A while ago, I noticed a post on the forum by a shopper who said that they sometimes return or exchange the item.

I recently did a shop that explicitly states that the item cannot be returned, and if it's discovered that it has been, the shopper will either not be paid and/or penalized. I couldn't find anything to purchase that I really wanted, but I was able to find something I could at least utilize.

I now have two other purchase only shops under my belt, and I really don't want either of item. Neither of these shops specifically stated that the item could not be exchanged or returned, but I'm assuming that it still should not be. However, in neither instance do I think it would hurt the integrity of the completed shop. To be on the safe(r) side, I've been considering doing an exchange for store credit, since I don't think it could then be tracked. I'd rather get store credit and put it toward something I really want at a later date, but if need be, one item will be used as a gift and the other, I will reluctantly use.

Any input on this from anyone would be appreciated.

I do a lot of purchase onlys, because I don't like purchase/returns. I do a purchase/return very seldom and only if it requires a low $ commitment AND a high fee. That said, I usually can find something I either want/can use or can give as a gift when I do purchase shops so I have (so far) not returned anything I got on a purchase only shop. BUT that doesn't mean I wouldn't. I think once I purchase the item on a shop it is mine to do with as I please: keep, use, gift it, throw it in the trash, OR return it. If the shop's guidelines tell me that the rules of the shop are that I may not return the item, then I would never consider returning it. If the guidelines do not specifically say that I must keep the item or that I may not return it, I think it becomes mine after purchase and I would not feel uncomfortable returning it if that's what I wanted to do.

Yes, quite right. I didn't even consider it with the first thing. The reason I'm thinking that an exchange for credit would be okay is because I don't think the actual item can be tracked. And let's just say I DID give something as a gift; at that point I'd have no control over whether or not THEY brought it in for exchange or credit.

The actual fee for both these shops was not high at all; it was the purchase reimbursement that made it appealing. But if you wind up being obligated to buy something you don't want, what's the point? In both of these cases, very slim pickings for the amount of the reimbursement.

I have only been involved when items can be returned, usually within a month with receipt. There are some stores that will exchange only, and no, I won't touch them, with the exception of buying a gift for my daughter, who probably does return or exchange. That is defeating yourself, your losing money if you can't return and don't want the item. Do you think they check it out, I'm not sure, but, if the instructions do NOT say no return...your free to return.

Do you not feel there's anything potentially unethical about that? The only reason they're giving you a reimbursement is to evaluate the purchase process. On the other hand, an exchange seems okay, because you're still being "paid" in merchandise. I wish I didn't feel this way, but I kind of do. (Feel free to convince me otherwise!) And of course, I don't want to risk having the shop invalidated.

I would not think twice about it if it is not stated as "non-allowed." You bought it, you own it, it was your money.

If it was stated as non-allowed, though, then I would not do it. But then, I don't do that many P/R shops and I have specific requirements, for my own reasons, that the ones I do take must fit.

This seems to want to get real shoppers that buy and do not return (using us for there profit)...seems not kosher if you buy it, you should be able to return it...I personally would not work for them.

If I take shops whose guidelines prohibit returning the required purchase, of course, I won't. I took the shops for the fee, if there was nothing I wanted to purchase. One thing I do with a non-wanted purchase is donate it to Goodwill, ASPCA, Salvation Army, etc. They can use everything, and I get value at tax time for the donation.

If the guidelines make no mention of returning the required purchase? I would not hesitate to return it for a refund. No qualms about it.

You are reimbursed for a purchase so you can evaluate the purchase process. Once you have evaluated the purchase process, the reimbursed item is yours, just as the fee is yours. You can spend the fee paid you in any way you want. And I think you can treat the reimbursed item any way you want, unless you have been told you may not return it. In that case, the shopper may do whatever she pleases with the reimbursed item EXCEPT return or exchange it.

I find that very few of my shops require that I keep the product purchased, but in most cases I won't take a shop where the reimbursement is not for something useful to me. Rarely do I find myself in an ethical dilemma because most of the items I can find some use for or I wouldn't take the shop in the first place.

If client A is shopping their own store and reimbursing me, I will not return the item.

