Hi, first question of a lot now that I'm really getting into the mystery shopping: what are the thoughts/rules/etc about returning an item you are being reimbursed for? Example: I shopped a shoe place the other day that offered a really decent reimbursement but when I got there I didn't find anything I actually wanted. I had to make a purchase for the shop so I bought something I don't really care to keep. Can I return it? Then when the company reimburses me it will be like I just made $xx for that shop? Same thing happened today, I'd rather return the item and make it a $20 shop instead of an $8 shop and a tank top I don't really like.

TIA! I tried searching but didn't find anything; I apologize if this has been covered.

Check your guidelines first. It may be the case that you are required to keep it, in which case, you must.

If your guidelines say nothing, I would "give it away" to someone, like your mom or a friend to avoid ethical problems. The person to whom you "give it away" could return it for store credit, which leaves you free to shop for anything outside of the guidelines, or if the store gives you cash back and not store credit, then you get your greater profit.

However, 9/10 times, the guidelines do say something about it and it will not work. So, CHECK YOUR GUIDELINES.

Ask the MSC. They should give you an easy 'yes' or 'no,' if it's not clear in your guidelines.

Definitely check your guidelines or ask the MSC. I can't recall any time that it was okay to return a reimbursed item. It is highly unlikely that the client will reimburse you as part of the shop, then pay you again when you return the item. And the subterfuge of having someone else return it for you sounds like trouble and a good way to get yourself deactivated. If the client doesn't sell products that you want for yourself or to give as a gift, don't take the shop.Maybe you could donate the items or give to someone in need.

Best advice above: Read the guidelines. Ask questions.

I had a shop that stated "if you choose to keep the item" verbage. All shops are different.

Some shops specify you must purchase and return.

I do a grocery shop that reimburses $2. I cannot use the rewards program as part of the shop is to see if the cashier mentions it. But the store allows customers to post receipts to their online rewards. I have usually purchased just around $2.00. In my thinking it would be authentic to go with a full cart, then post the receipt to my rewards after the fact. However I have not been able to get an answer from the MSC whether or not this is acceptable. Until I do,I will continue the shop like I have before.

I've never done it, but I've considered it before. Most do say not to however and I'd be paranoid that I'd get into trouble if I did!

Did you have to "purchase" a pair of shoes or anything? A pair of socks or shoe strings may have been more to serve your purpose. Homeless people wears socks sometimes. If you can't return it, make the purchase a secret santa gift

Sometimes those outdoor Sporting Good Shops require you to purchase but you can return on your own.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2016 02:30PM by sojo917.

Do ask the MSC before you consider making a return if it is not in the guidelines that you may return the item. When you return an item you no longer have a purchase expense so have nothing for which you need to be "reimbursed". Earlier this summer Reality Based Group (RBG) made it abundantly clear that they consider such an unauthorized return to be unethical and in a previous thread here on the topic a scheduler for another MSC indicated the same. Both mentioned that it was disruptive to the relationship between the MSC and the client because the client could see the returns and was unhappy with that additional cost of the shops.

Thanks so much to everyone! I worried there might be an ethical conflict but I couldn't see it; being pretty new to mystery shopping there are lots of considerations mentioned above that I just would not have thought of. Just to clarify- in both cases they were shops that I do like quite a lot and was excited to shop at. There were just weird aspects to the shops that aren't really worth explaining. Again, thanks for all your input!

Stocking stuffers and donations are the way to go when you are stuck that there is nothing you personally can use.

In most cities and towns there are shelters for abused women and their children. Since these folks generally escape when they are out running errands, they arrive at shelters without much beyond the clothing on their backs. Socks, slippers, underwear, toiletries and school supplies are always welcomed when I take in a big shopping bag of them. These items often fit into the small purchase reimbursement to get a mandatory receipt while at other times they may be just clearance finds (like school supplies are now).

That's a really lovely idea for those little small purchase reimbursements. Thank you for the suggestion!

I take reimbursement only if it's something I want. I don't return unless it's a P/R, never a reimbursement.
Find out for sure, getting paid twice doesn't seem something the client would want.

I always have a long list of gifts for occasions that are coming up -- birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, etc. I never return things unless the shop is purchase and return. I know a fellow shopper who buys items within the purchase limitations -- then sells the item on e-bay. When I do shops that hold no hope of gift items, I ask my neighbors. I always explain that the company reimburses me, so the item is free to them. Since we are all elderly widows existing on social security, the little items are appreciated!

I love the donation idea. However, in our rural area, there aren't any places to donate.

Again, check the guidelines. Most of mine clearly state that I am NOT to return the item.

You sound like you'll be a great shopper!

Thank you! I was starting to worry a little

@ceasesmith wrote:

...........................................However, in our rural area, there aren't any places to donate.
You sound like you'll be a great shopper!

If there is a church/ or schoolhouse in you area, there is a place to donate

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I take reimbursement only if it's something I want. I don't return unless it's a P/R, never a reimbursement.
Find out for sure, getting paid twice doesn't seem something the client would want.

I rarely take a P/R since it's twice the gas (and maybe parking fees) and it feels like two shops and reports for one shop fee.

I have been known to eBay things that cannot be returned.

