Dishonest Shopping Practices

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 11, 1916

Dishonest Shopping Practices

THERE are frequent and grave breaches of ethics in the practices of some shoppers. Goods are selected, sent home, ostensibly purchased, but really with no intention of keeping them. Others have articles of wearing apparel or house furnishment sent “on approval,” and after use for special occasions return the goods. The Consumers’ League of New York City has entered upon a systematic campaign against these forms of dishonesty. They report some astounding findings. In a public letter the president of the league says, “We found upon investigation that thirty per cent of all goods purchased by customers and charged to their accounts are returned for credit; twenty per cent of all goods shipped out C. O. D. are not accepted; ten per cent of all cash purchases are exchanged; every fifth pair of shoes that is sold has to be sold over again. The records of the merchants show that this is not spasmodic, but a year-in-and-year-out occurrence. It is not unusual to have customers send back goods to be credited which they have had out three, six, or twelve months.”