Do you try items on in store? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you try items on in store?

Sal

Veteran

When on holiday in the US last year I did a spot of shopping with my friend in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I found a dress I liked in Anthropologie and when the retail assistant asked me if I was going to try it on I was taken aback. My friend explained it was quite usual to not try things on in store but take them home and try them out there.

I do some online shopping (mostly NZ companies but occasionally offshore), and stores here have a variety of return policies. I do shop for my DH and he tries on at home (he works out of town at the airport, he has little interest in clothes, and this works for both of us!). However for myself I always try on in store, and make a decision whether to buy or not. Occasionally I get home and find a fault or it does not match the shoes etc...but this is rare. While I live close to most of the places I shop, I am an impatient person and don't like continually going back to stores.

I just wondered what other forum members do - do you try clothes on in store or take them home and try them on there for the first time?

General

36 replies

Latest reply was from EveningMood

Anonymous

Haha, you already know my answer to this one. Sometimes I do, but as little as possible. I hate getting undressed and pulling stuff over my head when I am out and shopping and running errands. Buuuuut, it's so inefficient and I waste so much of my time doing this, I must change my ways. I must change my ways. I must change my ways........

MRL

Veteran

I always try on in the store. I very rarely end up returning an item, because I am very picky. I have to really like it and it has to fit well or I don't buy. I did not used to be this way, but I have raised my standards and find that I make far fewer "mistakes" in buying.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Almost always. I only don't try something on if its a duplicate of an item I already know works for me (layering tanks, underwear, sleepwear, etc). Maybe once in a blue moon I'll grab a cheap tee at Target or something and buy it without trying on, but I'd much rather know whether something fits and works before taking it home!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Like Janet if it's underwear or tanks then I won't but everything else I do - saves going back if it doesn't work

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Every time. That's why there is a physical store and dressing rooms, in my opinion. I do enough blind online shopping without the luxury of trying on that I would never miss the opportunity to do so when in brick and mortar shops.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Absolutely every time. I loathe wasting my time with returns and already do enough returns from online shopping.

Peri

Veteran

Always. Otherwise I would be shopping online. If I've gone to the trouble of going out to a store, I'm going to try to cut the chances of the hassle of returning again as much as I can.

E

Veteran

Yep! In fact, I usually try something on more than once while deciding whether or not to buy it: if I'm not willing to go through the bother of changing into it 2-3 times before buying, I probably don't love it enough to bring it home.

Marley

Veteran

I HATE trying on clothes at the store! - and avoid it if at all possible. High five lisap! I admit that its a horrible habit to get into - and I've just developed it in the past few years. I know that it is foolish and it almost always means that in the end I have to spend more time than I would have if I had just tried on the darn item in the first place! I have no good reasons for doing it - except that it seems I am always hot when I shop, and the thought of taking off my clothes and putting on new clothes that I might sweat on is just not my idea of a good time!

Diana

Veteran

Absolutely. If I'm taking the time to go to the actual store, I don't want to have to go back just to return it. And being able to try before buying is one of the selling points of brick and mortar vs online in my opinion.

I admit that there's a certain shoe store in town that carries great stock but the people who work there are pushy and they get absolutely AWFUL yelp reviews so sometimes I try things on but I never buy from them - I go home and order the shoes from zappos or amazon instead.

Echo

Veteran

I always try on when I am in a brick and mortar store, because as others have mentioned I make enough returns from online shopping. I'd rather spend the time on the front end and know I am going home with something I like and that fits than have to try another size or make a return later. IMO, this is why there are dressing rooms. The store doesn't want you to go home with something that doesn't work for you, either!

kerry

Veteran

I always try on in a B&M store. I do a lot of online shopping and get tired of having to think about returns so when I can avoid it I do. It's not unusual for me to take MANY items into the change room (like the 24 at Anthropologie yesterday!) BTW - didn't buy a single thing. I'm trying to practice PPP - I think it's called

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Almost always, and preferably, yes. I have brought home t-shirts and other not-so-fitted items without trying them on, and I've bought leggings without trying them on. But I return enough items--even if I have tried them on--that the initial try-on in store is worth the effort to me.

Thistle

Veteran

Yep, for the few times I get to shop in a store. My retail choices are not abundant, so I do a lot of on-line ordering. Add a two year old to that mix, and, well, you get the picture. But if I am at the store, I am definitely trying it on. I don't like it, but is like trying to find the time to make a return trip, or making a return trip with a toddler, even less enjoyable.

