How often do you return a K/R item? - YouLookFab Forum

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How often do you return a K/R item?

K. Period.

Veteran

I realized something today. Whenever I post a K/R for an item, it is almost certain that it is its death knell. It is extremely likely that it is going back regardless of the feedback that I get. And boy oh boy does that make me feel guilty for wasting everyone's time. I think that the posting itself reflects my gut instinct that something isn't going to work, though.

How often do you keep a K/R item? Always if you get positive feedback? Sometimes? Or extremely rarely?

If you keep it against your instincts based on positive feedback in the K/R, do you find it really was a great purchase? Or does it languish?

Shopping

17 replies

Latest reply was from K. Period.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I have gone all kinds of ways on this. My True Religion Cameron BF jeans and a navy and white silk blouse both got keeps here (including by Angie) but I returned both. My white crop blazer got a return vote here and I kept it, but have reconsidered this week and now plan on returning. Likewise, my leather panel skirt got mostly naysayers but (with the $20 refund from seller) I am going to alter and keep.
I'd say half of what I post as K/R gets returned? Of course, the ideal is that something you love is also warmly received and you keep it and wear the heck out of it!

Diana

Veteran

I think for me I probably return more than I keep. The thing is that I tend to only post K/Rs for things that I am either truly conflicted about (something out of my comfort zone, for example, or something that I'm not sure how to style), or for things that I don't think I'll keep but want some second opinions on (like the scarf top from yesterday). If I really love something, I'll just keep it and show it to you in a WIW. The exception is big ticket $$$$ items that I want to make sure don't have hidden issues (i.e. I will show you guys all the wedding dresses even if I have a clear favorite!).

kellygirl

Veteran

I'd like to think that my instincts are getting better. Many times I'm posting K/R because it's something slightly outside my comfort zone and I need confirmation. I wouldn't worry about feeling like you are wasting anyone's time if the item goes back. K/R are one of my favorite types of post because I glean so much information about style and fit from reading comments of forum members(who are much more fashionable than me!) I'm guessing that many forum members feel this way too.

I'd say that most of the items that I post for a K/R, I end up keeping if they get a thumbs up. Notable exception being a Frye OTK boot that got a thumbs up but that ultimately went back because I couldn't imagine wearing them in my day to day life. K/R has saved me from some very expensive mistakes too.

catgirl

Veteran

I return a ton of stuff no one here ever even sees. I'd say half of my posted items end up going back. Usually I know before I post what the verdict will be, but need to double-check. The only item that's been confusing recently has been the Burberry coat!

Sylvie

Veteran

All over the place. If the forum absolutely rejects an item, I'll return it. If they love an item, I may sometimes end up returning it because I find it hard to work into my wardrobe or I don't love it enough compared to other potential purchases. More than yay/nay, I really appreciate the thoughtful feedback that people give - looks like it's pulling here, not sure if I love the color, proportions are awkward, etc.

I take a long time to make decisions. I think about it, let the feedback sink in, and am trying very hard to only buy things I love and want to wear out the door and fit my lifestyle (not that I always succeed).

I tried a pair of red jeans during NAS which YLF thought didn't fit well. I've still been thinking about them so I rebought them yesterday when the price dropped again. I'll try them out again and see if they stretch out or there's a way to alter them or maybe just wear them with long tops.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

I often post k/rs because I'm not 100% in love with an item but can't decide why. It's useful to hear people say what they think the issue is.

I don't think I've ever kept a k/r that people voted no on. Once a problem is pointed out, I have a hard time un-seeing it. On the other hand, I've definitely returned stuff people liked.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I also return a lot that no one sees. By the time I'm conflicted enough to do a K/R, even if I do go against the tide of the forum, it's like a still really needed to hear everyone's reaction to decide how I felt. For example, if everyone loves it but I still have reservations, I know it probably just isn't "me." Ultimately, I think I return half and keep half of my K/R posts.

Anonymous

I've gotten more confident and I don't post as many K/R's. I try to wait until the first blush of the purchase euphoria has faded, which usually means sleeping on it. If I want to wear it right away, that's a good sign, but it's not a sure thing.

If something is out of my comfort zone or what DH considers *weird* I might post a K/R. If I get told to keep it (even by Angie), I still might not keep it if I'm uncomfortable wearing it for my life (the harem pants).

If everyone loves if but Angie, it's over. Once I see something how Angie sees it, I'm unlikely to ever wear it out of the house (my wide legged linen trousers--I'm going to consign those since the alteration bid was $40 to start)!

