A surge in TV returns after the holidays and the Super Bowl is creating deep discounts for shoppers — but the trend, which is known as “wardrobing,” is also raising concerns among retailers and about the environment. The phenomenon is contributing to a flood of returned televisions hitting the resale market in February and March, significantly lowering prices at second-hand and outlet stores. Wardrobing is a form of return abuse in which someone buys a product with the intention of returning it later for a refund. While it typically involves clothing, it is increasingly happening with big-ticket electronics like TVs ahead of major events such as the Super Bowl. According to B-Stock, a business-to-business company that helps move returned products, TV returns tend to double in February and March. The spike follows the holiday shopping season and the big game, when many consumers purchase new televisions. B-Stock said the large supply of returned TVs significantly drops prices, allowing shoppers to find deals at secondhand electronics stores, including Best Buy Outlet, Walmart and Amazon. “You can find the really high-end stuff,” Sean Cleland with B-Stock said. “The retailers have gotten very good about knowing what to do with this inventory because return rules are so relaxed. We’re just kind of spoiled and used to that now. We’re used to returning things, and retailers are willing to accept it because there’s this really sophisticated ecosystem behind it.” But there is a downside to wardrobing. Retailers often cannot resell returned TVs at full price, resulting in financial losses that can ultimately lead to higher prices for other consumers. There is also an environmental impact tied to the transportation of returned items and the possibility it ends up in a landfill. According to B-Stock, some electronics retailers are cracking down on TV wardrobing by charging significant restocking fees of up to 20%, offering only partial refunds if a TV shows significant use and tracking excessive returns by the same person. Retailers face a balancing act — flexible, frictionless return policies attract customers, but they can also invite abuse like wardrobing. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less