"Wardrobing" - wearing then retuning - anyone found an answer?

Moogles44

Have any other sellers found an answer to this , what I have found is a real increasing over the last year, of people wearing items that I've sold them and then returning them as unworn ( usually with armpit stains or other stains and smelling very used ).

I'm trying to find tags or clips that also can be attached to the clothes that I see that can't be hidden up a sleeve or detached and then replaced to return after buyer has worn item out.

I see America has these shark tags about 30p each which I would even get but you can't get them here . Has any one seen anything like that here or found an answer . Even over the last few months I've noticed this wardrobing increasing and the cost in postage lost is really adding up and it's just so wrong!

ilikewatch

Assuming that you are talking about selling on eBay, I'm not sure how security tags would help. Dishonest buyers would simply remove the tag, wear the item, then raise a case stating that the item was damaged or not as described.

soolin

Moogles44 wrote: »

Have any other sellers found an answer to this , what I have found is a real increasing over the last year, of people wearing items that I've sold them and then returning them as unworn ( usually with armpit stains or other stains and smelling very used ).

I'm trying to find tags or clips that also can be attached to the clothes that I see that can't be hidden up a sleeve or detached and then replaced to return after buyer has worn item out.

I see America has these shark tags about 30p each which I would even get but you can't get them here . Has any one seen anything like that here or found an answer . Even over the last few months I've noticed this wardrobing increasing and the cost in postage lost is really adding up and it's just so wrong!

I follow various thrifting sites mainly aimed at US sellers and as you say they routinely tag their items as this wardrobing is quite common over there. It might be worth joining a few of the groups on Facebook , use the terms thrift or reselling to find them as there will be UK sellers who can offer suggestions. I know some have the Kimble machines that they use to attach a tag someone obvious, on the front of a sleeve or pocket of a dress where it can't be tucked in . Then they have labels printed that say something like ' this tag doesn't affect trying on an item but please don't remove until you are happy with garment as items cannot be returned if you change your mind once the label has been removed'.

I suspect there is still no guarantee this will work on eBay, it might push people to do an INR, but it might stop the causal wardrober.

Slightly off topic I accidentally joined a group that was mainly for US sellers who sold cruise wear (apparently a big thing in the US). The stories there were appalling, a lot of sellers leaving the market purely because it was apparently not uncommon for buyers to buy a dozen different items, take them all in a cruise and then send them back as SNAD. In the US apparently they don't have to offer change of mind returns so they end up paying huge amounts for return postage as the cost of these outfits is astronomical and the insurance needed cost lots of money.

Moogles44

soolin wrote: »

I follow various thrifting sites mainly aimed at US sellers and as you say they routinely tag their items as this wardrobing is quite common over there. It might be worth joining a few of the groups on Facebook , use the terms thrift or reselling to find them as there will be UK sellers who can offer suggestions. I know some have the Kimble machines that they use to attach a tag someone obvious, on the front of a sleeve or pocket of a dress where it can't be tucked in . Then they have labels printed that say something like ' this tag doesn't affect trying on an item but please don't remove until you are happy with garment as items cannot be returned if you change your mind once the label has been removed'.

I suspect there is still no guarantee this will work on eBay, it might push people to do an INR, but it might stop the causal wardrober.

Slightly off topic I accidentally joined a group that was mainly for US sellers who sold cruise wear (apparently a big thing in the US). The stories there were appalling, a lot of sellers leaving the market purely because it was apparently not uncommon for buyers to buy a dozen different items, take them all in a cruise and then send them back as SNAD. In the US apparently they don't have to offer change of mind returns so they end up paying huge amounts for return postage as the cost of these outfits is astronomical and the insurance needed cost lots of money.

Thank you , I'll try that on Facebook. That's so bad about US cruise wear sellers. They should use those shark tags - you have to cut them off.
It really has escalated lately, less sales and more unworn -but actually worn, returns than ever. It's like people have less money so just doing returns fraud. I can't see how people can't see it's fraud. I just hope other sellers are on top of reporting these people so that they get banned. They should really get a police warning.

soolin

Moogles44 wrote: »

Thank you , I'll try that on Facebook. That's so bad about US cruise wear sellers. They should use those shark tags - you have to cut them off.
It really has escalated lately, less sales and more unworn -but actually worn, returns than ever. It's like people have less money so just doing returns fraud. I can't see how people can't see it's fraud. I just hope other sellers are on top of reporting these people so that they get banned. They should really get a police warning.

I agree, I don't think people do see this as fraud.

Only a couple of years back I saw an article in one of those online clothing blogs about clever ways to look good for Christmas for less, and one of their top suggestions was to buy something in December, wear it at Christmas and then return it as too big or too small. They even suggested people avoided certain stores as some stores were sneaky and had labels attached that were visible and couldn't be hidden- which they implied was unfair! Whilst people think this is a legitimate way to 'borrow' clothes the practice will continue.

The cruise wear thing though was fascinating, I didn't even know that market existed. They were taking about dresses and outfits in excess of 1000$ each, so orders of 14 outfits all being returned was a huge risk. There was an informal group (by invitation only so I didn't join) that shared user names on ebay- so once someone returned a lot the user name was shared and they were blocked from all the sellers in the same line. There aren't many sellers left on ebay apparently so this actually worked - and sometimes stories were shared on the main site (anonymously) of someone who defrauded two sellers and then lost her rag entirely when she tried to buy from all the others for a Christmas cruise and found she was blocked by everyone. So less than 2 weeks before her trip she was suddenly faced with no clothes to pack.

