Shop asking for your details when returning an item

mcduff16

Hello

I`m just curious if anyone knows why shops ask for your name and address when you return an item. Does anyone know what they do with this information? Thanks!

fuzzybear01

I've been told that it is to prevent fraud being committed by members of staff processing false refunds

fuzzybear01

I know of Peacocks and Catalogue Bargain Shop that do it

LittleVoice

And the Co-Op asks for name and address when giving even small cash refunds - where there was an overcharge at the till for instance.

geordie_joe

mcduff16 wrote: »

Hello

I`m just curious if anyone knows why shops ask for your name and address when you return an item. Does anyone know what they do with this information? Thanks!

Not sure, but this things come to mind.

As a deterrent to prevent you stealing items from them then returning them for a refund. Shops that give a no quibble refund suffer from this a lot. It's the best way to make money from shoplifting as you get the full price from the shop. (I saw it on a TV program, honest!)

Although I wouldn't be surprised if they used the info for other things, just as supermarkets do.

torizia

I was told it's to check up on shop staff refunding their own goods or processing fake refunds...x

LittleVoice

geordie_joe wrote: »

Not sure, but this things come to mind.

As a deterrent to prevent you stealing items from them then returning them for a refund. Shops that give a no quibble refund suffer from this a lot. It's the best way to make money from shoplifting as you get the full price from the shop. (I saw it on a TV program, honest!)

Although I wouldn't be surprised if they used the info for other things, just as supermarkets do.

That would only work where a dishonest shoplifter gave an honest response when providing name and address details.

ShelfStacker_3

geordie_joe wrote: »

Although I wouldn't be surprised if they used the info for other things, just as supermarkets do.

They wouldn't be allowed to under the Data Protection Act.

geordie_joe

LittleVoice wrote: »

That would only work where a dishonest shoplifter gave an honest response when providing name and address details.

It deters/prevents some people from starting shoplifting in the first place. Many people don't think twice about shoplifting, but most if not all are sh!tting themselves the first time they do it.

A few years ago I was in a supermarket and a young couple in front of me were paying for the groceries buy card. I could see the young many (in his early 20's I guess) was agitated, he was looking everywhere at once. When he handed the card over the checkout girl looked at it and said "You'll have to wait a moment" And the young couple ran from the shop, leaving the shopping and the card.

The poor checkout girl was shocked, and said "I was only going to ask a colleague if I could offer cash back on this card".

The manager was called, then the police and I had to give a description of the couple. It was to vague to be of any use.

The policeman told me that many people are "forced" into crime for many reason, drugs, lack of money etc. Many of them are nervous and afraid the first few times, and the slightest thing not going to plan will spook them. They were not prepared for being asked to wait and clearly lost their bottle.

While I agree it would not stop a hardened shoplifter, but just because it wouldn't stop all shop lifters doesn't mean they don't use it.

geordie_joe

ShelfStacker wrote: »

They wouldn't be allowed to under the Data Protection Act.

Why not, Somefield use thee data they gather from my shopping to chuck out money off vouchers from the till for things I never buy!

What is wrong / against the data protection act with using the fact that Miss Smith returned a size 16 skirt as it was too small, to get the till to chuck out a voucher for 10% off skirts size 18 and over next time she uses her card to at the till?

What is wrong with using the names to determine if customers are male or female. Then working out that most of the female customers return things because they are too small. And deducing that some/most/all of your female customers are bigger than they like to think they are. Therefore you need to stock more larger sizes, or provide more fitting rooms, or display size charts.

You can use the data you gather about people in a billion ways that don't even come close to breaking the Data Protection Act.

You can ask every customer for their address, but if you only use that data to work out the percentage of customers who come from the richer end of town, you are not breaking the Data Protection Act.

kompess

I bought something from Maplins and they asked my postcode and house number. Why???