Originally Posted by daminion This isn't return fraud. It doesn't mess with their inventory, and it's completely built into their accounting.

Built into their accounting meaning higher prices for. It's a lose-lose scenario. It's immoral. Anyone that says otherwise is justifying or lying.

Originally Posted by elessar123 I don't get how it's return fraud either. Might be slightly immoral, but eh. Change it a bit. Say you buy it from Amazon, and buy one from Walmart. You then want to keep one copy. You return the unopened Amazon one to Walmart (not by choice, you just can't tell the two apart). Or same scenario. You buy it from Amazon, and one from Walmart again. You open the Walmart one, and return the unopened Amazon one to Walmart. What's the difference in the two cases from the perspective of Walmart? Nothing. The former is obviously ok, but somehow the latter fraud?

Intent. If you honestly wanted two copies or mistakenly purchased two, then changed your mind it's not an issue. If you're doing it with the intent to deceive, such as the original post intended, then it is absolutely fraud.

From Walmart's perspective, one is the cost of doing business, the other is taking advantage of the company. There is a reason why return policies are becoming more strict, costs are increasing, and returns are being tracked.

Originally Posted by thelonepig Intent. If you honestly wanted two copies or mistakenly purchased two, then changed your mind it's not an issue. If you're doing it with the intent to deceive, such as the original post intended, then it is absolutely fraud. From Walmart's perspective, one is the cost of doing business, the other is taking advantage of the company. There is a reason why return policies are becoming more strict, costs are increasing, and returns are being tracked.

But they don't really lose anything. You didn't have the original intent to buy it. You're not gaining money from Walmart, just convenience. Sure, they waste time processing the return, but it's not like the clerks wouldn't be there anyways.

Originally Posted by elessar123 But they don't really lose anything. You didn't have the original intent to buy it. You're not gaining money from Walmart, just convenience. Sure, they waste time processing the return, but it's not like the clerks wouldn't be there anyways.

I disagree. I think there is substantially more for the store to lose than nothing. Would you do the same thing to a Mom n' Pop store? You can hide the cost of the return in other places, especially with larger chains, but it's still there.

As far as I'm concerned, if you purchase an item with the intent to return it (or a similar item purchased from another retailer) later, it's dishonest and a form of return fraud/abuse.

Originally Posted by thelonepig As far as I'm concerned, if you purchase an item with the intent to return it (or a similar item purchased from another retailer) later, it's dishonest and a form of return fraud/abuse.

Like I said, it's immoral, and -maybe- abuse, but it's not return fraud.

Originally Posted by thelonepig As far as I'm concerned, if you purchase an item with the intent to return it (or a similar item purchased from another retailer) later, it's dishonest and a form of return fraud/abuse.

By your reasoning, if you ever buy 2 shirts for some special event you will go to knowing that you will only wear one but will decide later at home and return the other one (never wearing it), you would consider that return fraud. So we should have to keep both shirts in that situation or it is fraud? I think that would be going out of your way and harming yourself to spare the store (if you think that is bad for the store in the first place). Every girl in America would be a fraudster since they do this all the time with dresses and things.

I applaud your morals and think the world would be better off if everyone thought more selflessly about the ripple effects of their actions, but it's not going to happen, and that kind of thinking can do more harm than good some times. I'm going to guess you are mormon based on your location.

Advertisement

Register for free to remove this ad

Originally Posted by scottman By your reasoning, if you ever buy 2 shirts for some special event you will go to knowing that you will only wear one but will decide later at home and return the other one (never wearing it), you would consider that return fraud. So we should have to keep both shirts in that situation or it is fraud? I think that would be going out of your way and harming yourself to spare the store (if you think that is bad for the store in the first place). Every girl in America would be a fraudster since they do this all the time with dresses and things. I applaud your morals and think the world would be better off if everyone thought more selflessly about the ripple effects of their actions, but it's not going to happen, and that kind of thinking can do more harm than good some times. I'm going to guess you are mormon based on your location.

I would consider that return abuse moreso than fraud. Same color, different shade.