If client A is shopping store B and reimbursing me, I could probably return the item unless specifically forbidden, but I won't unless it is an item that is defective or I want to exchange it for something else.

But this thread is about purchase and returns and I just don't do those anymore because it has been years since I saw one that was economically fair to the shopper.

Actually, the thread is about required purchase, not P/R.

Guess I'm a little more tired than I thought . . . must be nap time

I now remember doing Foot Locker and had to make a small purchase (any amount) with no return. I looked and there was nothing to buy under 5.99..in this case the fee for the shop was 12.00. I asked for shoelaces, which were behind the counter, and did purchase them for 2.50 with no return. I thought that wasn't fair, since the purchase was not reimbursed....but, I did the right thing, be sure and read the instructions.

I hate these... I once did a clothing shop and bought a pair of sale pants, the only thing that was around the price of the low reimbursement... I lost a couple more pounds that week and they hung on me. So I returned 'em for store credit, and got a nastygram from the MSCompany about it. I couldn't believe it, there was nothing in the guidelines regarding returns.

Needless to say, I won't ever be doing THAT shop again!

I have two purchases sitting here right now. I wound up keeping the first thing, which was the shop that explicitly warned against returns/exchanges. I rechecked the guidelines/instructions for shop #2, which was the same MSC as the first. There is definitely nothing indicated, so I think I'm going to return it. Stands to reason (well, at least MY reason) that since it's the same MSC that warned about the other store, they would have done the same with shop #2 if it was forbidden.

Shop #3, different MSC, and I'm definitely going to be returning the item. AFTER I'm paid for the shop.

nicelytwicely Wrote:
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> I have two purchases sitting here right now. I
> wound up keeping the first thing, which was the
> shop that explicitly warned against
> returns/exchanges. I rechecked the
> guidelines/instructions for shop #2, which was the
> same MSC as the first. There is definitely nothing
> indicated, so I think I'm going to return it.
> Stands to reason (well, at least MY reason) that
> since it's the same MSC that warned about the
> other store, they would have done the same with
> shop #2 if it was forbidden.
>
> Shop #3, different MSC, and I'm definitely going
> to be returning the item. AFTER I'm paid for the
> shop.


I agree. Although I have never (not so far) returned a required purchase I made, I would certainly return one if I didn't want it as long as the MSC did not say in the directions that I could not. I abide by all their requirements in the guidelines; in the absence of specific requirements to do a certain thing with an item, I would believe once I purchased the item and completed the report that the item belongs to me to do with as I please: sell, return, give as a gift, give to charity, throw in the trash......

To be honest, I feel it is unethical of the client not to offer a fee in the first place.
If they want the information they should be prepared to pay for it, end of story.

One shop I did recently said in big letters "ARE YOU AWARE THAT IF YOU RETURN SOMETHING FOR WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED IT IS FRAUD?". LOL I was not aware of that. I had asked another company about returns and was told it was perfectly OK. After all, how many things do you need that require batteries that aren't included from the bed and bath place in one month? I did three of those stores and had to buy stuff I would never use (a giant remote control, a sweater shaver and a battery operated wall clock) lol. At each subsequent location, I returned the item I purchased at the previous location and then reported on the customer service desk. It worked out just fine all the way around. But I'll never do another one that says I have to keep the item I purchase unless it is at a place I know I can find something I'll use. It's not fair to me as the shopper to dictate what I can do with my payment.

It is interesting to me the variety of responses the different MSPs have to the issue. I have never seen that kind of statement on any shop. I have seen, "You must keep the item" or "You may not return the item". Ok, that is part of my contract. I don't like doing returns anyway. And if it is a store where the reimbursement is of no use to me, I don't consider it in the value of the shop anyway. So lets say that there is a shop at a place where I cannot imagine that they have anything useful for the $5 reimbursement and they are offering a fee of $10. That is a $10 shop to me, not a $15 shop, and I won't bother. Offer me $15 and reimburse $5 for something useless and it is a $15 job I might be willing to perform.

NorthWestShopper Wrote:
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> To be honest, I feel it is unethical of the client
> not to offer a fee in the first place.
> If they want the information they should be
> prepared to pay for it, end of story.


