https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 14 May 2026 15:32:53 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate/page/2#post-1730191 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 15:55:46 +0000 Suzanne (ambergreen) 1730191@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm with others here who do not consider sending back an item's sizes that don't work but keeping the one that does a "return." IMO that's just the cost of doing business when shopping has gone largely online, especially when, as Thistle brought up, the stores don't carry your size range at all (a frequent situation for petites). I used to agonize over trying to pinpoint the exact ONE size that would work for me, and I still do scrutinize reviews and measurements, but it has been so much better to order up to 4 possible variants--for me, it's usually XS, S, SP, and XSP if they have all those--and see which one, if any, works.</p> <p>For myself, I define a return as something that is a fail in any form and just goes back, and I do track those. This year it has been 16% in terms of number of items. I'm a better shopper than I used to be, but I don't have a goal to reduce returns for retailers' sake. Fewer fails saves time and effort on my end and increases closet happiness. The aim is always to get an item we'll love, right? Good intentions. But we can't help it if something just doesn't work, and I don't feel any guilt in sending it back. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate/page/2#post-1730108 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 14:14:44 +0000 Diana 1730108@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think my highest rate of clothing/shoe returns is from Amazon but since I buy so many other things from them my overall rate there is low. Second would prob be Nordstrom but I think they're used to it, and my return rate is lower than many others'. </p> <p>I don't order online too often from "mall stores" as I have most of them nearby. (I have nordies too but they are in the suburbs and the good one is somewhere I rarely go). Even if they don't necessarily have my color/size at least I can try things on for fit first. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate/page/2#post-1730084 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 13:56:30 +0000 Suz 1730084@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Aziriphale</b> brings up a great point -- calling the customer service or reading reviews very carefully can make all the difference to online success. I tend to do that pretty rigorously before ordering.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate/page/2#post-1730075 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 13:32:04 +0000 LaPed 1730075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>JAileen -- I find that STP's customer service has gone waaay downhill. They got bought by the TJMaxx group last year and I suspect there was a big shake-up in management and policies, because my experiences there recently have not been great. The blacklisting is so unfortunate -- not a good tactic, IMHO. There's a new brick and mortar STP in my hometown (about 2 hours from where I live now). I've been in once and was not impressed by the selection.&nbsp;</p> <p>Gradfashionista -- I only have a car part of the week, and it does make life more complicated. I have to plan my errands carefully, and I'm learning how to take full advantage of the bus route. Luckily, my toddler loves riding the bus -- car-free days are actually his favorite!</p> <p>Aziraphale -- I definitely contact CS re: garment measurements on a regular basis. I'm almost always right between XS and S, or right between petite and regular, so knowing the exact inseam/hip/shoulder/etc can be make-or-break.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thistle -- Shoes sizing fluctuates so much, even within a single brand! I've bought the same trail runners three year in a row, and each year I've been a different size -- but lined up next to each other the three pairs look identical. I find it frustrating that athletic shoes now seem to get redesigned (revamped -- literally!) every year; I'm always worried that the shoes I love will have disappeared by the time I need to replace them.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate/page/2#post-1729970 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 05:43:11 +0000 Jane 1729970@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was also thinking about returns when the good have been faulty. That's when I've really struggled to get all the aspects sorted at a single point, order number, packaged item, note explaining, free returns label printed and in the same place as the package,. On two occasions I've just accepted the faults because it seemed so much trouble. Much easier to return faulty items to a shop in my experience.! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729966 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 05:13:18 +0000 Aziraphale 1729966@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My return rate is super low, but that's because I shop mostly at brick and mortar shops and I don't buy things unless I'm very confident about them. The odd time I'll cave and buy something online, and most of the time when I do that I have good reason to think the garment will fit -- usually because I've tried on the mainline size in-store, and then I order the equivalent petite size online. I just did this for a pair of Eileen Fisher boyfriend jeans. I tried on the size 0 in the store, and I liked the cut but they were a tad too loose and way too long. So I went online, and while I had the website up I phoned the store (does anyone else do this? Or am I the only one?) to ask for a comparison between the garment measurements for a size 2P and mainline 0 -- the length, the waist, the rise, etc. Once I was satisfied that the petite size was smaller in the right places, I ordered the jeans. So it wasn't a surprise that they fit exactly how I expected.