Hermia

soolin wrote: »

Slightly off topic I accidentally joined a group that was mainly for US sellers who sold cruise wear (apparently a big thing in the US). The stories there were appalling, a lot of sellers leaving the market purely because it was apparently not uncommon for buyers to buy a dozen different items, take them all in a cruise and then send them back as SNAD. In the US apparently they don't have to offer change of mind returns so they end up paying huge amounts for return postage as the cost of these outfits is astronomical and the insurance needed cost lots of money.

I wonder if this attitude exists because US shops seem to allow returns for any reason. I watch haul vids on YouTube and it is fascinating to see how many Americans just constantly take items back (including items like toiletries). It seems normal for them to buy multiples of an item to try at home, choose one and then take the rest back. In the comments section the Americans are always surprised when the rest of us have sympathy for the shops. I can see how this attitude might spill over into people not thinking it is a big deal to treat an ebay seller like this.

Moogles44

soolin wrote: »

I agree, I don't think people do see this as fraud.

Only a couple of years back I saw an article in one of those online clothing blogs about clever ways to look good for Christmas for less, and one of their top suggestions was to buy something in December, wear it at Christmas and then return it as too big or too small. They even suggested people avoided certain stores as some stores were sneaky and had labels attached that were visible and couldn't be hidden- which they implied was unfair! Whilst people think this is a legitimate way to 'borrow' clothes the practice will continue.

The cruise wear thing though was fascinating, I didn't even know that market existed. They were taking about dresses and outfits in excess of 1000$ each, so orders of 14 outfits all being returned was a huge risk. There was an informal group (by invitation only so I didn't join) that shared user names on ebay- so once someone returned a lot the user name was shared and they were blocked from all the sellers in the same line. There aren't many sellers left on ebay apparently so this actually worked - and sometimes stories were shared on the main site (anonymously) of someone who defrauded two sellers and then lost her rag entirely when she tried to buy from all the others for a Christmas cruise and found she was blocked by everyone. So less than 2 weeks before her trip she was suddenly faced with no clothes to pack.

That's so shocking that a public article actually tells people to do this ! :mad:yes be a criminal for xmas, it's fine! I don't usually sell at Xmas , I close shop due to excessive returns and more not very nice people than usual , but may have to this year as in a court case thing that's costing me over £5000 a month and I'm not turning to dishonesty over being skint so can't understand why others do .

Great idea about sharing eBay names of people who do this. I was going to do that with a seller of similar stuff to me but it never happened in the end . I wonder if you could do that on Facebook or somewhere in the uk or whether it's against privacy of personal information regulation thing?

soolin

Moogles44 wrote: »

That's so shocking that a public article actually tells people to do this ! :mad:yes be a criminal for xmas, it's fine! I don't usually sell at Xmas , I close shop due to excessive returns and more not very nice people than usual , but may have to this year as in a court case thing that's costing me over £5000 a month and I'm not turning to dishonesty over being skint so can't understand why others do .

Great idea about sharing eBay names of people who do this. I was going to do that with a seller of similar stuff to me but it never happened in the end . I wonder if you could do that on Facebook or somewhere in the uk or whether it's against privacy of personal information regulation thing?

I suspect it is potentially dodgy to operate a black list of any description, however, in very limited markets it is very common on facebook to have 'by invitation only' facebook sub groups just for that. It really only works in very limited markets as if the pool of sellers is too big then buyers may never come across an issue, but some markets (named glass or certain other highly collectable areas) it really can work as there may only be a handful of regular sellers.

If you sell in any limited market then looking on ebay for groups, even US ones is a good idea. Just leave them running in the background rather than have them litter up your facebook feed, but dip in now and then to see if there are any issues rumbling about.

Marcon

This won't work for business sellers, but might help private sellers. Measure the garment carefully and when you list it give both the manufacturer's size and the actual measurements. Then bag it up in white plastic bin liner on the outside of which you have written a message of thanks using an indelible pen. Then put sellotape round it in both directions, making it impossible for the buyer to open the package without wrecking the plastic bag. The really dishonest won't be deterred - they will simply go for SNAD - but the less determinedly fraudulent may think twice.

soolin

Marcon wrote: »

This won't work for business sellers, but might help private sellers. Measure the garment carefully and when you list it give both the manufacturer's size and the actual measurements. Then bag it up in white plastic bin liner on the outside of which you have written a message of thanks using an indelible pen. Then put sellotape round it in both directions, making it impossible for the buyer to open the package without wrecking the plastic bag. The really dishonest won't be deterred - they will simply go for SNAD - but the less determinedly fraudulent may think twice.

I can't see how that helps at all though as a plastic bag is not going to stop someone, I assume everyone already sends clothes packed carefully in bags anyway and not just loose in the packaging .

Moogles44

Marcon wrote: »

This won't work for business sellers, but might help private sellers. Measure the garment carefully and when you list it give both the manufacturer's size and the actual measurements. Then bag it up in white plastic bin liner on the outside of which you have written a message of thanks using an indelible pen. Then put sellotape round it in both directions, making it impossible for the buyer to open the package without wrecking the plastic bag. The really dishonest won't be deterred - they will simply go for SNAD - but the less determinedly fraudulent may think twice.

I give all measurements in listings and all flaws . I wrap very well but people still have the right to do an unworn return if I'm a business seller unfortunately. That's fine but not when they've worn it which is very hard to prevent.