How often do you return purchases?

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Anything. Home stuff, clothes, toiletries, etc. Hence why we like Home Depot or walmart or costco for home repair stuff. Amazon I found is a pain. Plus lots of subsidiary sellers.

[disneysteve]

Anything. Home stuff, clothes, toiletries, etc.

Other than clothing, it is because you're buying something new to try? I can't think of any reason I would ever return a toiletries item. We always buy the same soap, shampoo, conditioner, laundry products, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. So unless something was damaged or defective somehow, there would be no reason to return it.

I'm just trying to understand how others shop that results in having to return things regularly because clearly it is very different than the way we shop.

[msomnipotent]

Other than clothing, it is because you're buying something new to try? I can't think of any reason I would ever return a toiletries item. We always buy the same soap, shampoo, conditioner, laundry products, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. So unless something was damaged or defective somehow, there would be no reason to return it.

I'm just trying to understand how others shop that results in having to return things regularly because clearly it is very different than the way we shop.

I wind up returning things to Ulta a few times a year. I will be allergic to a new shampoo, or the blush doesn't look the same as online, or the perfume doesn't smell the same as when I tried it in a department store because it has been sitting in a shipping box in the hot sun for 8 days even though Ulta's shipping center is a few miles from my house, etc. I always try new things. New things are my reason to get out of bed and on to the computer in the morning. Except laundry detergent and bleach. I don't play around with that because I have sensitive skin. You don't want a big rash there.

[bjl584]

Not too often.
I think the last thing that I returned was a pair of jeans to Walmart that didn't fit right. That was back in the Spring.

[cypher1]

Quite often when it comes to home improvement projects for materials. I'd rather buy too much at once, then go back and return not needed parts. Instead of having to make a trip back to Home Depot or Menards in the middle of the repair or project.

Food or toiletries are never. Clothes I hardly shop for, and certain items I'm ok with ordering online and not worrying about size difference.

The other big exception would be Christmas shopping. I will often buy an item for a gift at local store first since the item could be sold out later. Rare, but it happens. But if I see the price is lower online closer to the deadline, I'll still order it online, and then return with local receipt later since the item may not be received on time.

[disneysteve]

I always try new things.

That's a big reason why we rarely do returns. We DON'T try a lot of new things. If we find a product that we like,, we stick with it, sometimes for decades. About the only time I try something new is when they discontinue what I've been using or make it "new and improved" and I no longer like it (I hate when that happens).

[Mjenn]

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

This is actually very common and legal in most states (including NJ -- I spent some time there in the past). Check with most major department stores in most shopping malls, they probably have them and you just never noticed. They don't even need to put a sign in the dressing room, just somewhere in the store saying it is monitored. Some, like Macy's, occasionally have signs in the dressing room saying they are monitored at all times. The cameras are not obvious and I've never actually seen the camera. I read somewhere they are frequently behind the mirrors.

I return stuff quite a bit -- recently I was looking for a type of shoe that was out of season, so I ordered a few from Amazon tried them on, and kept 1 of 3 pairs. I also often order stuff from stores like Old Navy online when there are good discounts going on (almost all the time) and then try them on at home and return to the closest store. I find it hard to visualize stuff on the racks, and like to see the clothes on a person to see if I like the look of an outfit. I find more useful things for work that way.

Amazon is great with exchanges. Over the holidays I ordered a gift for my kid that cost 90 dollars -- but later we found something else that would be better. I sent in for a return slip to Amazon and they said the company that shipped it would not accept returns but they would give us a full refund and let us keep the item. So we donated it as a Christmas present to kids in need.

[~bs]

^

I didn't even know that was a thing. Probably because it's illegal in my state.


There are only 13 states that do not allow cameras in places of privacy (this includes bathrooms, locker rooms, hotel rooms, and dressing rooms). These states are: South Dakota, New Hampshire, Michigan, Maine, Minnesota, Utah, Kansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Georgia, California, Arkansas and Alabama.

[terri77]

All the time...I'm always changing my mind.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

clothing mostly. I also do shoes but only if I've had them before. I hate returning them through zappos I tried and i find it painful

[Thrif-t]

clothing mostly. I also do shoes but only if I've had them before. I hate returning them through zappos I tried and i find it painful

Oh my really? I love zappos...haven't bought from them for a while but I used to by my kids shoes/boots for Christmas and they had a 365 return....I bought the girls Uggs when they were on clearance in the summer (way cheaper), and well one girl had to return because they didn't fit. No problem sending back since they hadn't been worn. Of course the little twerp got a new more expensive pair to replace, ugh!

[Starry436]

All the time, I can get really indecisive in store over certain things and need more time to think. Ha

[disneysteve]

All the time, I can get really indecisive in store over certain things and need more time to think. Ha

If I'm undecided when I'm in the store, I don't buy anything so there's nothing to return. I don't think I've ever bought anything just to take it home and then decide if I actually wanted it.

[amastewa93]

If I'm undecided when I'm in the store, I don't buy anything so there's nothing to return. I don't think I've ever bought anything just to take it home and then decide if I actually wanted it.

Same here - I only want to return anything if it isn't working. If I'm really not sure I'd rather sleep on it than waste money (and time). I'm also not a HUGE shopper - I'm that person that is 100% okay wearing a black t-shirt and jeans most days haha.

[Gailete]

What an interesting thread to read! As an online seller I can tell you that for everything that a buyer returns, no matter where they buy it from, the seller is losing money. On Amazon, we have to follow their return rules which means something has to be returned within 30 days and depending on the reason that the item is returned, the seller has to pay the return shipping and if a restocking fee is charged it varies yet again on the reason for the return. Buyers have literally returned boxes of rocks, used diapers, a cheaper model than what they just bought, etc. Sellers lose LOTS of money on returns and as shown in this thread, lots of them are clothes and some of those clothes get worn such as formals with the product tag somehow hidden away. They wear it and then return it because 'it didn't fit', wrong color, etc. Anything that gets the most money back. I have had returns this year from people who somehow failed to understand that they were buying a sewing pattern even though the listing said it was a sewing pattern! How someone can buy a pattern with 15 different garments being shown and it came in the sizes of 2-48, they somehow thought that they would get one pair of pajamas without indicating the size or color they needed! Yeah sure. As a small seller, returns are very costly to me.

That being said, I rarely return anything. My thrift store where I buy clothes from does not take returns so if something doesn't fit it gets donated back! I haven't had the steam to try on clothing at a store for years now. I have however return food to the grocery store such as bad chicken that the smell about knocks you out when you open the package, Grilled chicken that was so salty you couldn't eat it, etc. Actual reasons for a return. I can't afford to pay for meat or chicken that is bad when you take it home. My son that helps with groceries is great about smelling potatoes that have gone off. One day when still working at the grocery store a woman came by and he stopped her and asked to smell her bag of potatoes and sure enough, one was bad and smelling bad already so he went and replaced them for her. No wonder they miss him there! I do buy a lot online as it certainly helps me out. I have tried to return orders when Amazon has sent too many things and no matter how I tell them, they have given me credit for things I never bought! After a while with some things, I just give up.

I do get lots of freebies from Amazon to review and try to give honest reviews and update them as needed. Some nasty one-star reviews can be made by competitors at times trying to take down a seller. I've seen lots of nasty stuff and just try to keep honest in my dealing, review, and feedbacks.