Victoria’s Secret has a big secret: Major retailers caught selling used lingerie
In a shocking expose this morning on the The Today Show, a special undercover report found that several prominent national retailers were found to routinely engage in the practice of accepting the return of used and stained lingerie. Not so bad? No, not so bad except that in most cases the garments were immediately retagged and returned to the racks for re-sale.
Retailers involved were Victoria’s Secret, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Nordstroms. and the Gap.
Watch the full report from NBC’s “Today” show.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


So you can catch an STD from something ‘BRAND NEW’ you purchased from a retailer.
NO WONDER STDs ARE SO HIGH IN AMERICA!
THIS IS DISGUSTING.
This report is FUCKING FAULTY. The panties were never worn…FUCK THE TODAY SHOW
But we all know, nothing will be done about it.
Well, can we finally get some legislation passed on regulation of underpants and bicycle seats. It is about time. I am tired of waiting. What does Obama think we elected him for?
First of all its gross no wonder why i go to K-Mart to buy underwear its cheap,100%cotton and is packed in a plastic bag.SO NOONE EXEPT FOR ME WOULD TOUCH IT.
Here is another problem people that work for VS get payed $7 in hour they are not interested in doing a good job because of that.IF you only knew what happens at fast food chains you would never go there its far worse than VS.
I personally HAVE worked fast food and CURRENTLY work at Victoria’s Secret and do know that there’s way more going on behind the scenes at fast food than there will ever be in retail. The “health and safety” for food is stretched only so far. At the fast food restaurant I worked at we would wipe down the tables, toilets, and shake mixers with the SAME towels. Which means, after every shake that was made, the machine was cleaned with a towel that was used to wipe down the toilets. At Victoria’s Secret we do only get min wage (at least at my store) so yes a lot of employees may not care at all about their job very much but WE DO have a new policy (as of last summer, I believe) where you CANNOT return an item unless it is unworn, unwashed and has all the tags on it. We constantly get complaining customers that want their money back because they ripped off the tags but didnt wear them and we have to give them their money back, HOWEVER just like any other retail store (and I have worked other retail) we have “damaged out” items. This means if it has been worn/washed or has any sort of stain it will be “damaged out”. Not put back on the sales floor. Customers will lie their faces off about not wearing it but we can tell, and the managers process the damanages, not the associates. If there was a slip up on any part (as seen in the video) I can guarentee this isnt a norm for VS. Maybe in Jersey (in the clip) but not across the US. Why dont you go worry about your yummy chocolate shake that has the bacteria from a toilet seat. Or your burger that was made with bare hands from someone who just picked their butt.
yeah hon,
i too work at a victoria’s secret and like the last one said we do have a return policy that doesn’t allow us to return untagged, or worn items. i work at the cash wrap too, for THREE FREAKING YEARS hon!! and believe me, you’d be surprised of the”ladies” that waltz up into that store claiming that they have not used the item, despite the cum stain, or blood stain, or my favorite, with the pad still stuck on it. oh, but if we don’t return the item then we are asked for our 1-800-number to call customer service, bringing our customer service report down. hmmm, now the same ladies that talked about how disgusting that is and everything, girlies, i hope to god you aren’t the same ones that take out the tags from the merchandise, or even better, use the item, then try to return it. think about that one first before you start complaining cuz IF you were to read the back of the receipt my loves you’d see it says ” Victoria’s Secret will exchange merchandise or issue a refund in the original form of payment for UNWASHED, UNWORN and UNUSED merchandise WITH TAGS ATTACHED, or for DEFECTIVE merchandise, within 90 days of purchase.” and by the way, yeah, you’re right i get payed minimum wage, in other words, crap, so baby girl, i’m not getting payed not anywhere near enough to handle ANYBODY’S used items. maybe some stores have no shame or pride in their reputation or name, but ours does.
I’ve never heard of anyone catching a disease from underwear…sounds like a disgruntled employee. I love VS and wear it nearly every day. Even packaged items could be “used” if you consider all the people that touch it during its creation and packaging. I think it’s common sense to wash all items BEFORE you wear them! I guess this report could be helpful to those without “common sense”, but it seems like a waste of time to me.
Sweetie, I wouldn’t wear used panties if it were washed many times. You really would? No, I don’t think factory workers are running to the restroom to put on panties before putting them in packaging.
you’re right they wouldn’t run and put them on…but while they’re home getting a good night’s rest…the rats are running around on your panties pissing and shitting all over…and then you go and put them on… either way —YOU WASH…you won’t have a problem…:/ and won’t have to waste your time blogging about this nonsense…
Arto,
Proponent of the common man – speaking of “common sense,”
and not knowing where you stand on VD and VS
could you rescue me from this panty aisle of BS?
geneo,
For goodnesses sake gene this is embarasing. Embarasing because i am pretty sure that we have women among this audieance of indt. They surely are not sportting there unmentinables to the world to coment on. It is only with good reason that art has to reccomend to the ladies to use a good harsh soap before useing and to not share womans delicates with others. So it is good that people do not want to spread germs and keep thereselves chaste. Hand it to some to make a waste out of waist garments.
art
Arto,
I wonder if NBC’s Jeff Rosen has as much interest in B. Hussian Obama’s medical records, educational records, passport information and birth records as he does in dirty woman’s underwear?
Of course I know he does not. He would probably consider interest B. Hussian Obama’s medical records, educational records, passport information and birth records a fetish !
