Comments for Banana Republic Sends Customer Mysterious Package Of Security Tags

Banana Republic Sends Customer Mysterious Package Of Security Tags

2009-08-27T04:05:37Z

Jonathan's wife ordered some clothes from Banana Republic, and was confused when another, similarly-sized box arrived on their doorstep from Banana Republic a week later. This box was clearly not destined for her, since she had not ordered the exciting new "Open Your Own Banana Republic" playset.

Jonathan wrote to Consumerist:

So I've got a funny story for you. My wife placed an order last week
with Banana Republic for some clothes and received the order the end
of last week without a single hitch. No problems, right? Well this
week we received the weirdest package I've ever seen in my 25 years on
this earth. My wife got home today and found ANOTHER package from
Banana Republic. Since she didn't order anything, she just figured
they sent her another order by mistake. Now assuming these clothes
fit, I'm sure she would have considered this her lucky day. But when
she picked up the 4 lb box, she noticed it had a weird clicking noise
to it.

Here's what she found inside...

Yep, she was sent a 4 lb box of plastic security tags — plus the
mental tacks that attach the tag to the clothing. Score! She called BR
and they couldn't tell her why she received them. A future note for
BR: If you're going to send us a box with free stuff, please make sure
the contents are worth our while!

I guess she can be grateful that she received a completely absurd package, likely destined for her nearest Banana Republic store, instead of a box of free clothes and the ensuing moral dilemma.

Comment from alohanico on 2009-08-31

2009-09-01T02:13:06Z

Bizarre, but what most likely happened is that someone was sending away the EAS tags (pretty sure that BR clothes come pre-tagged, so they would have no use for them at a store level) but accidentally printed off her shipping slip twice.

Comment from MightyCow on 2009-08-29

2009-08-29T09:54:34Z

I hate banana republic - I bought about $600 worth of office clothes there, and in less than 6 months they were all falling apart, while my clothes from other retailers were (obviously) still in perfect condition.

I tried to return them, but the manager told me that their clothes falling apart was normal wear and tear, and the corporate office didn't care.

So I make it a point to let everyone know that not only does Banana Republic make poor quality clothes, they don't seem to care about customer satisfaction.

Comment from PLATTWORX on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T22:24:33Z

I am enjoying not only the cleaver "since she had not ordered the exciting new "Open Your Own Banana Republic" playset." line and many of the replies here!

I order from them alot, never had this happen.

Comment from catastrophegirl on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T21:53:12Z

@EqualOpportunityCrasher: into the toy store, where i worked. it was in the standard employee training - get the kids into the store. this may be part of why K.B./Kay-Bee Toys went out of business, but it was totally sanctioned by my employer at the time and paid part of my job description.
aside from the nightmare that is september through january in a toy store - BEST JOB EVER!

Comment from Nicole on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T21:40:33Z

@boomerang86: That's the psychic force they use to attach them to clothes. Much more efficient than pins.

Comment from Nicole on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T21:38:55Z

@yesteraeon: While this is true, it'd still be amusing since the alarm would be going off as people entered the store. Happens at the Home Depot I work at on occasion. Imagine putting these in someone's purse or someplace they wouldn't notice and having the alarm go off on every store they walk into.

What's also fun is sticking a soft tag (the ones that adhere to item inconspicuously, often inside the packaging) in an employee's pocket. Utter confusion. :D

Comment from EqualOpportunityCrasher on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T20:01:06Z

@catastrophegirl: I'm not sure I'd be using the phrase "I used to try to lure kids".....

Comment from Murph1908 on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T18:39:32Z

@Homerjay WANTS to jailbreak his iphone but is still scared ...:

I like the 'setting them off all at once' idea.

The OP should contact Improv Everywhere. They could gather a flash mob and come up with some great plans.

Comment from Ragman on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T18:24:41Z

@catastrophegirl: You need a faster RC go-kart!

Comment from Doug81 on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T18:11:40Z

@Vandelay Import Export: That's the FTC's stance.

Comment from ElizabethD on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T17:53:04Z

I especially like the tag for this post.

Comment from boomerang86 on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T13:24:12Z

What's a MENTAL tack?

Comment from Vandelay Import Export on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T10:42:22Z

Isn't the law if they deliver something you didn't order it is yours?

Comment from Joey_Brill on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T09:56:25Z

@Trance1861: Or... macrame them into one festive poncho, go trick-or-treating at the mall, and then sell your poncho on Etsy for lots of dollars.

It's art, it's politics, it's lucre.

Comment from catastrophegirl on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T08:37:40Z

@BytheSea: see i was thinking RC helicopter so you could swoop it between the sensors and then up out of reach.
i used to try to lure kids into the toy store i worked at with an RC go-kart and sadly it kept getting picked up by people and brought back to me, like they thought i wasn't intentionally driving it past their children

Comment from H3ion on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T08:36:05Z

Looks like they can be used as packing peanuts.

Comment from coren on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T08:27:17Z

@BytheSea: A statement about Opression.

Comment from jeblis on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T08:20:57Z

I believe they're legally there yours, so ebay em.

Comment from yesteraeon on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T08:12:27Z

@CrashMurphy: I'd wager not much. The employees in most stores seem to completely ignore the alarm going off at the entrance. Whenever the sales clerk neglects to deactivate a tag and I set off the alarm on my way out I just keep walking, and I've never been stopped.

Comment from BytheSea on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T07:43:21Z

@Homerjay would like a refund for CoPilot for iPhone: Stick one to an RC car and see how many stores you can set off.

Comment from BytheSea on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T07:42:23Z

ART INSTALLMENT! Stick these to someting Significant to make a Statement. About something. something important.

Comment from bohemian on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T07:07:31Z

@Homerjay would like a refund for CoPilot for iPhone: Now just find a way to do this but blame it on the people running the annoying kiosks that try to accost you about dead sea lotion and hair straighteners.

Comment from Homerjay would like a refund for CoPilot for iPhone on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T06:55:20Z

@Mackinstyle: You could stand across the aisle in the mall, put one on the ground, and then kick it into the store.
I'm tellin' ya- I'd have a ton of fun with this. You could walk around the mall tossing them into EVERY store! You could get all your friends to stand outside every mall store and toss one in each store at the same time. The possibilities are endless!

Comment from Kimaroo - 100% Pure Natural Kitteh on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T06:48:42Z

@pecan 3.14159265: Good one!

Comment from Mackinstyle on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T06:48:03Z

@Homerjay would like a refund for CoPilot for iPhone:

Hahahahaha. I just pictured that and had a laughing fit.

Comment from CrashMurphy on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T06:46:36Z

@ARP: Oh man, I'd love to see the chaos and confusion something like that would cause haha.

Comment from pecan 3.14159265 on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T06:43:27Z

I think Banana Republic is just preparing her for Halloween by sending her treats. Maybe she can make a dress and go as the Ghost of Shopaholics Past.

Comment from Trance1861 on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T06:21:37Z

Sell them on ebay to make a profit!

[cgi.ebay.com]

Comment from Homerjay would like a refund for CoPilot for iPhone on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T05:49:29Z

You can return them to them the fun way...
Stand outside the store and every so often toss one through the door setting off the alarm.

Comment from ARP on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T05:35:50Z

Start dropping them into people's bags at the mall and watch the fun. Double fun if they set off other sensors.