Is it normal to return this much stuff?

qfbrenda

Sheesh... I've never shopped so much and had so few items work out. Shopping was easier before I found YLF. LOL I was much less picky. I hope I can start finding things that actually work because I really need clothes!

Please tell me I'm not the only one.

15 years ago

Shopping

15 replies

Latest reply was from Dani

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

You are so not the only one! Can you get someone to watch the kids so you can have a little shopping time on your own to try stuff on? I sneak out to Target after the kids go to bed, they're open until 10:00 pm around here. Hang in there, it will get easier!

15 years ago

qfbrenda

Veteran

Saturday! I'm getting my haircut and planning on shopping a lot of the day alone. I'm hoping I'll find things since I'll be able to try things on. Most of the things that haven't worked out were mail-ordered.

15 years ago

sarah

Veteran

I think I return about 80% of what I buy. It's just easier for me to mail order with free shipping deals, and then try it all on at home and make quick dashes to the stores to return things. Seems crazy (I think the UPS man must think I'm a shopaholic), but it works for me.

15 years ago

Steph

Veteran

I am a serial returner and I wouldn't have it any other way. I probably do the majority of my shopping in-store, and I still return most things that I purchase. I like to have the time to ruminate over new pieces and try them on at home before making a firm decision--I think it is one reason that I rarely dislike or don't wear something once I purchase it. I also never take the tags off of things until I am literally walking out the door wearing it, just in case I change my mind. It saves me money in the end.

15 years ago

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

Steph, I am just like you. I really need to see how things work with other items in my closet. I am getting better at knowing what I have and what shapes, colors and pieces are missing. Returning is something I do often. It gives me the freedom to take something home that may be a risk. I never take the tags off right away unless I am obsessing too much with indecision If that is the case I rip the tags off and the item is mine. I always make it work because I rarely bring home something that I would never wear unless I have not tried it on and it does not fit, which happens sometimes in a rush.

15 years ago

nancylee

Veteran

You are definitely not the only one! It's so funny that you posted this today, because I was just telling a friend that my neighbors must think I'm a complete shopaholic...the UPS truck stops by so often! But I return about 75% of what I order...no exaggeration. It's been especially bad since I went through a major closet purge and discovered YLF about a month ago. I've got some wardrobe holes to fill.

My main issue is this: I live in a small college town...charming and great in its own right...but I have to drive two hours to get to a city with decent shopping. Plus, I've found I make better decisions when I try clothes on at home and think about them for a while (like Steph said). Sometimes I make a foray to the city just to check out and try on things I've seen online...then I go home and order them!

Don't worry...you are not alone.

15 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Pre-SYC, I was at a point where I was returning at least 90% of what I bought. Mostly I order online, but still, it made me realize my shopping habits have changed - I'm a lot pickier since YLF, and I think that's good. I just returned both pairs of black boots I tried because neither one wowed me. Before, I would have kept at least one and regretted it later.

So I think it's healthy!

15 years ago

peanutbutter

Active Member

LOL! I just came back from returning things I had gotten at Nordstrom the last couple months and found your post. Yesterday, I shipped 2 boxes back to zappos.
eeesh. Believe it or not from all the trial and error I am learning what to look for before buying something on line--though as you can see I still do make mistakes.
One thought i had as I walked through Nordstrom tonight with all their spring lines filling the racks was that I have a hundred more holes in my wardrobe now....ot my work cut out for me. Just when I was starting to get comfortable with winter.

15 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

This is just a guess but I return up to 50% of what I buy. More and more, I will only buy something if it has a reasonable return policy. Especially if purchased over the internet, where I could not try it on first. My goal this year is to reduce that return percentage. It is time consuming! I want to acquire better judgement, that's one reason I'm on YLF.

15 years ago

Stephanie

Veteran

I agree with everyone else. When I buy via mail order, I generally return at least 75% of what I buy (usually in store). It helps if you can reframe 'buying' as 'ordering something something to try,' in your head.

15 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

exactly what Steph said...
keep in mind that many stores use skinny mirrors and trick lighting so you really don't know how something looks until you get it home. For this reason, I don't feel bad at all when I return stuff. I just smile and say "It didn't work out" or sometimes I blame my husband "hubby didn't like it" one of these days I'm going to work up the nerve to tell them that their mirrors tricked me into thinking I was Cindy Crawford.

15 years ago

Cilleena

Veteran

I can relate, Brenda! About a week ago, I posted about my shopping frustrations in off topic posts. I am at about 75% return rate too. It's really hard right now for you and for me because we are BUILDING a wardrobe from scratch, rather than filling in cute pieces here and there. That makes for a lot of shopping.

I hope you have good stores to shop at locally. I really think that will help. I think if I had a weekend to shop at Nordies, AT, ATL, Jcrew, Gap, and Boden, I could be done shopping for the most part for the season. I don't though. I have to mail order from these stores...except Gap, try it and return it. I typically order in about 5 or 6 pieces and keep 1 or 2. I am in total agreement with Steph and QM about looking at shopping as trying it out instead of buying. It keeps you from being quite as frustrated. Mail order shopping is SUCH a shot in the dark. Take note of what size fits you well in certain stores...helps a lot.

15 years ago

qfbrenda

Veteran

Stephanie, I love that line: "I'm ordering something to try".... I'll remember that.

Cilleena, that's the exact problem: too many needs at once. I would love to live closer to those stores. My non-online shopping options aren't great unless I want to drive 2 hours to Seattle.... not likely any time soon. If I had the money I would go to Seattle AND hire Angie! LOL

15 years ago

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

Glad I'm not alone... I just returned 4 out of 6 items I took home to try on... I'm new to YLF, and it is making me more discriminating. Plus I like to go home to take pictures in the items if it is feasible. L.

15 years ago

Dani

Veteran

Definitely not alone. I'm of the same mind set as many others in that I like to introduce new items to other items in my closet. If they get along and play nice, they can stay. If they don't, they go back. I have no guilt over it because I shop with Stephanie's trying versus buying mantra in my head. That doesn't mean, however, the sales associates are any happier to see me lugging my bags back to the store

15 years ago

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