What say you Jeff Rosen ? E wwww. . a birther ?
geneo,
For goodnesses sake geneo you are so against race people. Right winged nuts are the only ones worried about obama being a kenyen. And cheny has those people stirred up as the common man is glad to have a kenyen in the usa whitehouse. Usa people know that we can buy health care for all race people in all countrys in the world and become the best country ever. Do look at what obama will do for health care for all the world race people he is not stingy to stop with the usa people and he will get health care to all people in the usa regerdless of where they live and that is what makes the usa greatest nation on earth.
art
I thought Obama was looking out for the ‘common man’? This is a National Health Care travesty. Surely legislation can be passed to ban such repulsive behaviour! Do not fear Gene! Obama will give all of clean panties to wear! We’ll all be safe from the evil Cheney panty-dirtying machine that seeks to destroy our freedoms!
Matt
EWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!! ok VERY GROSE. thats why i buy underwear i wash them like 2 times, also WHY WOULD SOMEONE RETURN UNDERWARE, seriously, common sence!!!!!
I have heard of gross things, i.e. unattractive,
but not GROSE.
I have heard of software and hardware,
but not underware.
I have heard of common sense,
but not common sence.
. . am I like talking to
a valley girl?
Jess,
I realize it is old fashioned and petty to make fun of spelling on the internet. What you said was spot on.
Just go commando, problem solved. lol
Commando-yes!
with a dress-
to impress!
Wow.
Deke,
Is that where you wear them over your head?
Gene,
I do! But my wife hates it, so I only do it when shes gone…
Deke wears it like a balaclava!
Whoa man this is something else. Exactly why would you wear some greek mans pastry on the head. It is because the greek islands need to be sold for the euro common man? Right there is the answer to those that complain of goverments spendings. Do a sell of properties and get some help. Get health cares for all race peoples in the usa. In little time many other races will come to the usa for free good health care and get the usa even to be better.
art
Shut up Art.
Art,
Did you ever eat them with honey?
geneo,
gis, pastrys, or headgear?
no, yes, yes-do not ask.
art
Re: International throw weights introduced by Arto,
and Commando style introduced by Deke,
or
Who needs clean or dirty lingerie anyway,
or when the first lady of France went commando at a state dinner?
From the Times of London, . “Done right, breast-baring’s strategic value is unrivalled. That said, in the brouhaha over Carla’s (Bruni) bralessness, no one has remarked that she doubtless also went knickerless.”
Bibliography; http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/article7050266.ece
I work for Victorias Secret and like all other employees that have posted above it is against our policy to return worn or washed merchandise. All returns must be unworn/unwashed with tags attached withinin 90 days of purchase. As far as the store that returned the item they may have not known the item had been worn. Do you expect employees to smell the returned item? If you snatch smells bad enough to leave an order after wearing it for a few moments you should see a docotor. This is not the practice of Limited Brands the employee in the interview should be fired and so should all of the managers in the stores she has worked in. The employee in the video returning the item should be fired for not being attentive enough to even ask the customer if it had been worn.
Here’s what’s nice about the internet, people can come together and share their experiences with a store like VS. Maybe someone has had a similar problem? Here is mine..and thank god I never got used underwear. I’m glad they upped their return policy. It needs to be strict for these types of items.
April 1-30 2010 Secret Reward Card promotion at Victoria’s Secret–Online
Secret Reward Cards are rewards that were given throughout the month of March for every purchase made in store or online. They have a minimum of $10 on the card. Restrictions on the back say they are not valid on the purchase of “gift cards” The cards may be used online or in store from April 1-30, 2010.
I pooled my Secret Reward Card promotion cards with friends to give to one who is graduating..surprised her daily with e-card attacks! and they cancelled all of the orders (which were placed throughout april, not just towards the end of the program. Would have given them plenty of time to notify US and the recipient. They did neither) and are saying that now that the program is over we can’t use them. Only one secret reward card was used per order, as per the terms and conditions.
1) the card doesn’t say “e-gift cards” or “e-cards” aren’t valid, it only mentions “gift cards”..we thought, honestly, this was ok since e-cards come with a BIG restriction–can’t be used in stores, online ONLY –AND the way they are advertised on the site makes it seem as if they are not standard gift cards. The terms and conditions on the back of the card should have explicitly included the EXCLUSION of E-cards, especially since the system accepted them and they were approved. The terms are extremely misleading 2) they accepted our orders, just making it reinforce the fact that we thought it was cool and 3) never got word that they would cancel–in fact, she not only received them, but activated all of them! VS went back and took all $270! It seems suspicious that they retroactively choose to take action–when the program is over, cutting the consumer off from even being able to spend the value of the cards. They had plenty of time to provide notice and did not. Only when the recipient got in touch with me to notify me that weeks after she had received and activated the e-cards, were the funds completely drained.
What a waste of a)money at the VS stores to get these–really did work as an incentive b) time spent doing this..and talking to them on the phone c)energy.
nothing got resolved. and, to make matters worse–some of us got reward cards that people were not going to use from a website (where she was giving it out to the first person–us)thinking it was ok since they hadn’t been used. Wrong. Turns out they had been and it just made things look that much worse for us! It’s ok to give your card away, but we didn’t realize it would EVEN allow multiple orders with the card to go through, so we thought it would be first-come, first-serve. Every card we had through our purchases were totally valid.
This has been the worst experience and I am totally filing a BBB complaint. Better to have it down than not.
Victoria’s Secret does not re-sell worn items. Tags need to be attached to make a return. If there is any exception to our return policy the item is cut into pieces, damaged out and thrown into a bin in-front of the customer.