Sharing the Bath and Body Works return/exchange policy news yesterday brought the result I expected. I am going to expand on it a bit, and offer up my thoughts.
This is what I was told, and shared June 27th.
Bath and Body Works is going to make changes to their Exchange and Return Policy coming This September.
- Begins sometime in September
- You can only even exchange or return a GENTLY USED or New product.
- If it's more than half way used, they can NO LONGER exchange or return the product at all.
- For exchanges it has to be price point for price point. For example: you can't exchange a $24.50 candle for a $26.50 candle...etc.
- For all non receipt returns and exchanges - they will require a Gov. Issued photo ID or drivers license and they will enter all the info into the computer so they can track returns and exchanges better.
- This policy has been testing in 300 select stores for the last few months.
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Thoughts for today: I will update and add new posts as I hear more details to keep you informed.
- I heard that we will find out more in August before the new policy takes effect in September.
- I was also told the fine details of the policy are still being put together.
- It could be word got out to sort of break the news, and prepare shoppers of what it to come. I don't know, but in any case, it is always good to know things.
- KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS.
This policy change really isn't a big deal to me because I am not an habitual returner. I keep all of my receipts (I think it is the organized accounting practices that trained me) because I want to be sure the amount is correct for me, and any business I need to return something to.
- The company used the word Gently, referring to the amount of product missing from a returned item. Does that mean low enough from opening the body lotion and its natural drop in level before we try it???...or does it mean a few sniffs of an item? I am making light of it, I know. What they should say is don't use it all if you want to return it.
I get it...you buy a lotion, try it on and your arms break out. RETURN it. Not half way through the bottle and new season of fragrances drop and you want to try them by returning that half used lotion that is now dust covered on a shelf. I have seen it with my own eyes, bags of returns for new. And I have read social media where people talk about returning their old to grab new. Especially for the upcoming Halloween and Fall items.
- The fine points of dollar values when making an exchange are yet to be finalized. Will it be the lowest price something sold for if you don't have a receipt? I would think yes.
- There is much confusion over returns from sale pricing, to new items. For example, a candle. You load up on SAS candles (and/or body care) with the intention of returning for the new Fall candles. You only paid a few dollars for the SAS candles. Before, when it was like item for like item, they exchanged the candle and edited the pricing on the receipt to reflect the price you paid. For now, the thought is whatever the candle/body care is priced at on the label is the dollar amount of what you can exchange it for.
- You have a candle you paid $5.00 on SAS that is label priced $24.50, you can take that candle back and exchange it for another candle with that same $24.50 value. There has been no talk of what to do if you want a $26.50 candle and paying the difference. These finer points are still being determined.
My Thoughts? You return anything --- get your money paid back ---then go re-buy what you want at the going price. Done. Companies clearance things out to get rid of them...not to get them back again later when they set new products.
No exchanges, except for specific reasons. Your missing a wick in the candle, maybe your fine fragrance mist won't spray. Something unseen that you can get what you bought originally fixed. Enough of the - the throw isn't good, it's tunneling, it turned gray at the last few burns...etc.
Returns should be done in a specific time period. Like many other stores do.
And hopefully, with the new return/exchange policy ALL STORES are on the exact same page in handling them.
Shoppers took a generous policy of Love it or Bring it Back and contorted it for their own gain...then complain when the prices go up....and defend their exchanges because the prices went up.