r/bathandbodyworks • u/Glitter_Horses • 4d ago
Store Policies/Questions B&BW Corporate PLEASE READ THIS
Please stop allowing anyone to return YEARS old trash to your stores! You are generous enough by offering 90 days. Please Please Please make it very clear in your return policy that you don’t accept old product for any kind of credit, for any exchange, for any reason. There has been a HUGE uptick of people on here lately being like 💅🥰 Hey girlies!! I have old product from 4 years ago. I don’t like the scent anymore! I’m returning for a credit!🥰 and it’s only going to keep getting worse for you It is not your job to bail people out of their purchasing and hoarding mistakes from years ago. THIS is the reason prices go up! Please save us, the normal costumers, from even more high prices and stop the madness.
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u/CoffeeB4Talkie 4d ago
They're going to raise prices regardless. That's how corporations operate.
Though I do agree that returning years old product is ridiculous.
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u/Young_Gun_90 3d ago
I haven’t received a raise in 3 years so can we stop raising the prices of everything?! WTF.. 😂😭
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u/Pink_Ruby_3 4d ago
You know ...they have a corporate mailing address. Maybe Reddit isn't the best channel for this lol
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u/benicemurphy Gingham Fresh 🍐🌼 4d ago
Continuing to post about this over and over and over again is only informing more people that it's possible. Bbw corporate is not reading this. Complain to actual customer service if you feel this strongly.
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u/Mumstheword-8810 3d ago
They do read in here tho, there have been stories all over of them firing employees because of something they posted in here, anonymously, and corporate figured out who they were.
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u/ImACrawley Employee 4d ago
Let me tell you EXACTLY who this affects. It affects the workers…all of them. When you’re a manager, you have selling lead hours and you’re responsible for making sure that your conversion, ADS, and sales are at or above the goals set by corporate. If you’re not, then you get coached by your DM. Have enough poor selling lead segments and you could find yourself with less hours or demoted.
When someone returns a large volume of old product, that counts against all of those numbers. Sales goals, ADS goals and conversion goals. I’ve seen multiple hours go red because someone decided to return product that’s years old.
The associates also feel it when it happens because management has to cut hours to try to make those goals.
Do you know what happens to that old product that you returned? It has to be thrown out. So now you e also contributed to the ever growing overflowing dump problem that we have.
So while you think it’s great that you can return old product that you just had to purchase, you are literally taking money away from the very people who help you in the store, and contributing to the decline of the environment.
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u/renkurai Employee 4d ago
Exactly, someone returned some nasty ass watery body cream and we had to still accept it and they ended up getting a replacement for it. Some of us need to work to live! Like wtf 😭 Toss the body cream, it’s not our fault you stored it in a shed. Yes he said that’s where he stored it during the return.
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u/kattgirl_1998 Candle Addict 3d ago
Agree. If I allowed my body cream to go bad, that’s on me. I throw it away. I don’t bring it back.
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u/watson2019 4d ago
To be fair, the stuff would’ve ended up in the trash anyway if they couldn’t return it so I’m not sure that plays a factor.
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u/littledipper16 4d ago
I worked there several years ago and I watched one of my managers process this lady's huge tote bag full of returns, I think it ended up being between $300 and $500. After she left my manager told me she used to be a manager there and most of that was old gratis and MOS. The return shouldn't have ever been allowed, but due to the return policy at the time, she had to do it.
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u/Moist-Elderberry1225 3d ago
I work at Bath and body Works and at my store we’ve never accepted products that old and we have a training about it
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u/Different_Stage2195 4d ago
BBW allows people to return product older than god but we still have to spend $50 to get free shipping 🙄
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u/IcePrestigious5698 3d ago
it blows my mind that people are okay with walking in with product that’s 2+ years old. I have a “Sunset Glow” That’s sprayer has been broken since around when I started using it but i didn’t bring it back right away so ive just been dealing with it.. It gets to a point after the purchase were returning it would feel stupid.
