Wardrobing On The Rise In Tough Economic Times

The Problem

Good Morning America ran a piece this morning about the age-old trick known as “wardrobing” becoming more popular ever since the economy has slowed down. Wardrobing is a trick where a consumer buys a piece of clothing with the intention of only wearing it once, then he or she returns it at the full price. Someone might do this if he or she needs a formal dress or suit to wear once. It’s like renting a piece of clothing for free. Many large retailers have a liberal return policy, because it shows good customer service. We all know how frustrating it is when we try to honestly return an item and the retailer gives you a hard time about it. The problem is that the retailer is getting back a used piece of clothing, and you’re getting all of your money back. Even if you return it in good condition, you may have missed a hidden stain or left a certain body odor that cannot be removed. The retailer is then forced to either sell the item at a heavily discounted price or destroy it, and they lose money.

The Solution

Wardrobing will become a major issue if it continues and becomes more popular. It will only hurt the consumer in the end, because retailers will increase their prices and start rolling out stricter return policies. Once again, a few people will ruin it for the majority of honest, moral people. If you are going through tough economic times, and you don’t have enough money to buy a new dress or suit for a special occasion, here is a solution for you. Think of ten to fifteen friends and invite them to become a part of a clothes swapping group. Create a facebook group or an email list to keep track of all the members, their sizes, and what clothes they are willing to swap. You may have a hard time finding someone who wears the same size as you, so make sure you choose people of all shapes and sizes.

I’ll admit that I’ve engaged in a similar practice of wardrobing, but it was with a floppy drive. My computer did not have a floppy drive, and I needed to boot a fresh copy of Windows installation with floppy disks. I did not want to pay the $40 for an external floppy drive, so I bought one, used it once, and returned it. I kept all of the packaging in perfect condition, and I am fairly confident they were able to resell it, but I am guilty as charged. I’m not proud of it, especially after thinking about how that type of practice affects the retailer. So, if you are guilty of wardrobing, consider starting a clothes swapping group to help quell your urge to be a “wardrober”.

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