![]() The National Retail Federation estimates that stores lost $9 billion from return fraud last year, a slight improvement over 2011, said Richard Mellor, the trade group’s vice president for loss prevention. ![]() “REI didn’t even make some of the gear returned, but the store took it because the logo was on it. We returned it fraudulently to the store in Eugene, Ore., which gave us cash,” Karlstrom said. “A climbing buddy came back from China with a bunch of knockoff REI gear. Some REI stores had been known to give store credit, if not money-back refunds, to customers without a receipt, leading to the retailer’s other nickname, “Return Everything Inc.”Ĭlimber Leif Karlstrom, in an article published online last fall by Outside magazine, recalled taking advantage of REI’s return policy as a broke college student. To reduce dubious returns, REI also has stopped accepting returns without question and is more insistent that there be proof of purchase. The outdoor-gear chain laid off an undisclosed, “limited” number of employees in March, citing changing business needs. ![]() REI’s sales rose less than expected last year to $1.9 billion, a 7 percent increase, while its profit dropped 4 percent to $29 million. “It’s something we have to put some clarification around.” And it’s not a sustainable thing long-term if we want to maintain this fantastic policy,” he said. “What we found is that small group of folks who are probably extending the policy beyond its intent, is getting bigger.
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