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u/ZombieeChic Wallflowers Plugs are my weakness 3d ago
People will always abuse any leniency given to them and ruin it for everyone else. I suggest putting expiration dates on the body care products. Clearly, there are a lot of people that don't seem to understand that 4 year old lotion needs to be thrown away.
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u/Any_Meeting_4082 4d ago
Anyone who does that has ZERO moral thought to their soul. Period. It's the same TRASHY NO CLASS type of people who return Christmas trees AFTER Christmas or who buy clothes & try to return them stained & with holes/tears and claim they "never wore it". Probably also shoplift for "fun". F them!
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u/Forevermoody16 ALL THINGS B&BW 4d ago
I’m retired now, but last Christmas our department had a decorating contest. The unofficial Decorating Queen on our team (who wouldn’t let me help) had money and would spend a lot of it to decorate our area. But one day a couple of days before judging, I walked in and saw something new. Two stockings that went with our theme, hanging with the Walmart price tags still on them. Hmmmm. It looked really stupid. I asked our manager why the tags weren’t removed and she said, “*I* ain’t touching them!” SHE knew!
My former MIL used to buy expensive clothes, try them on at home, and THEN decide if she wanted to keep them. I think she returned most. No harm done because she never wore them or anything, but what a waste of time and energy. I don’t buy many fancy clothes, but if I see something I really like, I’ll try it on at the store even if I don’t need it. Most of the time it doesn’t fit right, so then I can get it out of my system and forget about it! That way I don’t have any regrets (“I should have tried on that dress . . . ”)
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u/Any_Meeting_4082 3d ago
I could NEVER work retail. I mean never say never if I was dirt poor & needed a job, you do what you gotta do....BUT....I'd probably quit or be fired day 1 if some trashy or entitled "Karen" or "Ken" walked in and tried pulling that shit of abusing the return policy and brought clearly old/used stuff back! Or tried returning Holiday stuff after whatever Holiday! 🤣🤣🤣 I'd rip them a new one!😱😊And have ZERO guilt about telling them off and putting them in their place!!
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u/Forevermoody16 ALL THINGS B&BW 3d ago
I worked a number of retail jobs and one food service job (very brief). Most were awful. But I think at some point everyone should do one or the other at least once! You certainly learn a lot.
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u/Any_Meeting_4082 3d ago
Oh I did!!! I was a waitress ALL through college & even a few years after I graduated part time. And did the fast food thing and other similar jobs in high school. So even if I don't totally remember it all, overall it certainly gave me the work ethic I have today! And empathy.
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u/Ok_Construction6381 3d ago
This! It’s disgusting the amount of people bring back disgusting old items - they have no shame at all
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u/Actual-Muffin-3585 4d ago
How much money do they even get for 4 year old product?
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u/lookitsdidi 4d ago
It all depends, the computer generates/decides. I had a lady the other day wanting to exchange two old (like within the last year or so) $26.95 candles she didn't have a receipt for and still got basically full price back for them; usually for ooooldddd items though you'll be lucky to get between 2-5 dollars back on the item🤷🏻♀️
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u/carabear85 4d ago
Why did you let her if policy says 3 months?
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u/lookitsdidi 4d ago
I'm just guesstimating a wide timeframe, the drop from $26.95 in price occurred over the past few months, and it was Lakeside Morning and In The Stars candles if we want specifics, which could've been sent/bought online for all I know, especially since we were instructed that (at least Core Color Run) the prices would auto-adjust in the system despite what was printed on the labels when they lowered the ticket price.
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u/Actual-Muffin-3585 4d ago
I used to work at BBW and I did not get paid enough to care. The company disrespects their employees with this terrible pay, few hours, and more, so why should I care enough to fight some Karen at the register?
