How to Respond: Can You Ship an Empty Box for Me?
Our new store has been open since Friday and I’ve already heard a number of stories from my sales associates. Because our new store is located on the border of South Carolina as are a few other stores—my sales associates have told me many people have asked them if we could ship their items to their home in S. Carolina to save the taxes—this seems like a hassle but because the shipping cost is less then paying the tax it became an issue that sealed the deal at another local store.
But, what do you do when a customers asks you, “I want to wear my jewelry out. Could I pay for it now and have you ship the empty box?” We all know this is illegal and would not take such a chance—but how do you respond to a question like this.
I’m sure the customer knows it’s illegal too—so what do you say? One of my sales associates said he would just make a joke and say, “You wouldn’t want me to get in trouble…now would you?”
Have you ever been asked to ship an empty box? How would you respond?
Hedda Schupak commented:
I think your sales associate handled it just right. Besides, if you
show the customer you're willing to break the law, it can't but
plant the seeds of what else are you willing to do that's not quite
on the up and up? Shipping product to another state is not (yet)
illegal, so even if it's a hassle I can see where a customer would
expect it and where you as a retailer are going to need to do it.