</p> <p>Now, if I just looked at pictures online and ordered based on that, my return rate would be close to 100%! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729963 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 04:57:20 +0000 Gigi 1729963@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My return rate is pretty high, because I do most of my shopping online. I would say that it is around 80% or higher. In fact, I often order quite a bit more than I want, because I know that most of it will go back. I'm a stickler for fit, so that's why my return rate is so high. My size is not ordinarily sold in-store; I'm sure that if I could shop in-store, the return rate wouldn't be as high (but it would probably still be high, because I often need time to sit with an item to decide if it's really what I'm looking for). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729951 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 03:49:16 +0000 gradfashionista 1729951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@Thistle--I don't know if that's the case for anyone, it's just a potential concern I have based on a bad experience at Sephora. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729942 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 02:37:28 +0000 BrieN 1729942@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My return rate has been really high since joining YLF. I actually delete the entire transaction from my budget when I buy and return with a net $0 because otherwise I would have dozens of entries just cluttering up my 2016 finances. &nbsp;Part of it is being on the cusp of petite, some of it is being different sizes top and bottom, some of it is just not being sure what's going to look good together, etc. &nbsp;And all this returning is after I look at Angie's top pick and/or compulsively read all the reviews of an item.&nbsp;</p> <p>While I do have a Nordstrom nearby, it seems to not stock the items I want to purchase </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729938 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 02:26:36 +0000 DonnaF 1729938@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My return rate is probably 80% or higher.&nbsp; My purchases are almost entirely online and from Nordstrom.&nbsp; I tend to order items in two sizes since I'm a P2/P4, so between a PXS and PS, so that's 50% or 100% return right there.&nbsp; And although I'm a Petite, I sometimes order in Regular or Junior sizes so the risk of the item not fitting is even greater.&nbsp; When an item's length is not listed, it raises the return ante even higher -- Juniors could be too short, and Regular too long.&nbsp; Today, I'm so happy I ordered a jeans skirt in two sizes.&nbsp; I probably would have kept the larger size (and been unhappy when it stretched out) had I not ordered the next size down which seems to fit a bit better.</p> <p>I am pretty good about not settling and returning items.&nbsp; After one try-on and one gentle wear, the top below had five or so discs fall off.&nbsp; Since it is from Nordstrom, I am seriously considering returning it since it doesn't seem to be suitable for actual wear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729935 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 02:17:18 +0000 Sal 1729935@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In store 2016 - 0%</p> <p>Online - kept 5, returned 4, so 45%. &nbsp;</p> <p>I strongly prefer shopping in store but do shop online for range and convenience, and sadly am doing this more for larger chain stores where the retail shop here is stocking a smaller and more conservative range. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729934 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 02:16:49 +0000 Bonnie 1729934@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I shop probably 50% in stores and 50% online, but that's just a guess because I haven't really tracked it. I rarely return store purchases and probably return half of what I buy online. Shoes are my most returned online purchases by far.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729928 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 02:05:50 +0000 Thistle 1729928@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting to read that some stores are blacklisting shoppers that return too much.</p> <p>Makes me wonder what those stores that only offer stuff online, or those who have a large chunk of their merchandise as online only are doing.</p> <p>As someone whose size tends to only be available online from lots of retailers, I'd be pretty angry. I mean, I don't even get the option of trying on before I buy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729925 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 01:58:42 +0000 Thistle 1729925@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Depends.</p> <p>For brands I know well and shop often (like Talbot's), my return rate is less than 25%. I already know their charming cardis run short, so don't bother no matter how cute. Or that their Weekender tees and tanks fit me like a dream.</p> <p>Brands I know less well vary, but can run up to 75%</p> <p>Shoes are the worst. Even a tried-and-true brand can have a style that runs small or large. These returns run close to 75% unless it's replacement shoes (I replace my New Balance walking shoes that have the "Bar" in them every year). