Old Navy alters policy on returns

Critics of Gap Inc.’s Old Navy won concessions after complaining they were overcharged for women’s plus-size jeans.

While Old Navy didn’t say it would change its prices, the company will let customers return plus-size apparel at stores beginning Dec. 5. In the past, customers had to ship the clothing back to the company, which only sells its plus-size products online.

A Change.org petition criticizing Old Navy’s policies gathered more than 95,000 signatures, prompting the chain to make the changes. The campaign called Old Navy sexist, noting that while a pair of women’s plus-size jeans can cost about $15 more than regular jeans, men’s jeans are priced the same no matter how big they are.

Old Navy has argued that its women’s items are specifically designed and manufactured for plus-size customers and cost more to make — distinguishing them from men’s versions.

Old Navy also plans to form a customer panel to discuss plus-size fashion and product feedback, said Edie Kissko, a spokes­woman for Gap.

For-profit college to sell campuses

NEW YORK » Corinthian Colleges will sell most of its campuses in the midst of several investigations and lawsuits by federal and state regulators.

The sale of Everest and Wyo­Tech campuses to the nonprofit ECMC Group would allow more than 39,000 students to continue attending class, the company said last week.

Regulators have cracked down on for-profit colleges like Corinthian in recent years. The Obama administration late last month announced a rule that would require career training programs to show that students can earn enough money after graduation to pay off their loans.

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