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about returns

always trying

Veteran

From what I read on here, I must be in the low percentage of returns per purchases. since November my on line purchases consists on one sweater, one vest, one pair of knit track pants, and 4 pairs of shoes. None of the clothing went back, so that is 100% keepers. Of the 4 footwear, 2 are keepers, so that is 50% returns. What are yours?

General

14 replies

Latest reply was from Barbara Diane

Anonymous

I will confess to a high return rate. This is something I am trying to work on this year! I haven't calculated my % - may need to do so.

El Cee

Veteran

I am nearly !00% keep over the last 12 months. I have been very lucky. Had to exchange two pairs of jeans for a smaller size. Everything else worked well just as ordered.

shiny

Veteran

I've been doing pretty good lately, but I've been mostly sticking to the tried-and-true. Brands that always fit, or replacements. For example I just rec'd a replacement VC striped tube skirt I saw on Rack for a song... and no surprise, it fits, because it's identical to the one-that-pilled-eventually (like Velveteen Rabbit it eventually became real, I guess!). I also ordered some replacement midi dresses from ON in a style I lived in round the clock last summer, and yep, they fit too. I love ON for summer basics, I refresh every year about this time.

I did just mail back 4 items today: 1) a WHBM leather jacket size SP, after ordering and waiting patiently for a MP to compare. The SP was oh-so-close but on the tight side; I had a hunch the MP would fit perfectly, and it does. 2) ankle straight trousers from WHBM; I'd ordered both 4p and 6p to compare (at same time I ordered the MP leather jacket, because I knew I'd be returning anyway -- I do that a lot); I can now tell you I'm a 6p in that brand and I will probably be trying out more pants; 3 & 4) my two purchases from Nordstrom's sale, both Angie pics. They were nice and fit, but once I got them, I realized I had major sales goggles on and don't really need either one... as I have a long list of other essential things I *do* need right now....

Today I ordered those Clarks cloud steppers I passed up this weekend in the store, and while I was at it, a pair of Asics Metrolytes. There's a good chance the Asics will work for me, as that is the only running shoe I've worn for 25 years.

Also I think I will sometimes keep "good enough" things just because it's a pain to return. I fear I'm far more pickier in the store, than at home.

BrieN

Veteran

uh. guilty. I'm either online shopping or running into the store after a workout so too messy to try things on.

7 pairs of shoes, keeping 2. Learned that I have to raise my price point to get the quality shoe I like.

18 pairs of jeans/chinos (several of the same pant in different sizes), keeping 3. I know this is extreme. But after years of not shopping I'm trying to get a handle on how different brands fit, and what suits me. I am looking at bootcut, crops, and straight in blue denim and white.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I can't give an exact figure, since I delete returns from my wardrobe budget spreadsheet once they've been processed by the vendor. With a multiple item purchase, it's pretty rare that everything works. But it's also pretty rare that nothing works - these days I know what brands tend to work for me and what sizes and cuts fit.

I would guess that my success rate is somewhere between 50% and 75%. I actually wouldn't want it much higher than that, because that would mean that I'm not trying new things and taking occasional risks. I try not to think "oh no, a return" because honestly they're not a huge imposition, and I don't want to keep things that are 'almost ok' just because I don't want to bother returning them.

Like shiny, I do a lot of multiple-size ordering, planning to return one of them. And sometimes I'll order multiple colors or include a 'long shot' item, especially if that gets me above a free shipping minimum, or at a brand where there's a local store that I can return to easily.

MsMaven

Veteran

I returned lots of stuff last year because of the three weddings on my schedule. I buy lots of shoes online because my shoe size is usually out of stock. I've returned 3 or 4 dresses, several pairs of shoes, 2 coats, and should have returned a couple more pair of shoes that I tried to make work but they didn't. I'd have to go through my list and see how the numbers work out. I did keep one dress, some jeans, several pairs of shoes, and several tops and a jacket, all of which I have worn. I even bought a pair of Kate Spade earrings and I love them.

Joyce B

Veteran

Returns happen. It is rare to be 100% accurate on purchases. I think it is better to return on time than to be stuck with an ill-fitting item that you will not wear, or with a gorgeous item that was a mistake purchase for your fantasy life and that you have no occasion for.
Over time, purchases become more accurate, especially for known brands like Shiny said, and the number of returns decreases.
When you buy online you have more returns than when you buy in store as you need multiple sizes to see what fits.

Laurinda

Veteran

I often mail order items with the intention of returning them (in store) to spend enough to qualify for free shipping.

Banoffi

Veteran

I also confess to having a very high return rate. I work full time and have two active kids and little time on my own to go shopping in real stores, so I tend to buy most of my clothes online. I try them on at home and see if they fit and are going to work with other items in my closet. Some items work, many don't.

unfrumped

Veteran

It's been high for AT, which is partly because I can't try anything on in a store any more, and because I'm between sizes all the time, but may be a sign that AT doesn't get me anymore.

Nordstrom returns are pretty high, too, maybe because I experiment there.

Helen11

Veteran

I return lots. I order multiple sizes if I can, and from brands that don't have stores in my area. I have just ordered 4 pairs of shoes and probably 3 will go back.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

Considering I do most of my shopping online, my returns are pretty low. Maybe 20%. I often try two sizes so of course at least one of those goes back.

Keix

Veteran

I do track the numbers, so here are mine:

38 items ordered to date in 2016
27 returned
plus 2 items still enroute

Coming out to a rate of 71%, which is pretty high, but I shoot for around 50%. Also, there is a bit of skew from an Ann Taylor order of two items in 2 and 4 different sizes, respectively, where both didn't work and so everything went back. I had to order 4 sizes in the ponte pants because the length was cropped and both regular and petite inseams seemed plausible (indeed, it ended up being that the regular inseam was best, although the fit was off in other places).

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I ordered a huge amount online from Nordstrom because I had purchased some shoes that day in the store so I decided to use my triple points day. All I kept was the bra that was a last minute item. So, maybe 3% success rate. So now I rarely order online. I'm just too picky and too hard to fit, unless I know the brand and style and that there is a good likelihood of success. I've had success buying bras online when I went down a size, and shoes when the style I wanted was no longer in the stores but Zappos still had them. And I seem to have figured out what size I wear in a few items at Talbots, so I may order from them online, but mostly I have more success at their outlets.