MAKING RETURNS

"Do you rent merchandise for photography?"
"NO !!! "

Nothing will thicken your emotional hide like making returns. It is the single most despised aspect of styling and is often delegated to styling assistants, if you're lucky enough to have one. Aside from the guilt of buying something with the intention of returning it, one fears the self-righteous, watchdog clerk that questions and prods about the 'real reason' for the return. ( Our favorite is, 'my spouse HATED it'. This evokes a certain level of pity by the clerk, because they may believe you have a 'Shopping disease'.) Most stores have an exchange or return policy posted on or near the cash register. It is best to carefully, discreetly read this BEFORE you make a purchase.

If you are working from a list, it's a good idea to call ahead and inquire if a particular vendor will, 'rent for photography'. This may require some explanation, as not all merchants are familiar with this concept. (When using the Propville.com database, eachvendor has a note on their listing as to whether they can accommodate rentals or not. This will save you a step and many pleading monologs.) Sometimes merchants may be willing, but have no point of reference, feel free to enlighten them by explaining the benefits. ( They earn a rental fee and then can still sell the item at full retail. This can certainly happen more than once for a desirable piece)

Industry standards vary, but range from 10%-25% for 1 day to 1 week. It really is totally up to the vendor. If the rate is much higher than this, it may be just as smart to buy it. Some places use a high fee to discourage rentals. (Crate and Barrel comes to mind) Every merchant has at least one horror story about renters.

This dance between renters and vendors is just another microcosism for life, in general. Communication is key. Don't rent something you know will come back damaged. It irritates merchants, makes stylists look bad and blows the budget.

Terms. Here are some common terms:

'On Approval'
This means a vendor may let you borrow an item, imprint your credit card for the full amount and charge you no fee. (Kindness of this sort should always be rewarded. Chilled beer in a bucket or high-end cookies are some staff favorites.) This occurs frequently in furniture and design showrooms, (to the trade) and sometimes with higher end clothing. Again remember, if you damage or alter something you will most likely own it.


'Restocking fee'
This sometimes occurs in lieu of a rental fee or when something is a special order. The merchant will take a percentage of the selling price as a fee for their hassle and handling of paperwork. For example, Car parts and computers or other electronics.


'Store Credit Only'
Also known as,' confuse the accountant'.
This practice is very widespread at smaller shops and boutique stores. No matter what form of payment you made the purchase with, the only thing you can receive at a return is store credit to be spent in that store. This can be a nightmare because most clients do not want a credit slip for 'Moe's Muskrat Emporium'.

Don't forget the big guys. Large stores, department store and chains are great. Please be respectful. Buy what you use. Return the unused items in pristine condition with tags in tact and on hangers, if you initially took them. They did you a favor by providing you choices to show your client. It is much better to make a return with gratitude in your heart than a 'best-defense-is-a-good-offense' attitude. Some department stores have a liaison for larger projects. Call customer service or the operations manager.

Next time...... money tips. keeping credit available, etc..


Tips on returns? E-mail them to us