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An upmarket chain U.S. department stores has taken action to stop people buying expensive clothes, wearing them once and then returning them a refund. About 65 per cent U.S. retailers reported they have been victims this practice, known “wardrobing”. This form "return fraud" costs the retail industry an estimated $8.8 billion a year. The store, Bloomingdale's, has started attaching large, black, hard-to-hide tags to the bottom dresses that cost $150. The garment cannot be returned if the tag is missing. This means anyone thinking they can have a "free dress rental" might have to think again. The tag means they would be advertising the fact their party that they are wardrobing.

Retail analyst Hitha Prabhakar explained how serious wardrobing was, saying: "What people don't realize is that it's an illegal process." Wardrobing has become such a problem that Bloomingdale's has decided to risk annoying and potentially losing customers an effort to deter it. They have, effect, let go a little the sales mantra that "the customer is always right". Some Bloomingdale's customers believe the tags make them feel dishonest, while others think it's a long overdue solution to unscrupulous shoppers. The National Retail Federation said: "It's a delicate balance loss prevention and good customer service, and the relationship has to be handled appropriate finesse."