Lyn D.

Veteran

Pretty much always- and usually in 2 or 3 different sizes!
It is tiring but usually worth it. Since joining YLF I make myself also try-on at home within the return period. This has been a revelation to me

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It depends.

If I have time and the lineups are not too crazy, I absolutely try on in store. Otherwise, as Peri said, I might as well shop online. Which I mostly do, since I do not live close to many decent brick-and-mortar stores. The way I see it, my city trips are sleuthing missions. I try stuff on by various makers and then can either buy there or --- if they don't have my size in stock (which often happens) -- I can go home and do the online ordering, more secure in the knowledge that the item will work.

But if I am pressed for time, or if I already know the sizing and have worn the manufacturer's stuff before, I might risk taking it home without trying on.

Marley

Veteran

I have absolutely no argument with those of you who say that that's the reason for going to a B & M store - so that you can actually try the items on! That makes so much sense! And, what I do does not make sense. I totally get that. But - I had a thought. I think I might be "spoiled" at the abundance of retail stores where I live - and so it is not really that big of a deal to stop by a story or go back to the store. It's almost always on my way to or from wherever I've been. So - there's that! Hahahaha! (I can't believe how I'm trying to justify my really stupid habit!)

Deb

Veteran

Always, always, always. Sometimes I'll go away and then come back and try again with fresh eyes, to be certain of my purchases. My choices are well thought out and calculated and this mind set prevents mistakes, orphans, wasted money and having to closet edit too often, as well as ensuring the right fit and colour selection. Also I have built good relationships at my favourite boutiques and the staff offer constructive personalised advice.
I do some on line shopping, mainly for American jeans, as they can be quite expensive here in Australia, but I will try them here before I order. I can't imagine buying without trying!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

In places like Target, I often buy things without trying them on. I know their return policy and how things tend to fit, and I'm there every week or two anyway so it's not a big deal to return anything.

In most mall type stores I do try on things. At the outlet mall I'm the crazy one with a huge armful of things to try on, enough that the attendants think I'm crazy, and then I end up only buying a thing or two most times.

It depends at the thrift store. Most of the local ones here do have dressing rooms, but they are often sketchy or always occupied. I've gotten pretty good at judging fit based on holding something up and/or the brand and size. When the cost is really low I often take a bit of a gamble on how something might fit, just to save some time, even if it's not returnable.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Marley, it totally makes sense -- if I lived in Toronto and worked near a big shopping area, I'd probably do the same thing. Run in, buy the item on my way home, try it on in the comfort of my own place, and return the next day! Makes sense to me. I just don't have that luxury because of where I live.

Erin

I almost always try on at the store. Too many times something that I love, love, love on the hanger looks awful on me while something I have doubts about is really flattering! Plus at stores like Nordstrom they have nice rooms and bring you water!

Neel

Veteran

I almost always do. The times I didn't ... I have regretted. I am not a trained shopper yet!

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

If there's a fitting room, yes, always. To me, that's the point of shopping B&M stores.

AJ

Veteran

I hate returning, so if I have a chance, I do try it on. Often times I will bring an additional size up or down from the one I think will fit, just in case. I usually have an armload of items to take into the dressing room to decrease the hassle of getting in and out of my clothes.

At thrift stores, I usually wear fitted items so that I can try things on over my clothes at the mirror instead of having to wait for a dressing room.

Style Fan

Veteran

I always try things on. I may go back again and try it on again. I can't always return things because I live out of town so I am careful about what I buy. I will not buy clothes if I feel pressured. Out I walk.

Gigi

Veteran

Unless I'm really short on time, I will try on in the store. IMO, the reason to go to the store is pretty much exactly for that—so that I don't have to be doing returns, which is a hassle.

Anonymous

Marley - I'm with you. I am usually shopping during the day/work hours when I am in and out of malls or stores for other reasons. One of the beautiful things about being self employed is being able to mix in personal business during the work day I am usually in a rush, know how things fit anyways, and know i can pop back in to return anything within a day or two. That said, it doesn't mean that this is necessarily the way to do it - this method of shopping is not how I want to go forward.

Alassë

Veteran

What Mo said.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Oh yeah. Unless I've already tried it on and am returning explicitly to buy it. I do enough online buying that actually getting to try things on in the flesh is a giant plus.

I think stores like Anthro really cash in on not trying on in store, because so many people take things home and then... just never get around to returning them. Very very common.

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