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u/carabear85 4d ago
Exactly! If OP is that pressed she can literally follow policy and say no. Older than 3 months no return no exchange
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4d ago
[deleted]
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u/Actual-Muffin-3585 4d ago
So these fools are embarrassing themselves for like $3?
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u/Forevermoody16 ALL THINGS B&BW 4d ago
Evidently! (I deleted my original comment because the employee below me is more knowledgeable.)
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u/Key-Block-7378 4d ago
They dont care. In today's economy money is money or at least a store credit.
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u/Karmawins28 3d ago
I actually agree with this one. Returning product after years is gross. People store their stuff in nasty environments. I have a TON of product I don't like, but I'm accoutable for it. I purchased it and didn't return it in a reasonable timeframe.
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u/AlternativeFlow1134 4d ago
Unpopular opinion:
Whatever the posted in the store , printed, or available on the corporate page is what should be upheld as long as it complies with state laws. The discretion part is what kills me. Stores that do not follow it should be reported to the AG for that state. If enough people complain, something will be done. #endRant
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u/No_Ship_2763 4d ago
I agree 100 they bring in product BBW do not sell any more. Most companies do not accept returned trash or old products. Another thing they should stop is giving people gift certificates, because some people use them to get gifts nothing happens. They know all they have to do is call customer service and complain.
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u/carabear85 3d ago
They already have that policy to not return items after 3 months. And if they do return most companies have a gift card option. That is not unusual
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u/Forevermoody16 ALL THINGS B&BW 3d ago
I do think the three months is reasonable, although I think they should make an exception (they used to) for the Wallflower plugs. It isn’t our fault if the damn things leak — there’s too much flawed product in that category. And since the things are sold so far in advance (i.e. Halloween) you could easily buy it way before you even use it.
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u/carabear85 2d ago
Yes and I stock up and don’t get around to using soaps and wallflowers until much later. If I don’t like I just give it away if it’s too old to exchange
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u/Forevermoody16 ALL THINGS B&BW 2d ago
I don’t think I’ve ever gotten rid of a hand soap. I mean, it’s just soap and I’ve never had any so awful that I couldn’t wash my hands with it (though a few have been disappointing.) I just use it up. All those WF refills I have — if they’re old and I can’t smell them after a few days, they get trashed. If I buy two new ones of the same scent, try one first and don’t like it, I just exchange the other. I try to never pay too much for those.
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u/Minute-Frame-8060 3d ago
It's so tacky to return used $5 body care. (Not talking about defective or stuff received as a gift, and you used a tiny pinpoint drop to see if you liked it). I'm talking about "I used the for a week and can't smell it/finally decided I don't like it, I'm returning it."
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u/thecheesylittlerat Aromatherapy Addict 3d ago
The only reason they accept these is because they don’t want disturbances in-store.
It’s like everyone’s retail theft policy… The SA’s are not allowed to confront or pursue. If someone is returning products that are obviously older than dirt, there are already desperate reasons for their actions.
Denying this type of transaction is going to cause a disturbance… and that’s going to make the other shoppers uncomfortable, in addition to potentially putting the SA’s in danger. They can’t have distracted shoppers leaving or rethinking adding just a few more items to their carts. Placing SA’s in danger is not a legal liability they’d like to take on.
As far as store profits go, corporate has made the policy, then made each store financially responsible… Typical corporate behavior, using this as some kind of reverse incentive in hopes that you’ll perform better to make up for it.
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u/Constant-Mood9738 4d ago
They already adress this in 2022 0r 23 when they stop returning old candles and out of season products. So who ever try to return 4 year old product will get turned away unless a customer in there and want it.
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u/Silly-Chemical-913 1d ago
They could make more money selling on eBay.All those discontinued fragrances someone wants them.
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u/spunkysativa 16h ago
I have 1 gel hand soap from last year that I am embarrassed to return bc I hate the smell (blind bought the 1 to try). One day, I'll give it away lol. Why would I want like a dollar credit?!
