There is some sort of middle ground (and maybe a market opportunity) rising out of this type of behavior. It doesn't work in every case, but luxury rentals is a growing business.

Everyone's probably heard of bagborroworsteal.com where you can rent designer handbags, but I recently had the opportunity to save a ton with a similarly themed site called Gagas.com.

Gagas.com has kids dressy clothes for rent, and since I had a wedding to take my three kids to, it was a great way to save a ton of money by renting instead of buying stuff I knew they would only wear once.

Maybe if more businesses step up to address what the consumer is really looking for, they'd do well and people wouldn't have to resort to things like buy-wear-return.

Not mentioned in the article (and what I sort of expected to read about after spying the title of this post) is the price paid by the consumer.

The cost of this kind of action leads to a mentality of taking advantage of a system, then of a person, then of all people. The consumer's character, integrity, and least of all, their reputation are all damaged. Sometimes beyond repair if the the mindset is not changed.

I recently took a rented video game back to Blockbuster in order to rent it for another week. The cashier took me that I could keep it for another 5 days if I wanted to because of their "no late fee" policy. My response shocked him. I replied, "Actually, I'd really prefer to pay for the next week of rental now instead of taking advantage of the system. I originally paid for one week the first time, so I should keep my word if I expect Blockbuster and others to do the same for me."

It's a mindset, a subset of one's worldview, that directs and guides our decisions -- from the smallest things to the largest choices we make every day.

It not only feels good to do the right thing, but it adds another brick to the house of integrity we all host. We also get a brick for our domicile of character. These are sacred houses that are desicrated with our faulty decision-making, or built stronger with our right choices.

That's my take. Great post FC!

The posting of Kate can not be generalised.Few may be there where some one does not buy.Cheap is no doubt acceptable and about 'free'posting something is meaningless because every one will like 'free'something.But the quality and reasonable price ultimately stay on and I believe,Kate will agree on it.

The exception is posted.No doubt every one likes it free.But normally if the same client goes to the market and the same shop,he will not like to see him again who does not purchase and takes only free benefits.He has opened the shop for his benefit only and it is to be accepted as a fact.

"I go to a great store, buy the perfect dress, take it home, don't take the labels off, wear it to the event and then take it back to the store for a full refund."

I recently read of a similar practice where college students buy new textbooks, Xerox them, and return them for a refund. There's a name for both of these practices. It's called stealing and we all pay for it in higher prices.

Everyone loves free stuff. I am one of them.

To berate those who do, doesnt help us in resolving what we can do.

College textbooks are generally priced much beyond what a student can afford (given that the university pretty much polishes you of whatever money you have). College textbooks can definitely be cheaper if printed on cheaper quality paper, with no color, and fancy CDs (might as well put the content online).

This "Free for all" mentality is paid for by all consumers, not just the insecure ones who buy into "name=quality=social standing". What is this behavior saying about us as a society? Everyone pays more because of this. Feel you MUST have a unique "Fufufifi" handbag or wallet like everyone else? Buy it.. Put it on credit...but be honest!!

Not saying there isn't a market for quality goods at a decent price. Quality Endures and is a better choice, especially for the poor. The "trick" is to pick classic styles and stay away from today's fad, the "Nom du jour"... Why pay 300 bucks for a handbag to carry your maxed out credit cards and a half used tic tac? Fasionable and "with it" as it seems... Since when does THAT make sense? And what business wants THIS kind of repeat business??

You paying for a grande Mocha Frappucino? You are paying for the free condiments and then some. That's capitalism. The people ordering basic black get their goodies paid for by the people who pay for the premium stuff. The folks that have to have the latest in fashion subsidize the clothes that are sold in the discount store and the cocktail dress scammers. I don't see Bloomingdale's or Starbucks threatening bankruptcy. So why the moral tirade? There's something here for everyone.

i very much appreciated the return policy of stores while living in the US, as we did not have that where i originally come from. so, if you make a stupid purchase or a wrong, you were stuck with it, whilst in the US, you could return it.

but this relaxed return policy also resulted in people taking advantage such as the example given. people need to have more of a conscience and not treat stores as a free loan store.