I don't think any of the thrift stores in my area allow returns. Some will let you exchange for another item within a certain amount of time, but that's it. I've never even tried to exchange anything, although I can see how it would be necessary if you're buying for someone else like a child. I try to try things on when possible, and when it's not I make sure that I'm ok with the cost of the item being a sunk cost - as rabbit says, a donation.

I know for a fact that the Macy's and Nordstrom's in my area put returned items back on the sales floor, because I see them with a barcode sticker on the back of the price tag all the time. I don't know why you wouldn't return items to stock - of course, you'd have to check for damage and a few things might be out of season already, but otherwise you shouldn't have any more shrinkage than you might get from inadvertent damage in the dressing room or general wear and tear from people looking at things.

When I shopped online I returned about 1/3rd. Now I only go B & M and I practically never do. I am a very reluctant purchaser to begin with and many shops in Australia, where I am, don't do returns.

If I have tried something on in store and have purchased it I very rarely return it. In fact, I can only recall one time ( the merchandise was faulty).

Most of my purchases are made online these days.
Last year I kept about 95% of the items (I think I was sent an incorrect size once?).
Recently, as I experiment a little more- try different companies and styles, and experiment with trends- my keep rate is about 80%. The returns are due to incorrect size (ordered by me, I have expanded a little, giggle), wrong item sent, experiment failed and, um, my husband hated it.

Oh, I have to add that regarding the incorrect size I exchanged rather than returned.

Thank you all for responding.A few things really jumped out at me here.

First, I am not alone, and my returning number is -- in this community -- quite average or even low. So, whew! haha. (Don't we all love to find out we are normal?)

Second, returning is expected in the online shopping arena. I love what someone said about how returning 4 out of 5 things bought online is akin to putting back 4 out of 5 things tried on in a dressing room. That makes SO much sense to me.

Third, there is also something about YLF that may be a factor -- which several people pointed out. Because of YLF, I am probably buying more and trying new things (the Zara pleated top would be one obvious example) and this leads to returns. Also, in order to keep something, it has to be JUST RIGHT. YLF has helped me to raise the bar of my expectations, and this has led to returns too.

I'd still like to be less emotional in my buying (I really think I bought that grad dress because it was the first dress out of 20 that actually fit me, and it was on sale) and more on-target with my spending -- and reduce the returns that are because it was a bad purchase, but I feel better about the amount of returns I am making. And I have to say that I make returns immediately. I really want that credit, so I don't let things sit around, and that's better for the store and for me.

Thanks again, all. Really interesting discussion!

I'm another impulsive, emotional shopper, and I do end up returning a certain percentage of my B&M store purchases (there are two things hanging in my closet right now, on the valet bar, with tags on that are awaiting final verdict, even though they were purchased weeks ago). But I try to return things in a reasonable time (they give you time limits for a reason) so they're not totally out of season, and yes, I see returned items back on the full-price racks all the time, so I feel no guilt. Actually, I feel a lot guiltier when I see a garment a year old with tags in my closet and realize I've wasted the money.

As for online shopping, I find a large percentage of returns inevitable. Just look at my (still ongoing) search for white sandals. Four pairs down and I still don't have a keeper than makes my heart sing. But this search would already be over and my hands still empty if I restricted it to B&M stores. I feel a bit like I'm single-handedly keeping UPS in business.

I agree that YLF has enabled this -- so many terrific finds (and help finding the finds!) make it a little too easy to click a button and know that the maybe-perfect item is winging its way to you, you know? But as you say, viva, YLF has also made me more PPP.

Great topic! Good for you for returning 40% I am working on being better about returns, and that's largely due to YLF and PPP. For me it's very much been a mindset shift because growing up we never, ever returned anything. Ever. You went out, bought your outfit (ie back to school, once a year) and you wore it to death. My parents were the same. Actually, my mom made most of our clothes too so that explains why we didn't shop much. Oh and we were never ever allowed to return or exchange a gift - it wasn't done. So for most of my adult life this has carried through. I'm getting more critical about fit and colour due to YLF. If I lived in the states I'd like buy WAY more online and in turn return way more. The change room analogy is a good one. Living in Canada means that when I order to my box just over the border, I like to be pretty sure it's going to work otherwise the hassle of sending it back is huge. It's fine if I decide on the spot that it won't work, but making a keep/return decision in a pebbly parking lot outside of a mailbox warehouse isn't easy unless it's just a shoe fit issue. Online Canadian orders are fine, but we are much more limited in shops. I've done a fair bit of Gap/old navy ordering, and I must admit that of my Gap orders this year 100% went back.

Yes, I return a lot of things purchased online -- mainly shoes. (Let's face it, the selection at Zappos has largely spoiled in-store shoe shopping, particularly for those of us with fussy feet.) I feel it's better to try things and return them than not to try them at all.

Even though YLF has raised the bar for many of us, I really think that's the way to go! The result may be a higher percentage of returns, but I'm all for reducing the number of prphans and guilt-inducing pieces.

I totally take the "dressing room" model of online shopping. I think I return over 95% of what I order online!

B&M, the rate is a lot lower. I think it's probably reversed -- I might return 5% of what I buy. I can apply my picky criteria more easily in store than online, so usually have more success with those purchases.