British are the top 'Deshoppers'

Code_Red · January 25, 2006, 1:44pm

Shame shame Ho Hayeee

Deshopper is a new word added into the dictionary last year

shopper is a person who does shopping

deshopper noun [C]

a person who buys something with the specific intention of using it and later returning it to the shop for a full refund

deshopping noun
‘They buy a dress, wear it once and then take it back to the shop demanding a refund. They buy a CD to copy it and return it to get their money back. They are the deshoppers – a scam that has cost stores £63 million this year.’
(London Metro, 8th December 2004)

‘… although 82% of mass-market retailers and 71% of independent retailers are aware of deshopping, few have taken steps to update return policies, due to the risk of customer defection in today’s highly competitive environment.’
(press release, Brunel University, 1st December 2004)

So great is the concern about deshopping that a four-year research project into the phenomenon has been undertaken by the Brunel Business School, in association with the British Shops and Stores Association (BSSA). The Brunel study found that 82 per cent of chain stores and 71 per cent of independent retailers had lost up to a tenth of their profits through deshopping. Key traits of deshoppers were the tendency to brag about deshopping victories to friends, and the perception that returning goods for a full refund was like ‘winning a battle’ against retailers. Researchers claim that in order to reduce the number of deshoppers, this pattern of behaviour must be progressively broken by introducing a more watertight returns policy which makes it much harder for consumers to secure refunds which aren’t legitimate.

KashmiriRainDrops · January 25, 2006, 3:10pm

Re: British are the top ‘Deshoppers’

Deshopping is bad…but u know, i’m not sure about us being the top ones hehe…recently, American retailers have been stricter on their return policies etc. to reduce product fraud also, since there’s been an increase.

funguy · January 25, 2006, 3:12pm

Re: British are the top 'Deshoppers'

Ironic, it almost sounds like Desishopper

KashmiriRainDrops · January 25, 2006, 3:29pm

Re: British are the top 'Deshoppers'

^ haha, yea at first i thought he meant desishopper.

awaismisri · January 25, 2006, 8:48pm

Re: British are the top 'Deshoppers'

its happened here in saudi...refund and exchnage things have gone from 14 or 7 days to 3 days!!

5Abi · January 25, 2006, 9:18pm

Re: British are the top 'Deshoppers'

i read it as "Des Hopper", somone hopping/switching their Des (country).

Barfee · January 25, 2006, 9:36pm

Re: British are the top ‘Deshoppers’

Actually desis arent the only ones, i used to work at a dept store and saw all kinds of people returning things!

Btw I am an impluse shopper and I LOVE the return policies but unfortunately I never save the receipt half the time and that is why i LOVE receipt look-up :love:

Captain1 · January 25, 2006, 10:28pm

Re: British are the top ‘Deshoppers’

kewn? samjhay ke kisi ne aap ke baray mai article likh diya?

Captain_Lota · January 26, 2006, 4:50am

Re: British are the top ‘Deshoppers’

I believe this is also the reason Walmart has gone from big to way too big. They take back almost everything in almost any condition, almost unconditionally. This gives shoppers the peace of mind to buy anything that they see in the store without having second thoughts. Most people once they bring a product home either get too attached to it to return it or just dont bother. I know im one of those suckers

Sincerely,
Captain Lota

Faisal · January 26, 2006, 7:31pm

Re: British are the top 'Deshoppers'

^ Its true. In the long-term a customer friendly return policy results in more revenue increase for the store compared to the costs of accepting returns.

Femme_Fatale · January 26, 2006, 8:32pm

Re: British are the top 'Deshoppers'

True. Burlington Coat factory doesn;t give a refund for returns but only store credit. The last time I bought something from there...never.

Kaleem · January 26, 2006, 9:01pm

Re: British are the top 'Deshoppers'

I say its wrong...No one and I repeat No One can beat desis in de-shopping.

Najim · January 26, 2006, 9:06pm

Re: British are the top 'Deshoppers'

I simply dont buy anything that I dont want. Saves me a lot of hassle. I dont want to spend money on petrol & go back to store & return. But I know a paki guy who used this policy & got married in Pakistan, he returned everything after using it on the wedding even his wedding suit.

niyal · January 26, 2006, 9:10pm

Re: British are the top ‘Deshoppers’

fugi is so mesmerized with the word desi

Muzna · January 26, 2006, 11:37pm

Re: British are the top 'Deshoppers'

I was first introduced to this concept in London. Never even considered it before that.

I hate the thought of being the next one to purchase the item when it's been used and then returned to the store shelf for unsuspecting folks to pick up.

Code_Red · January 27, 2006, 12:20pm

Re: British are the top 'Deshoppers'

I never thought desis living abroad are so cheap. But I should give the benefit of doubt here, because it is typical desi mentality to exhibit their inferiority complex every now and then and bad mouth against people of their own race, regardless of facts :p

Over here in Pakistan, deshopping (as defined in dictionary ) is non-existant. The refund/replace/retun policy is there in almost all big stores, But i dont think people buy stuff with specific intentions of using it and returning for refund. Only if product is defective or customers usually replace if they have issues with size, color etc.

Rukhsarbibi · January 27, 2006, 4:23pm

Re: British are the top 'Deshoppers'

lol that's how I read it as well

cheetah · January 29, 2006, 2:11pm

Re: British are the top 'Deshoppers'

ya man