If I'm 99% sure something is good and I post a K/R and the consensus is to keep, then I keep it for sure.

When I really love something but I'm afraid it might not pass muster I hide it and then try to sneak it into a WIW. That is really messed up, isn't it?

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I haven't done one because I'm not shopping for anything other than basics. I do see it as part of a process of making a personal decision. Sometimes other people can see things we don't; or see different ways to wear items that would make them right for us. These posts are some of the ones I most enjoy - they prove that we are all so different but that we can appreciate each others choices.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I post K/R threads for almost every purchase, except for those I know for sure I'm keeping 'cause I love them.

I truly appreciate the feedback on my K/R threads because other eyes often see things we don't, both good and bad.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I love K/R threads. Everybody's. I learn so much from reading people's responses and trying to think through my own reactions enough to articulate them. (Not always easy).

I honestly don't know what my average is for K/R. I definitely buy some things that I simply don't post as K/R either because I realize right away they are going back, or because they are simple essentials that I feel confident about judging myself.

Sometimes when I post it's for affirmation (I love it and I am hoping I am not deluded). But mostly when I post it's because I'm genuinely unsure. It's the kind of item I haven't had before (style, fit, etc.) or it's quite expensive and I want it to be fabulous for the money.

And sometimes I'm just feeling inchoate doubts about the piece in question and I'm hoping someone can help me pinpoint why! The minute they do, back it goes!

Anonymous

I order A LOT of stuff and return most. I don't do many posts in general and I have found that if I even think about doing a K/R post it means I have already made up my mind on if I like the item or not. The minute something is delivered I try it on and within the hour have made up my mind and if it is a return I will already have it packaged up to ship out the next day

Some times it is just taking the photo that makes up my mind (which is something I would never had done before YLF).

christy

Veteran

If I post a K/R it's mostly because I'm just not sure whether or not it's working on me and I want the feedback and the extra sets of eyes to see what is/isn't working. I've had some K/R where everybody raved and I still took it back for one reason or another. I've also had ones where the feedback might not have been as positive and I kept it anyway. I find it especially interesting when it's polarizing because I feel like perhaps then I'm really pushing the boundaries a bit. (whether or not it's in a good way is another subject!)

I especially find it valuable when it's something a bit out of my comfort zone (my recent DJP boots for example) and I need a little bit of reassurance that I'm not entirely delusional. But I will say this: even if everybody here LOVES something and my husband detests it, there's a good chance it's going back. Not because I only dress to please him, but because I value his judgement and I know that he is very similar to the "audience" I'm dressing for (when it comes to work anyway). He also RARELY tells me he flat-out doesn't like something. So if he thinks something is wacky, there's a very good chance it won't read well to clients. In my casual style, on the other hand, I'll consider what he has to say and then decide for myself whether I agree with him, because I have less "at stake" on the weekends than I do in the office.

sarah

Veteran

I return most, I'd say, even some things that get a lot of thumbs ups. And I keep some things that get a lot of thumbs down ; )

I with I had better instincts on my own, but I still rely heavily on K/R posts to make decisions, especially about bigger ticket items.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I have mostly posted k/r's about things that have sat in my closet too long unused. So if it is given a nay I most likely get rid of it, since I haven't been wearing it much anyway. In that sense, my WIWs are sort of k/r because if something looks bad I will probably get rid of that too. If I lived somewhere I could order and return easily things might be very different.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Ditto what Shannon said!
"I post K/R threads for almost every purchase, except for those I know for sure I'm keeping 'cause I love them. I truly appreciate the feedback on my K/R threads because other eyes often see things we don't, both good and bad."

I haven't been shopping much lately, but in general I return a lot of stuff that doesn't even make it onto a K/R. I think I keep about half of my K/R pieces overall. I have even returned stuff that Angie said was killer if I didn't feel it was right for me. And I have kept stuff that got mixed reviews if I really love it. But I take all the comments very seriously! I feel like it's valuable training for my eyes on how to shop for and fit clothes--I still feel like a relative newbie in a lot of ways.

K. Period.

Veteran

Thanks, ladies. I feel a lot better about this now. I am glad that I'm not alone in posting things that I know in my heart aren't quite right for me. I can pretty much put all the K/R postings where I later R down to that, I think. They are things that just aren't really me as far as how I integrate them into my wardrobe, but I love them and want to show them to others who might love them too. I'll really keep an eye out too for those things that are taking me out on a style limb and try to identify them as well.

Again, thanks. It is so wonderful to have all you and your wonderful help taking things up a notch.