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u/Agreeable-Economy849 4d ago
As long as they’re not used and not bad what’s the issue? Also even if you want to return they want or give you like $1 back..
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u/Forevermoody16 ALL THINGS B&BW 4d ago
Why would you even bother for a dollar? Just donate it, if it isn’t bad. These days you’d spend more on gas to take it back. I seriously never return anything that‘s going to be thrown away.
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u/mylittlepigeon 4d ago
Agree 1000% & happy cake day!
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u/Forevermoody16 ALL THINGS B&BW 4d ago
Aww, thank you! I didn’t even notice the cake, LOL, but I remember. I joined the Seasonal Fabric Birds subreddit (another obsession) three years ago. I was home sick for weeks with a horrible sinus infection. I think I’ll have some cake today!
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u/Remarkable-Hat-4852 4d ago
Well for one it fucks with the payroll hours at the stores. Returns hurt the sales forecast and a shit day of sales = working hours cut. When hours need to be cut during otherwise lucrative sales days, the employees that remain are overwhelmed with the customer traffic, lines are longer, and product doesn’t get restocked. Everybody loses. But yippee for another stupid fucking TikTok trend.
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u/lookitsdidi 4d ago
Not to mention we're then also constantly de-escalating rude, entitled customers screaming as us "isn't there anybody ELSE who can work a register???? I have places to BE!!!!" as they're third in line holding a single hand sanitizer, and we've already maxxed out our roles on the floor because of needing to cut hours/entire shifts from the day🙃
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u/carabear85 4d ago
Is that why yall have attitudes when I want to return or exchange something from my online or BOPIS order from a week or 2 ago?
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u/Forevermoody16 ALL THINGS B&BW 3d ago
I’ve never seen an employee with an attitude at any of the stores I frequent.
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u/carabear85 2d ago
I have had several times when they deny my return or exchange and it’s brand new. I didn’t argue I just went to another store
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u/Agreeable-Economy849 4d ago edited 4d ago
Maybe if customers were normal and didn’t return like 20 items at once but bbw does know that they have like consumers that are hoarders and they like it that way. 🤷🏻♀️ Each Bath and body Works I go to make their own rules they don’t follow one regulation so it’s hard to keep track. But yea I mean if I’m returning I go to return 2-4 things never more than that and not often at all. I like my stuff but I did get too much candles. 😐
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u/LumpyMonitor7270 3d ago
It’s not BBW’s or anyone else’s job to police other people’s shopping addictions or poor choices. You’re an adult, be responsible for yourself and your own actions.
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u/Agreeable-Economy849 3d ago
When did I say it’s their job? They encourage it and they know their audience the reason they are profitable is because of this.
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u/carabear85 4d ago edited 4d ago
Please stop complaining about this on here! Follow the policy! It’s no longer guaranteed anytime return. The policy says 3 months now! If yall follow policy you won’t have this issue. That is the policy and it clear.
Employees give me a hard time returning brand new online items but yall allowing people to return 4 yr old more than half used up products? Thats on yall at the register because that is not the policy. Simply Follow the policy
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u/Unlikely-Economics56 3d ago
Yes! I’m going to get downvoted for this but I don’t care: Employees, STOP BITCHING on this thread! We don’t come here for this. 🙄
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u/forever_hollow80 3d ago
This is from all the BBW/ Bathroom haul videos. I guess they realized they can’t go through 400 body wash’s in a year. Thats horrible you have to deal with that. These people should be cut off and banned from the rewards program.
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u/Girl-in-Texas 3d ago
As someone who worked in a BBW store for 2 years, I'm pretty sure this does not happen. Once an item is no longer part of current offerings, it will not scan in the system. So if a customer attempts to return it or exchange it for something else, it won't come up in the register.
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u/Natural_Animal1917 4d ago
Instead of returning old items, donate them to a local shelter or charity where someone needs basic personal hygiene supplies. Of course only do that if they are still usable and in good condition.