Posted on 05/27/2004 8:46:59 AM PDT by Fierce Allegiance
NEW YORK (Reuters) - In the latest act of sanitizing New York's mean streets, lawmakers want to rid the city of a scourge most people are not even aware of -- previously worn lingerie being sold as new merchandise.
Council members are mulling the proposed legislation after watching a local television news broadcast which claimed leading department stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy's, had tried to resell returned undergarments.
Under current law, stores do not have to state whether undergarments on sale, including women's panties and thongs, have been bought and returned, although certain stores have developed their own policies.
"This is a major consumer and health issue in that the amount of bacteria that can be transported from one person to another in just one wearing can be a health hazard," said council member Tony Avella.
"When you talk about it people start to giggle as it is a tough subject to discuss."
Spokeswoman Elina Kazan said Macy's does not sell worn undergarments and posts signs in changing rooms that intimate apparel should not be tried on for size on top of bare skin.
"We train our associates to inspect the merchandise upon return and if in salable condition, return it to the sales floor," she said. "Any items that are soiled ... are not returned to the floor."
The council plans further discussions to decide if the bill should exclude brassieres, undershirts, socks and bathing suits, before being put to a council vote later this year.
Saks did not return calls for comment.
Donald Halperin of the New York Metropolitan Retailers Association said the issue was mainly about women's undergarments because women care more about such issues more than men.
""Any items that are soiled ... are not returned to the floor." "
Well that's a comforting thought! Only buy in never opened packages.... gross alert!!!
There are some whacked people out there.
FYI ping.... GROSS!!
I haven't slept well since...
3-paks are easy to tell if they have been opened.
Skid-marks show prior use.
Who is more whacked out? The slime who returns worn underwear or the store that resells them?
Yuck!
my wife got completely grossed out a few years back when a pair of old ladies were selling their pre-loved undergarments and oral hygeine utensils.
< /XXX-42 mode>
The store, i would say, but both are gross.
Did the person give the underwear a good sniff check?
It was a "she", and I'm guessing that hubby probably never knew. That's why I don't sleep well.
What a fright, finding pairs labelled "H.R.Clinton -Wed" and "B.Clinton - July".
They could make a lot more money on the underwear if they would mark them as "Used" and sold them under the table in brown paper bags.
Reminds me of the old joke where the geezer goes to the doctor for a medical exam.
The doctor says, "Alright, I'll need samples of the following from you: Urine, fecal, blood and semen."
The old geezer hands over his boxers.
The Clinton's donated their used underware, so it must be OK.
I know men who would pay good money to buy used women's underwear. Macy's and Saks don't realize it but they have a goldmine here.
I thought maybe Hillary was making another charitable donation to benefit her tax return this year.
You know when the Clintons were in the Arkansas governpr's mansion, she took a deduction for used underwear and they weren't making near as much money.
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