Whether you’re totally addicted to VS, simply like their products, or absolutely hate how overpriced they are, VS have made headlines again. From the glamorous multi-million dollar fashion shows, to the diamond studded bras, to America’s Hottest models,VS has grabbed attention differently this time.
Marie Wolf, a loyal VS customer paid $70 for a pair of PINK sweatpants. For whatever reason, the pants were never worn and so Marie decided to go back to the store for a refund. Having her receipt, and her mint condition pants, she was given back her money almost instantly. Just when she was about to leave, the clerk took out a pair of scissors and started shredding the sweatpants into pieces. Furious, having seen that, Marie asked to speak to the store manager, which then told her that it was the company’s policy to destroy all returned merchandise to avoid re-selling even if they're fine.
Last year, VS was exposed on the Today Show, when a couple of employees accepted to refund/return underwear and put it back on sale despite being used, stained, and without tags. "I was shocked, because, mind you, these were $70 sweatpants, and there's nothing wrong with them,"Marie Wolf said. "The clerk just said, 'I know, but it's our policy.' “.
Apparently the clerk’s only mistake was cutting up the pants infront of the customer instead of in the stock room where no one can see him do it!
This is not the first time for a clothing company to waste products like that. Last year H&M was caught redhanded chopping up gloves, fiber filled jackets, and other un-sold clothing on a cold NY winter night. It’s understandable that the company doesn’t want to promote and spread skin diseases via used underwear, swim wear, or lingerie but cutting up perfectly fine gloves and jackets is not ok.
Experts say that these items would otherwise end up being sold in secondary markets for a fraction of the price therefore bringing down the brands prestige and value and so that’s why big companies likeVS, H&M, Wal-Mart, and Macy’s admit that their un-sold/ most of the returned merchandise do end up in the shredder.
Wolf said that she was so disgusted by what she had seen; she vowed never to shop at Victoria's Secret again. "I asked about donating them to Salvation Army, what about Goodwill, what about all the people who lost everything in the tsunami?" Wolf said.
"I told them I won't ever shop with them anymore, and neither will anyone in my family." Clearly, there must be a better way than either re-selling previously worn underwear, or cutting up sweat pants that someone was willing to pay $70 for. What happened to donating the un-wanted items to the less fortunate, or victims of natural disasters? Homeless people sleep everyday with no covers in this cold winter weather, and these stores are chopping up jackets? I think if the companies want to save their brand image, they can just cut off the logo, scribble on it with a magic marker, or stick a piece of gum on it if you have to but never cut the entire garment into pieces.
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