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What, this old thing? I just borrowed it for the night. ballgown via Shutterstock

Store figures out how to stop people 'borrowing' clothes for event and returning them later

Bloomingdale’s in New York has come up with a new tag that is so visible, you can’t possibly wear the clothes out until you remove it.

NOW, WE’RE SURE you don’t do this but there is a phenomenon reported by clothing retailers where some customers ‘borrow’ expensive items for big events, returning them the next day.

(Accompanied by excuses along the line of, “It was a present and it didn’t fit”, etc.)

Iconic New York department store Bloomingdale’s has figured out a way to stop that happening in their outlets.

The retailer is putting three-inch black plastic tags in visible places on garments so the wearer can’t easily conceal them, reports Cotten Timberlake and Renee Dudley at Bloomberg. Once the clunky tag is removed, shoppers aren’t allowed to return the item.

The practice of buying an item with the intention of wearing it once and returning it is called “wardrobing.”

The “wardrobing” tends to happen most with big-ticket items like debs dresses and other formalwear, even off-the-peg bridalwear.

The problem cost the industry $8.8 billion last year in the US alone, according to the National Retail Federation.

But another large US retailer, Nordstrom, told Bloomberg that it didn’t plan on emulating Bloomingdale’s strategy.

“Our experience is that if you treat the customer with respect, they respect you back,” spokesman Colin Johnson said.

- Ashley Lutz

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    Mute Joe Phillips
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    Aug 10th 2019, 7:29 PM

    Sorry but how is this news here??

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Aug 10th 2019, 7:37 PM

    @Joe Phillips: Because it happened in the British Isles!

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Aug 10th 2019, 7:49 PM

    @Joe Phillips: Maybe its because he was nearly killed

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    Mute paul
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    Aug 10th 2019, 7:51 PM

    @Joe Phillips: yeah, i only wanna know what’s happening in my village.

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    Mute Col de Gal
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    Aug 10th 2019, 7:52 PM

    @Joe Phillips: Because it’s not your site and the people who own it, and most of those who visit it, have broader interests than little parochials like yourself?

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    Mute James Wallace
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    Aug 10th 2019, 8:00 PM

    @Joe Phillips: almost 2000 views at this stage, so people seem to be interested.

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    Mute Michael Carolan
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    Aug 10th 2019, 8:13 PM

    @Joe Phillips: cos there’s a world outside the field…..ain’t that right Worzel

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    Mute Steve Monk
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    Aug 10th 2019, 8:52 PM

    @Joe Phillips: because as much as you all rant and rave about us, deep down you care :)

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    Mute SFNutters
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    Aug 10th 2019, 9:09 PM

    @Joe Phillips: 911 didnt happen here either….

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    Mute Alan McArdle
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    Aug 10th 2019, 9:20 PM

    @Joe Phillips: you’re the first – and in the first comment – to raise that predictable question. You win a prize.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Aug 10th 2019, 11:33 PM

    @Joe Phillips: you must be a little islander, nothing outside the country touches you…

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Aug 10th 2019, 11:34 PM

    @paul: no, only in my own street in my village….

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    Mute Leroy Brown
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    Aug 11th 2019, 2:52 AM

    Just to be clear… this kind of assault against law enforcement would be news anywhere in the world… hopefully the UK justice system sorts this out, if it was here the dude would get a suspended sentence and a free feckin house!

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    Mute Johnny Conway
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    Aug 10th 2019, 8:34 PM

    Should change name here from journal.ie to journal.uk

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    Mute Alan McArdle
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    Aug 10th 2019, 9:22 PM

    @Johnny Conway: no

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    Mute Mac Dara Powell
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    Aug 10th 2019, 11:36 PM

    Tasered lucky he wasn’t living in the states he be shot on the spot.

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    Mute Dotty Mc Dot
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    Aug 10th 2019, 8:21 PM

    Sounds like the peaky blinders

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    Mute John Murt
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    Aug 10th 2019, 7:52 PM

    Up the Brummies

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    Mute Mark
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    Aug 10th 2019, 9:26 PM

    Nothing got to do with us. It happens.

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    Mute Thomas Quinn
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    Aug 10th 2019, 9:23 PM

    Britain?

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