Problem: Advice columnist Ann Landers has attacked a practice engaged in by some clothing retailers in her column. The retailers will slash or tear items they have been unable to sell and throw them away instead of giving the merchandise to employees or low income people. Ann was puzzled by this behavior. The only plausible explanation she could think of was one suggested by a Nebraska reader: Stores are trying to protect themselves against people who will obtain such merchandise at no charge and then bring it back to the store for credit. Can you give her an alternative explanation?