Return math: when is it worth keeping?

ironkurtin

I purchased these boots
http://www.6pm.com/elizabeth-a.....rralID=ac6
for $40 new - $25 plue $15 shipping.

I really don't know if I will wear shiny cracked-silver boots. I might. I might not. I have a lot of beautiful shoes.

Is it ridiculous to think, "Well, return shipping will likely be $15, just like shipping here was $15. So to save $25 I am spending $30. So I should just keep them"...?

I suppose if I don't wear them someone will want them for $25!

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12 years ago

Shopping

38 replies

Latest reply was from deb

LACeleste

Veteran

Hi IK,

If there is any "might wear" in the equation, I would hold on to them.
While I'm all for passing along or returning things that don't work or don't fit, it seems like you like these. You will most likely never find them again for that price.

If they speak to you on some level and you have the space, enjoy them.

You do have amazing shoes and boots. I could see these working for you but any boot with a hint of Bowie is my thing.

ETA: MY threshold of pain for making a return worth it is somewhere between net $25-$30 but everybody is different.

12 years ago

Joyce B

Veteran

That's why I try to only buy from vendors with free shipping and free returns. I hate to be forced to keep something just because of the shipping charges.
If you have beautiful shoes and are not too enthused about these then I think it's worth selling them or returning them. That will give you one less closet orphan to manage.

12 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

I consider it the cost of getting something out of my system.

Just FYI, I tried those boots and sent them back. They were crazy stiff and seemed to run small and narrow for me. They were part of my "why is expensive footwear so uncomfortable" lament.

12 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Are they comfy? If they are, I'd probably keep them. You can always dye them black after all.

Otherwise I'd probably try to resell them. Not worth returning IMO.

12 years ago

Kimberley

Veteran

Oh, baby. If you don't wear 'em, send them here!

I try to only buy from vendors with free shipping and returns. Alas, math is not my strong suit and without free shipping and returns I have a tendency to do my own mathematical Olympics in which I keep everything cause it's cheaper...sadly those things add up and it's money I could have spent on things I would love and wear more regularly!

I think for the price, you should keep them. Great find.

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I struggle with this as well. Lately, I'm coming around to Una's point of view. Even if you're down $30 and have no shoes, that's better than being down $40 and having shoes you don't wear that are clogging up both your closet and mental space. Selling them off is a great option, but you have to be patient. I have 2 dresses that I'm trying to sell that have been on eBay for months now. They hang there, and it bugs me, but not enough to cart them to consignment and take a big loss. Not yet, anyway.

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

They're pretty cool. And I think the pain of returning adds to the cost. I'd keep.

12 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

I think they are very cool. (what size are they?) I would think that even if you don't decide to keep them, shouldn't consignment give you at least what you spent given the original price on them (assuming you don't want to deal with relisting them somewhere)? But I may be mistaken.

12 years ago

carter

Veteran

Here's my math:

You paid $40 for shoes you may or may not wear.

If you return them, you've paid $30 for shoes you can't wear even if you wanted to.

So the opportunity cost is only $10 to keep them.

If you decide to sell them to someone else for $25, you've paid $15 for shoes that are no longer available to wear.

$10 for the option to wear something sounds better than $15 for something you don't have anymore. I'd keep them. This is how I get myself in trouble keeping things I don't really need or love;-)

12 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

Adding on to what carter says, if you don't want to deal with reselling/consignment alternately you figure out what a reasonable cost per wear is for you, wear them that number of times, and then either keep or get rid of now that you know them better, feeling that they've served a purpose

12 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Why don't you like the shoes? Do they not fit? I love them! To echo rabbit, what size are they?

ETA: I limit myself to places with free shipping to avoid this very problem.

12 years ago

Jules

Veteran

This is why I avoid any online shopping that means paying for returns, through this "logic" I have kept entire $100+ orders to avoid paying a $9 flat return fee. In the end I don't love any of that stuff and it mostly hangs around and annoys me....
This is my personal failing however; it's just far too easy for me to rationalize keeping stuff that is just ok. I also avoid topping up my order for free shipping - if I can't make the minimum with stuff I truly want, I don't order.

12 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

My threshold tends to be about ten dollars, as far as cost of item or of the return shipping charge. Anything more than that, back it goes unless I am pretty sure I want to keep it. I've got too much stuff already, I need to like items to keep them.

Some people's issue with this whole thing is the issue of having to go to the post office (although a lot of vendors have prepaid vouchers nowadays). Me, I love to go to the PO - I swap books so I'm there all the time and have learned the best ones near me, and how to be efficient with my wrapping and trip.

12 years ago

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

Another one who wants to know what size they are.

12 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I was thinking along the same lines as carter. Also wondering what size they are, on a purely selfish level. But I already have my gunmetal Rag & Bones...

12 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

Laura will the PO pick up if you arrange it? I often go to Fedex even though it might be a dollar or two more (I have an account) because I cannot deal with the slowness of my three closest local post offices. It doesn't matter what time of day, weekend or no, there seems to always be a line, one employee, and then occasionally they start packing up 10 minutes before the end of their shift and we all stand there watching them sort the cash drawer until the next employee comes in. :p

12 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Ok people, I tried these a few weeks ago and found them very stiff and narrow and a half-size small. They did not seem like a leather that would break in easily. The finish is crackled and would be hard to dye, although why would you, because it is gorgeous! I almost cried because they are lovely but they were painful, at least for me.

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Heh, this reminds me that I will not be looking forward to the mile walk each way to the P.O. in the FL heat and humidity, and then dealing with the lines and costs, all for the privilege of returning an item. Free shipping all the way from here on out!

12 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

They're 8.5. I'm typically a 8.5-9. Here they are on. They feel pretty good on my feet TBH.

If I'd bought them at the Rack for $40 I'd be right chuffed. I think I need to stop looking on eBay, cheap as it is, because I end up with awesome silver boots and have to debate them. When I really don't need them, and I'd be less likely to see them IRL.

Also: it's humid and my hair is totally floopy.

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12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Well they sure LOOK awesome on you!

12 years ago

amiable

Veteran

Well if you decide you don't want them, I'd probably bite if they were on style exchange....

12 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

yep, stunning looking on

12 years ago

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

They are awesome and if they run 1/2 size small as Una says, 8.5 would work for me. So Amiable and I would both be interested if you put them on style exchange. Since she spoke first, I would be polite and give her first dibs.

12 years ago

Peri

Veteran

Keep! I love Carter's math, and they look fun. Maybe not every day workhorses, but $10 isn't much for the occasional fun day!

12 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I also agree with Carter's math. For $10 in opportunity costs, it wouldn't require too many wearings to make them worth it.

However, only you can answer if you are willing to wear them and have the space for an occassional boot.

12 years ago

Debbie

Veteran

I vote keep but would you wear them at between now and Oct.

12 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Since they wouldn't fit me I'm not going to try talking you into getting rid of them!

Seriously, they look great on you, and they feel good, why not keep them?

12 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Wow, I am impressed that you found these comfortable - I could not get them off fast enough. If they had worked I would have kept them. Silver is a neutral!

12 years ago

AviaMariah

Veteran

I think it depends on if they're going to bug you sitting in your closet unworn. It might be worth the shipping cost to "forget" that little buying mistake.

12 years ago

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