simple. Take the Alpha Shark Tag and place it front and center of all winter gear. Snow jackets, pants, boots, goggles, whatever. You put them in a place where they are visible and incredibly obvious to the wearer. You also make sure that your customer is aware of your return policy. That policy should clearly state that once the Alpha Shark Tag is removed from the garment, it can not be return. This will effectively stop vacationing families from using your store as a rental outlet.
Whether or not this store manager takes my advice, or not, you should. Return fraud is one of the biggest and most financial impactful fraud schemes out there currently. You can’t make a profit if you are constantly renting out your merchandise. Take a stand against this practice and refuse to be the victim anymore. Oh, in case you’re wondering, I did not return my ski clothes!
For more information about Alpha Shark Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Alpha Shark Tags-5 WC Blog 66
Return Fraud-3
Wardrobing-5
“Prom”inent Placement Of Alpha Shark Tags Prevents Return Fraud
Not too long from now it will be Spring and with Spring comes prom time! Young men and women will be out buying new dresses and suits or tuxedos. New shoes will be in order as well, ensuring the entire ensemble is perfect for that big night. I did some price checking and it seems if a young lady wants to purchase a prom dress, she will spend anywhere from $35.00 to over $500.00. Renting a prom dress appears to start around $100.00 and goes up. One web site advertised women’s prom shoes for sale ranging from $20.00 – $179.00. Tuxedo prices varied with pieces starting around $30 for a vest and separate items such as jackets, slacks, and accessories being priced individually. I got the impression I could put together a tuxedo on the low end for about $100.00, accounting for sales and discounts. Now if you are the retailer selling to the prom goers, you can already hear that cash register beeping as your merchandise flies off the shelf. My question for you is, after the proms are over, will you be handing out refunds for the customers who have “changed their minds?” How can you prevent this from happening? One sure method to prevent this type of return fraud, also known as wardrobing, is to start using Alpha Shark Tags on your merchandise.
The Alpha Shark Tags work because they are designed to be attached to clothing and removed only when the buyer is ready to wear the item to their function. Once removed, this device cannot be reattached. The retailer can have their return policy clearly stipulate that merchandise that no longer has the Alpha Shark Tags attached cannot be returned or refunded. What many who are involved in wardrobing like to do is to wear a new outfit after carefully removing tags or hiding them in the clothing. When they have worn the outfit a time or two they return it for a refund. It allows them to be seen out in their expensive new digs and they don’t have to pay a rental fee. The person who is wardrobing gets all the reward with no cost. The Shark Tag is placed by the retailer on the clothing item where it is easily visible and cannot be covered or hidden. It is brightly colored so it will be easily seen by the very people the wardrober is trying to impress. Of course this makes it obvious the party guy or gal did not “buy” the clothing and they intend to return it later…party faux pas! Using the Alpha Shark Tags allows the store owner to make sure they are not in the business of “loaning” their merchandise out. It also means that returned clothing will not be stained from food and drink spills causing the store owner to have to take a loss by marking the returns out of stock.
Wardrobing tags don’t have to be limited to use strictly on slacks, jackets or dresses. The tags can be pinned through a shoe eyelet, around an attached toe strap on a heel or through the hole that is used for a shoe clasp. Being creative, the tags can be attached to belts, purses and other items that might accessorize that prom outfit. The keys to successfully stop return fraud are to ensure the tags are in a prominent location and that a no return policy without the tags is clearly stated and enforced.
Return fraud can significantly hurt the profitability of your store. Know that there are people who do not worry about the harm caused by their wardrobing. Don’t let these people make you their victim during the prom season or any other time of the year. Protect your business and profits by using Alpha Shark Tags.
For more information on Alpha Shark Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Not too long from now it will be Spring and with Spring comes prom time! Young men and women will be out buying new dresses and suits or tuxedos. New shoes will be in order as well, ensuring the entire ensemble is perfect for that big night. I did some price checking and it seems if a young lady wants to purchase a prom dress, she will spend anywhere from $35.00 to over $500.00. Renting a prom dress appears to start around $100.00 and goes up. One web site advertised women’s prom shoes for sale ranging from $20.00 – $179.00. Tuxedo prices varied with pieces starting around $30 for a vest and separate items such as jackets, slacks, and accessories being priced individually. I got the impression I could put together a tuxedo on the low end for about $100.00, accounting for sales and discounts. Now if you are the retailer selling to the prom goers, you can already hear that cash register beeping as your merchandise flies off the shelf. My question for you is, after the proms are over, will you be handing out refunds for the customers who have “changed their minds?” How can you prevent this from happening? One sure method to prevent this type of return fraud, also known as wardrobing, is to start using Alpha Shark Tags on your merchandise.
The Alpha Shark Tags work because they are designed to be attached to clothing and removed only when the buyer is ready to wear the item to their function. Once removed, this device cannot be reattached. The retailer can have their return policy clearly stipulate that merchandise that no longer has the Alpha Shark Tags attached cannot be returned or refunded. What many who are involved in wardrobing like to do is to wear a new outfit after carefully removing tags or hiding them in the clothing. When they have worn the outfit a time or two they return it for a refund. It allows them to be seen out in their expensive new digs and they don’t have to pay a rental fee. The person who is wardrobing gets all the reward with no cost. The Shark Tag is placed by the retailer on the clothing item where it is easily visible and cannot be covered or hidden. It is brightly colored so it will be easily seen by the very people the wardrober is trying to impress. Of course this makes it obvious the party guy or gal did not “buy” the clothing and they intend to return it later…party faux pas! Using the Alpha Shark Tags allows the store owner to make sure they are not in the business of “loaning” their merchandise out. It also means that returned clothing will not be stained from food and drink spills causing the store owner to have to take a loss by marking the returns out of stock.
Wardrobing tags don’t have to be limited to use strictly on slacks, jackets or dresses. The tags can be pinned through a shoe eyelet, around an attached toe strap on a heel or through the hole that is used for a shoe clasp. Being creative, the tags can be attached to belts, purses and other items that might accessorize that prom outfit. The keys to successfully stop return fraud are to ensure the tags are in a prominent location and that a no return policy without the tags is clearly stated and enforced.
Return fraud can significantly hurt the profitability of your store. Know that there are people who do not worry about the harm caused by their wardrobing. Don’t let these people make you their victim during the prom season or any other time of the year. Protect your business and profits by using Alpha Shark Tags.
For more information on Alpha Shark Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