I also donate to two friends who give to a local food pantry and homeless shelter. One of them is also a teacher of low income students. I use my haz mat and dim weight mailing shops to mail them the goodies. Another friend lives too close to use those scenarios, so I use my regular zone 1-4 mailing shops to mail her school supplies and treasures for her prize box. I literally got about 50 pounds of stuff to mail her last week when Target hit 90% off Back to School stuff (not a shop, but what a bargain!).

@SoCalMama wrote:

I literally got about 50 pounds of stuff to mail her last week when Target hit 90% off Back to School stuff (not a shop, but what a bargain!).

Precisely. And KMart, Walgreens and CVS are clearing out both school supplies and summer items.

@bestofbothworlds wrote:

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I take reimbursement only if it's something I want. I don't return unless it's a P/R, never a reimbursement.
Find out for sure, getting paid twice doesn't seem something the client would want.

I rarely take a P/R since it's twice the gas (and maybe parking fees) and it feels like two shops and reports for one shop fee.

I do many Ross shops P/R where you can return immediately with no problem, go to the car and return. They have a return line and never ask why....other than those, I don't do them. Your right, if you have to wait a day, definitely doesn't pay.

I didn't see an ethical problem with it, either (the client is reselling what you've returned), but I have noticed that a few MSCs that didn't previously include it in their instructions now explicitly say not to return the item. I try to buy something that can be given away, and have a "gift cupboard" above my frig where those purchases go. Often saves me a trip when a gift is needed.

I ended up having a box full of items I either got from work as freebies, got as gifts I really did not need or got from shops or my mom's extra items. Some were new and some were nice but used. I put the box out the next time I had a party. Many of my friends live on limited incomes and don't work for companies where they get insulated coffee mugs, pens, pads of paper with logos and so on and they were thrilled. Now every year when I have my party they ask if I will have a give away box. I have even had others contribute to the box. And several of them have mentioned over and over how they really liked what they got out of my box.
If you don't already have a party perhaps you can plan a potluck or something and have give away exchanges with your friends and neighbors.

By definition, a reimbursement reimburses you for the cost of something that you bought, because you were required to buy it. A reimbursed expense is not taxable income. If you return the item and get cash for it, then it did not cost you anything, yet in the scenario the OP is inquiring about, you are claiming an expense that you do not have. The timing of the return is not relevant. Also, you are creating an accounting nightmare. Actually, not a nightmare, since there is IMHO no ambiguity. The money you would receive as a reimbursement for a purchase that is returned becomes taxable income. The MSC should then include it on a 1099 form, not exclude if because it is a reimbursement.

So - I think delving into the tax ramifications settles the issue. Unless you are willing to tell the MSC that you returned the item for cash and took a reimbursement and converted it into taxable income, you can't return an item for which you are reimbursed.

Ah, you say, I don't make enough to get a 1099. Doesn't matter, The MSC aggregates all reimbursements and reports them on their income tax. They do the same for payments. And since you are required to report all income even if you don't get a 1099, you have to pay income tax on the money which the MSC sent you as a reimbursement but which you converted into income.

A reimbursement is actually worth more than face value since you don't pay income tax or FICA on it. So, maybe a $1,00 is worth $1.50 depending upon your tax rate. If you convert it into income, it is worth about $0.50 (again, it depends upon your tax rate). So, to gain $0.50, you have given away $1.00, not mention that I think it is against the rules of virtually every MSC I do shops for.

they may still be able to figure out it was the reimbursed item returned for store credit. If you are the only one that bought size 8 keds in the last couple weeks, it could be flagged if someone returns size 8 keds for store credit without a receipt.

Unless specifically stated that you can return an item. You should NOT return it. this has been debated on here before. Say for example the shoes cost $30, you were reimbursed $30, return them and get another $30 cash. You have now been paid $60.

A store credit may be acceptable even if you return them yourself, and maybe next season you will find something you like. (but check with the MSC on this) I almost got stuck, but I checked the store website before I accepted the assignment and realizes the location did not carry any shoes that would be useful to me. Most shoes were about 2x the max reimbursement, but there were some options below it...if all else fails you could buy one of those just so you don't get a flake for skipping the shop.

You generally are allowed to exchange as long as the exchange is at least as much as you were reimbursed.

for the one shoe store, there was a style in another location that I might have liked..if that is the case, you may be able to exchange at the other location.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2016 05:34PM by jmitw.

@SoCalMama wrote:

I have been known to eBay things that cannot be returned.

I also donate to two friends who give to a local food pantry and homeless shelter. One of them is also a teacher of low income students. I use my haz mat and dim weight mailing shops to mail them the goodies. Another friend lives too close to use those scenarios, so I use my regular zone 1-4 mailing shops to mail her school supplies and treasures for her prize box. I literally got about 50 pounds of stuff to mail her last week when Target hit 90% off Back to School stuff (not a shop, but what a bargain!).

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I'm a big fan of eBay and the local Yardsale website we have here. Sometimes it requires a purchase of X item. I can usually swing something I'm into for reimbursements like at a clothing store I'll snag up socks, panties, etc. but if it requires I buy X brand of something or X item and it will go to waste, I just resell it or regift it ! I signed up for a shop the required a dog food purchase... I don't even have a dog But shelters love the free drop offs.