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729919 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 01:51:56 +0000 gradfashionista 1729919@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Super high to the point of fearing that I'm going to blacklisted or something. I go through cycles where I'm tired of shopping, waiting, and returning, and take breaks before starting starting up again. Shoes have the highest return rate, but I return other items because of fit and quality. Sometimes it takes me longer to make up my mind, other times I do so quickly. My recent experience shopping in-store at Sephora made me realize how much I prefer shopping online. Without a car, the commute to certain stores is too great, and I don't want to be coerced into keeping something that doesn't work simply because I couldn't return it on time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729895 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 00:13:22 +0000 Suz 1729895@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've never tracked it, but considering I do most of my shopping online, it's relatively low. That is to say, it is relatively low <b>now</b>. It used to be much, much higher. What's happened is what El Cee describes. After several years of online shopping and testing, I have figured out the makers whose clothes tend to fit me reasonably well and I order pretty much from them. I try to confine myself to stores that offer free delivery and returns anyway -- but it's not always possible for me here in Canada. (J. Crew, I'm looking at YOU. Though sometimes I get lucky and get a free delivery day).&nbsp;</p> <p>Another of my tricks is to make big-city reconnaissance missions. I do online browsing first so I have an overview of what might interest me. I rarely find my size in store but at least I can touch the item, examine the colours, the fabric, etc. I then go home and order it online if I actually like it in person.&nbsp;</p> <p>I do sometimes do what you describe -- order a wild card item just to increase my total for free shipping. Those items are riskier, of course.&nbsp;</p> <p>In any case, I don't feel badly about sending stuff back. Like Viva, I tend to do it very quickly. So it's not as if I am keeping anyone else from having the item.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729892 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 23:38:04 +0000 JAileen 1729892@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Last April Sierra Trading Post sent me an email telling me my return rate was 60 percent. At that time they stopped sending me daily discount codes, and I stopped shopping there. It's too bad because I had found lots of nice things there - Woolrich jackets, Timberland boots, etc. We have an outlet store here, but it only has a tiny fraction of their online catalog. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729870 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 22:35:11 +0000 shedev 1729870@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My fall return rate has been 75%, 3 0ut of 4. I haven't bought anything brick and mortar yet this season. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729867 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 22:21:50 +0000 Aida 1729867@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Never tracked but for online purchases... Very High </p> <p>Less often return items bought in store but certainly do if I've brought an item home, had a play with my existing pieces, and find that it doesn't work. I'm probably &lt; 30% returns for b&amp;m bought items. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729858 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 22:15:34 +0000 LaPed 1729858@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So fun to see everyone's numbers! Seems like keep one, return two, or even three, is not unusual. Almost all of my local shopping success is thrift stores, so no return rate there. However, I've definitely made some regrettable thrift store purchases -- mistakes that I would never have made at retail price. It's taken me years to figure out how to bring my fit and color goggles to secondhand shops with me. A deal is not a deal if you never wear it...</p> <p>Viva -- your relationship with J Crew sounds a lot like mine. I go in knowing things most likely won't fit, but I have to try anyway, since there's always something I love the *look* of. J Crew is, oddly, one of my few local retail options, but their in-store selection is very limited, so I usually buy online and return locally. Also, they usually only do free shipping over $150, so sometimes I have to throw some wildcards into the cart to get to the magic number, and just anticipate an in-store return. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729851 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 22:03:30 +0000 Gaylene 1729851@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very low, but I'm pretty picky about what comes home with me and very selective about what I order online. My preference for B&amp;M shopping obviously makes a huge difference here, as well as my decisiveness. I rarely second guess my instinctive reaction as to whether or not something is a 9 or 10 when I see myself in a mirror. </p> <p>I suspect my shopping habits were ingrained in me when I used to make 3-4 hour trek to a larger centre to satisfy my style urges. The thought of an 8-hour round trip just to return an item tended to make me cautious about my purchases. Same goes for the hassles and eye-watering shipping costs of online returns in Canada. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729843 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 21:37:27 +0000 Diana 1729843@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have no idea of exact numbers but I think mine is high (&gt;50%) for online purchases, but very low (maybe 5% if that) for brick and mortar purchases.&nbsp; Most of my online returns are very obvious the minute I try them on, so I don't hang on to them for long.&nbsp; I don't actually usually order multiple sizes of things at once, unless I think it's something that will sell out - I will usually just order one size, and then decide whether or not to exchange it for a different one once I've gotten it.&nbsp; </p> <p>Things can vary depending on whether or not I am currently obsessed with finding a very particular something.&nbsp; Remember the gold zipper boots? I must have ordered 20 pairs (but over many months) online and funnily enough I ended up finding a pair I loved completely by accident at the Rack in person.