NorthwestShopper, I didn't mean that the purchase is necessarily in lieu of payment, just shops where a purchase is required, but not a return.

iblessyah@yahoo.com Wrote:
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> One shop I did recently said in big letters "ARE
> YOU AWARE THAT IF YOU RETURN SOMETHING FOR WHICH
> YOU HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED IT IS FRAUD?". LOL I
> was not aware of that. I had asked another
> company about returns and was told it was
> perfectly OK.


I would be interested in knowing what company that is. I have not seen that statement. The attorney I work with tells me that it is NOT fraud to return an item you purchased while on a job as an independent contractor, for which you were reimbursed, UNLESS you were told by the MSC in the shop requirements that you could not return the item. If you were told in the shop requirements you could not return the item, and you later did, that is fraudulent. But it is NOT fraud to return an item for which you were reimbursed after completing all requirements of the shop if the MSC has not set the requirement that you cannot return the item. If the above statement by the MSC is accompanied by the requirement that you cannot return the item as part of the shop requirements, then I would say their fraud statement is a little harsh and bully-ing, but correct. If they are making the fraud statement without a shop requirement that you cannot return the item, they are using incorrect legal terminology. Although I have never returned merchandise for which I was reimbursed on a shop, doing so is NOT fraud unless the conditions of the shop require you to not return.

I have a question that is slightly different, but close enough that I don't think it warrants its own topic.

I'm doing a shop in a couple of weeks at a very high-end ladies clothing store. Rather than being reimbursed, I am being sent a gift card to use. (it's on the up and up....I've researched it) After reading this thread, I wondered if I could return the item afterward and get the cash back as payment instead of keeping what will most likely be a wardrobe piece I'll not get much use from.

I have checked the shop instructions but no where does it mention having to keep the merchandise at all. Is it safe to assume that I CAN return it without getting my knuckled rapped?

If you purchase with a gift card, you might only be allowed credit on a gift card for your return.

Nothing to do with the MSC, but I've never heard of a merchant exchanging a gift card for cash. In my experience, once it's a gift card or credit, it remains as such.

Not applicable in this situation, but the only exception to this I've seen is when it's something like a drugstore or supermarket, and the remaining balance is around $2.00 or less. In those instances, I've gotten cash change.

JudeFM Wrote:
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> I have a question that is slightly different, but
> close enough that I don't think it warrants its
> own topic.
>
> I'm doing a shop in a couple of weeks at a very
> high-end ladies clothing store. Rather than being
> reimbursed, I am being sent a gift card to use.
> (it's on the up and up....I've researched it)
> After reading this thread, I wondered if I could
> return the item afterward and get the cash back as
> payment instead of keeping what will most likely
> be a wardrobe piece I'll not get much use from. > I have checked the shop instructions but no where
> does it mention having to keep the merchandise at
> all. Is it safe to assume that I CAN return it
> without getting my knuckled rapped?


>
Legally, if the MSC does not tell you that you may not return the merchandise you purchased with the gift card they provided to you to use during your shop, it is not wrong or fraudulent in any way for you to return the merchandise, just as you may decide to spend the fee paid you in any way. That does not mean that the MSC will not take offense to your return if they discover it, even if they have not told you that you can't do it. And the return would be subject to the return policy of the store, which may allow you to receive cash and may not.

Thanks for the responses. I didn't think about the gift card aspect...I don't normally use them for myself. I'll double check their return policy when I'm there.

JudeFM Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have a question that is slightly different, but
> close enough that I don't think it warrants its
> own topic.
>
> I'm doing a shop in a couple of weeks at a very
> high-end ladies clothing store. Rather than being
> reimbursed, I am being sent a gift card to use.
> (it's on the up and up....I've researched it)
> After reading this thread, I wondered if I could
> return the item afterward and get the cash back as
> payment instead of keeping what will most likely
> be a wardrobe piece I'll not get much use from.
>
> I have checked the shop instructions but no where
> does it mention having to keep the merchandise at
> all. Is it safe to assume that I CAN return it
> without getting my knuckled rapped?


I personally would assume the item is mine and choose well. It is the reason for the upfront card payment, IMHO. I would ask the MSC if it is allowed. I am almost positive they will tell you it is not allowed. If the company wanted to pay you that $ to shop their store, they would pay you.