How often do you return purchases?

[disneysteve]

My wife and I hardly ever return anything we've bought. I think we just don't buy things to check them out or see if they fit or if we like them. We don't buy things until we've done our homework and researched the item and checked measurements and such.

My mom (who is generally a frugal person) seems to return things all the time. She no longer drives so we hear a lot more about where she needs to go or had to arrange transportation to so this has become more apparent.

Just today, I offered to take her out because she mentioned yesterday that she had to return something to Bed, Bath, and Beyond. When she got in the car, she asked if we could stop at Rite Aid as she had to return something there. While we're driving, she told me a story about having to get a ride to Boscov's the other day to return a pair of sneakers that didn't fit. She has returned more things in the past week than I've probably returned in the past 5 years.

Some of it, honestly, is due to her aging and not being as mentally sharp as she used to be. For example, when she bought the sneakers, they didn't have her size so she decided to buy a half size larger, and she did try them on in the store but clearly didn't pay much attention. So when she got them home, she realized she was walking out of them because they were too big. I'm not sure that sort of mistake would have happened 5 or 10 years ago.

The other problem is that she gets sucked in by a lot of stupid ads making ridiculous promises. The item she had to return to Rite Aid today was some special stocking to help bunions. Of course it didn't work as the only thing that helps bunions is surgery, but she had to try it.

I think part of the reason we don't do many returns is because we don't try a lot of new products. We mostly buy the same stuff we've bought for years, stuff we know works well and that we like. We don't get sucked in by commercials and other advertisements. When I need a new pair of dress shoes for work, for example, I don't even go to a shoe store anymore. I just go on Amazon, type in the item number, and order a new pair of the very same shoes that I've worn for probably 15 years or more. My weekly grocery shopping takes about 30 minutes. I don't spend a lot of time looking at new products and comparing different items. So I never end up with anything I'm not satisfied with that needs to be returned.

[Thrif-t]

I don't generally return things for me, but occasionally do when I buy items, mostly clothes, for my DH or DS.

When I buy things for me I mostly try them on and make sure I want them before purchasing.

[disneysteve]

I don't generally return things for me, but occasionally do when I buy items, mostly clothes, for my DH or DS.

I guess that helps us, too. We all buy our own stuff. Other than when DD was really little, like an infant/toddler, my wife never really bought her much of anything without her present to see if she liked it and to try it on. Now that she's older, she buys her own stuff, as do DW and I. I can count on one hand the number of times my wife has bought me an article of clothing and we've been together for nearly 30 years.

[kork13]

I'm not one to return things often, but I do so quickly if needed. I did recently return a couple pairs of shorts, but I intentionally bought 2 sizes of each not knowing which would fit better (and unable to try them on in-store). Otherwise, it's few & far between that I return something. I'm pretty deliberate about what I purchase, so I generally know that I need something, and exactly what I need, before I buy it.

In contrast, my sister-in-law has one of the most inexplicable shopping habits that I've ever heard of... Especially for birthdays & Christmas, but really year-round. She buys 2-3x the amount & variety of things that she wants/needs, then sorts through it all later to decide what she keeps & what she returns. I was staying with them for Christmas one year, so I was helping to wrap gifts, but was flabbergasted by the volume of things before us, and her process of deciding on what would be returned. She easily returned $1k+ in not-given gifts after Christmas.

[Smallsteps]

I too rarely return or exchange items but know many people who shop that way buy 3 pieces of clothing try them on then return those who did not fit.
Amazon just a couple months ago set out to stop habitual returners and I know that stores keep track and monitor regular returners. From working retail it is AMAZING what people will do to return stuff. Many times I was floored by the gall of some trying to return stuff after a few years and obviously well used.

[snafu]

I rarely return items as I do a far amount of research before buying a new to the market product. There are so many new products and so much 'hard' sell. I am getting more confident buying on Amazon but it's mostly price checking.