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729840 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 21:33:29 +0000 Author Linda 1729840@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I return maybe 15%, mostly for fit. I order primarily online, for convenience, because I live in an area with abundant shopping option. Online suits me. I tend to buy brands I already know and experiment only occasionally. When I sample a new brand is when I'm more likely to return things as, even if I love the item, I often end up sizing up or down. Fewer purchases are complete fails, but they go back immediately. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729837 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 21:26:07 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 1729837@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mine is high. Very high. That was one of my first YLF lessons. I used to think I should keep stuff even if it wasn't a good fit, because it was somehow my fault for not looking good in the store's size. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729822 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 20:57:57 +0000 viva 1729822@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My return rate is also about 75%, and at times even higher. I try to have high standards for what I keep, and the store I buy most from -- JCrew -- is not local to me, so I order a lot from them. Also, Nordstrom (not close), Amazon, and a few others. I rarely return what I buy in-person (no surprise, I guess) but I buy in-person rarely. &nbsp;I prefer free shipping and free returns, but I will sometimes pay for shipping (Anthropologie) if it is an item I can't get elsewhere and/or really really like -- however, I also try to put their items in Finds and hold out for a free shipping or discount event.&nbsp;</p> <p>I remember a few months ago some stores were giving customers grief for being high percentage returners, but fortunately JCrew is not doing that. Apparently I am keeping enough to satisfy them (despite their stuff fitting me so well, I still return half of what I try there.) </p> <p>Just adding that I return immediately; often the day the package arrives but definitely within the week. I make K/R decisions pretty quickly. I just hate having unnecessary charges on my card. It's probably guilt more than anything. :)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729819 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 20:55:29 +0000 Keix 1729819@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What fun! Counting order-a-size-from-the-store as a physical purchase if I tried on one size in person, here's my numbers from recent purchases (excluding socks and underwear but including bras/lounge/gear).</p> <p>July - online 9/35 = 26%, in-person 2/2 = 100%<br />Aug - online 7/32 = 22%, in-person 2/2 = 100%<br />Sept to date - online 3/6, in-person 2/2, pending 9 items (all online)</p> <p>I actually expected my keep rate to be lower--I think it has been in previous years, but this year I've been buying slightly more essentials/gear online that are easy to fit, as well as a few inexpensive trendy items which are final sale.</p> <p>I definitely order multiple sizes and take advantage of free return shipping offers. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729818 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 20:54:18 +0000 El Cee 1729818@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do almost all my clothing shopping online and am lucky that I have had a fairly low return rate the last few years (around 10%). Most of the returns were footwear or experimenting with a new brand of clothing where I was not so sure about sizing. I tend to shop brands that I know from experience will work for my height, size and shape so that I do not have as much "hit and miss" as I have had in the past.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729817 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 20:53:24 +0000 Barbara Diane 1729817@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My rate is very high.</p> <p>I ordered one pair of crops in 4 sizes-regular and petite versions of two sizes, picked the one that fit best, and returned the rest. This was in a brand that I knew. </p> <p>In shoes I usually only order repeats of something I originally purchased in store that the store no longer carries. the exception that I ordered was same brand, different shoe, that I had been eyeing for a while, when it went on triple points last time, but it was a no go.&nbsp;</p> <p>I ordered a larger size of something I brought home yesterday, so at least one will be going back.</p> <p>NAS was crazy, the shopping, the multiple size ordering, the returning, etc. So much so that yesterday I made a point of saying hi to the woman at the returns desk even though I had nothing to return.</p> <p>It would certainly help if I could tell what size would fit without ordering.&nbsp;<br />Several of my NAS items were at least a size too big, and one was a size too small. And my shoes-11's, with a narrow heel and a square toe area.&nbsp;</p> <p>But, I have to say, I'm grateful that I live in a country where I have choices, and time to focus on style. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729814 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 20:49:16 +0000 Astrid 1729814@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I also have a high return rate. I shop online a lot and I no longer keep things where the fit is even a little off. And sometimes items are not what I expected and are returned because of that. I almost never return things I shop in local stores. If I can try it on and it fits and I am still unsure I simply don't buy it. And I don't need to do take it home to know whether it will work in my wardrobe or not. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-return-rate#post-1729813 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 20:47:03 +0000 Jane 1729813@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I return about two thirds. I find the flexibility of being able to look at things at home really helps to understand whether I want the item. </p>