Returns are on My List

And in a bad way.

Now that I'm working retail again, I have to deal with returns quite frequently. That's not a problem, as long as you have your receipt, or at least the tags on the garment or item purchased. I understand what a hassle returns are (or can be) for the customer as well as for myself, so I try to be extra patient and polite. But sometimes, I just get frustrated.

Take for instance a customer (this customer may be real or imagined) who brings in a shirt and jeans. The shirt is coming apart and so were the jeans. Understandable problems and a good reason to return clothing. However, the garments were a few months old (by the date on the receipt) and had been worn numerous times and smelled like cigarette smoke. We were unable to process the shirt for the customer, but did manage to give a cash refund for the jeans. And now we have to try to re-sell smoky, worn-out jeans at a price upwards of $25. The garments were not even purchased in this town, but a town several hours from here.

Take for instance another customer, also perhaps real or imagined, who brought in a pile of baby clothes that were not only worn several (hundreds of) times, but also worn out, stained, and smelling of cigarette smoke. Obviously not brand-new and just the wrong size. The manager stepped up in that instance and took care of the problem, saying that we could not offer a refund or an exchange, but she had to say it was because we didn't carry those brands of clothing.

I later asked if there was no policy against severely worn clothing and returns / exchanges. There clearly is not, because the customer is #1, and that's what my manager told me.

I know it sounds like I'm being a big meanie. I'm really not trying to be. I understand that you have to return things. I return things. But only if they truly didn't work out. And I don't wear it and wash it and smoke on it and spill things on it for a month or two before I decide if it didn't work or not.

There is one problem, though, that I don't know how to solve. If a garment is really new, say less than a month old, and truly begins to break down in a way that it shouldn't, what is the customer to do? They paid good money for a piece of clothing that ought to last a good while, and it starts falling apart. Should that be a problem for the store to handle or for the manufacturer? Should they contact Tommy Hilfiger or Levi's or Sag Harbor or whatever? Do you see what I'm saying? So, there are problems at every turn.

What do you think?

Fantasy Football is on My List!!!!

But in a good way.

Actually, Super Mario should be writing this. I think he forgot that he is a blog member here. Someone ought to remind him. :o)

Super Mario LOVES Fantasy sports. He does football and baseball each year. Last night, I called him from work, and he said he had won something through Fantasy Football. He can't remember exactly what he signed up for or how he had won it, but it had to do with a local radio station. The radio station notified him and let him know that he had won FOUR FREE ROUNDS OF GOLF!!!!

Super Mario is also on my list for many reasons, but for one because he is constantly winning things. I don't know how it happens, but it does. Little door prizes at school. $100 for computer surveys. Once, in Iowa, he won tickets to see Mamma Mia! through a local radio station. When he was a teenager, he even won a trip to Nashville! I can hardly wait to see what he wins next.