With 25% of young people returning items which are then resold as ‘new’, you could be unwittingly buying your goods second-hand.
Everything from clothing to electric shavers are being returned, with moral and often hygienic baggage attached.
A study of young people aged 18-29, revealed that 25% of them had, at least once, bought an item, used it, and returned it for a full refund. The items in question were then resold as being new.
The percentage dropped to 16% of people when the age limit was extended to 70.
It’s not so much the stores who risk losing out here, however, but customers, who risk buying goods which have been used, or even contaminated.
Hair in the shaver
Clothes, shoes and electronics top the list of most-frequently returned items.
One common ruse, is for customers to buy an item of clothing, wear it to an event, and then return it for a full refund. Employees are often obliged to issue a refund upon production of the receipt and tag, despite the obvious smell of smoke or perfume on the clothing.
Kitchen utensils are often returned, as well, carrying with them the risk of contamination.
Products for personal use need to be disassembled to reveal whether they have has been used, making it difficult for consumers to tell the difference.
If the store doesn’t realize that the shaver has been used, the next customer can expect a very nasty surprise when they eventually realise that the shaver has another person’s hair in it.