I'm more likely to return garments as I don't feel comfortable trying on stuff in stores. Since thievery is such a problem they have cameras in the 'dressing' rooms and that system makes me uncomfortable. There are no rules for sizing. I take a small tape measure and a note of the actual dimensions of the garment to be replaced.

[disneysteve]

From working retail it is AMAZING what people will do to return stuff. Many times I was floored by the gall of some trying to return stuff after a few years and obviously well used.

My wife used to be a manager at a sporting goods store. She would always come home with the most ridiculous stories of people trying to return things, including things the store didn't even sell, insisting that they bought it there. Or they would bring in shoes that were totally worn, soles just about gone, holes in the canvas, and say, "I bought these here last week and they don't fit well".

My favorite story was the woman who walked in with 2 pairs of dress pants wanting to return them. "I bought them here yesterday." They clearly hadn't come from the sporting goods store, but there was a Ross (discount clothing store) located right next door to them. This woman insisted she had been at the store yesterday. Clearly, the stores look entirely different. My wife finally convinced her to go next door.

[disneysteve]

they have cameras in the 'dressing' rooms

Seriously? I'm surprised that is even legal. I would not shop at a store that had cameras in the dressing rooms.

[msomnipotent]

I return a shocking amount to Kohls, but it is their fault. I order most of our clothes online since our Kohls doesn't carry 1/3rd of what the other stores do. I recently ordered about $300 worth of clothes and most went back. I ordered 7 shirts in the same style but different colors. Each color was cut differently, so 3 didn't fit. Of the 5 left, 2 others shrank so much that I couldn't wear them, and I really did wash them exactly as the label said. I wouldn't have returned them if I didn't follow the label. The same thing happens with their pants. I can order them same style, same brand, and different colors will be different sizes. It can vary as much as one color being too tight and another will fall off me. I'm still losing weight so I'm not going to spend more on different brands just yet. I just order more knowing that I will be returning more than half of what I order from them. I don't feel bad about it.

I have returned 2 pairs of shoes in a row to Nike after wearing them for a week because they started to squeak loudly. I'm not wearing $100 shoes that squeak. This third pair makes a croaking sound and really grips the pavement when the bottom of the shoe gets even slightly wet. I'm ready to give up buying Nike.

I also do a fair amount of research before buying most things, especially the massage chair that is about to be sent back to Costco. I have had almost every piece replaced by two repair people, and it froze again last night. You can research your heart out and still be stuck with crap.

[disneysteve]

You can research your heart out and still be stuck with crap.

Sad but true. And online reviews are worthless because at least half of them are probably bogus (especially the glowingly positive ones).

[moneybags]

All the time! For example:

1. I buy a lot of clothes online. I've been the same size forever, but clothes are always different, even from the same store, so you don't know what fits until you try it on. I will order what I want in 2 sizes which creates an automatic return.

2. At Christmas time, most of my shopping is done online. If I buy a clothing item for my child, I'll get 2 sizes to make sure they have the right fit. I didn't used to do this, but ended up without desired item after everything is picked over.

3. DD needed a homecoming dress (years ago), I ordered 6-10 dresses for her. We kept one. Department stores have such a huge selection online and not a great selection in store.

Yes it creates extra work, but it works for me. I typically don't return products that I have used and didn't like.

[disneysteve]

1. I buy a lot of clothes online. I've been the same size forever, but clothes are always different, even from the same store, so you don't know what fits until you try it on.

This (the bolded part) is exactly why I don't buy clothing online. I won't buy anything without trying it on first with the rare exception of a t-shirt. I don't want to have to return half of everything I buy, or more.

And it isn't even just the size, it's the "fit". How does it feel. Are the sleeves or the collar too tight? Are the pants pockets deep enough? Only actually wearing the item tells me that.

[~bs]

you get more insight by reading bad reviews than 5 star ones. Also a lot of times reviews are done right after someone buys a product, which isn't good if the product typically fails in 6 to 12 months

[LivingAlmostLarge]

A lot. I buy online from places I can return because of it.

[disneysteve]

A lot. I buy online from places I can return because of it.

What sorts of things? Mainly clothing or other things too?