Banned from making too many returns? - Share your experiences!

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#421
I just had to return the same pair of shoes twice to Farfetch... it's the first time I've bought from them so I'm a little worried. But neither size fit so what was I supposed to do? It's stupid but I feel guilty even toward these big companies, even when I didn't do anything wrong. >.>
 
#424
peacelovesequin said:
Good article on returns via Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...g-psychology-of-shoppers-and-return-policies/
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Thanks for sharing, this is a good article. And I agree with it. I tend to buy more from stores with good return policies. I return things I purchase online often due to fit or sometimes things just looking nothing like they do online. I always shop around when I see something I want to compare price. If it costs just a little more from a retailer who I know has a good return policy, I'll pay a little more and get it there. Not that I intend to return it but I want to reward the companies who treat their customers well. However, I am not a return policy abuser. I still will not return something to Nordstrom that's worn or over 3 months old unless there is a significant issue with the item.

I don't get the fear people feel about being banned. If I personally were to be banned somewhere I just would not purchase from them ever again. I would not try to get around it with different cards or online accounts. I would never ever want to give that company another cent. If they don't want my money and are so successful they don't need my business then that works for me.
 
#425
I also wanted to add that I have noticed myself keeping more things that I normally wouldn't with a lenient return policy. Sometimes I just forget to return it. Sometimes the fit is not quite right but I think about it awhile and think I'll make it work. A return policy that puts pressure on me to make a quick decision usually makes me return something that if I had a little more time to think about and try on I would probably just end up keeping.
 
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#426
There is no way I would buy online without at least a 30-day return policy. Additionally, if I can return an online item in store without hassle, then my purchases shoot way up.

Do I return a lot? Yes. Even with fit "predictors" and accurate size charts, buying without trying is always a gamble. But there are also more items in my closet from "safe" return companies.

If companies want to cut down on online returns, these are the best practices:

1) Give the exact measurements of the model in the picture (height, bust, waist, hip).
2) Say what size the model is wearing.
3) Don't pin or tuck the item, and don't have the model stand in weird unrealistic poses to hide the item's flaws.
4) State the item's material composition exactly.

This info is much more useful than "fit predictors" (which is really just an average of sizes you have bought before from the company) or size charts (which are usually inaccurate).

I would also buy more in-store if the stores in my area were better stocked. The chance that I can find something I like available in my size in the store nearest me are slim to none.
 
#427
ticktickatick said:
There is no way I would buy online without at least a 30-day return policy. Additionally, if I can return an online item in store without hassle, then my purchases shoot way up.

Do I return a lot? Yes. Even with fit "predictors" and accurate size charts, buying without trying is always a gamble. But there are also more items in my closet from "safe" return companies.

If companies want to cut down on online returns, these are the best practices:

1) Give the exact measurements of the model in the picture (height, bust, waist, hip).
2) Say what size the model is wearing.
3) Don't pin or tuck the item, and don't have the model stand in weird unrealistic poses to hide the item's flaws.
4) State the item's material composition exactly.

This info is much more useful than "fit predictors" (which is really just an average of sizes you have bought before from the company) or size charts (which are usually inaccurate).

I would also buy more in-store if the stores in my area were better stocked. The chance that I can find something I like available in my size in the store nearest me are slim to none.
Click to expand...

Yes!
 
#428
ticktickatick said:
there is no way i would buy online without at least a 30-day return policy. Additionally, if i can return an online item in store without hassle, then my purchases shoot way up.

Do i return a lot? Yes. Even with fit "predictors" and accurate size charts, buying without trying is always a gamble. But there are also more items in my closet from "safe" return companies.

If companies want to cut down on online returns, these are the best practices:

1) give the exact measurements of the model in the picture (height, bust, waist, hip).
2) say what size the model is wearing.
3) don't pin or tuck the item, and don't have the model stand in weird unrealistic poses to hide the item's flaws.
4) state the item's material composition exactly.

This info is much more useful than "fit predictors" (which is really just an average of sizes you have bought before from the company) or size charts (which are usually inaccurate).

I would also buy more in-store if the stores in my area were better stocked. The chance that i can find something i like available in my size in the store nearest me are slim to none.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#429
Saks is now doing "final sale, no returns." I don't remember this policy as recently as last year. Has anyone else noticed this? I find a lot of good buys online, but if this is the case permanently, I wont be purchasing from them online anymore.
 
#432
I don't understand how you can not have a high return rate when you buy clothes online.

If you buy a jeans for example and it says 31 waist size it doesn't tell you anything.
I own jeans from size 28 to 33 but if you measure them they are all the same waist size :-)
Most online stores don't list exact measurements so you are almost forced to order multiple sizes unsless you want to ship stuff back and forth for weeks.

Then there is a new psychological trick some maufactures use to sell clothes to heavier people which is that they scale down a size meaning that clothes that are actually size XL are labled L because they found out that heavier people feel slimmer if the label says L instead of XL and are therefore more likely to buy that. And how do you know beforehand if the label you order is such a one or not?

Third you can't judge the quality from pictures alone. They always photograph flawless items but what you receive often times is bad quality. Also the resolution often times is not high enough that you can make an accurate judgement of the garnments and you can't touch them either.

Forth they almost never list the thikness of the garnment. Therefore you can't judge if the chinos you are about to order are actually light ones usable for warm summer nights or thick ones usable during the winter.

Then there is the issue with the color being accurately displayed on your computer.
For example there are almost indefinite shades of beige which are rarely displayed accurately.
I recently ordered an ivory chino which looked great on the computer but in reality the color looked like cigarette residue yellow !
In the store you can make an accurate judgement but online you don't have that opportunity.

And even if those points are all met you still don't know if the jeans you ordered looks good on you.

So if you want one pair of well fitting good quality chino in your desired color you have to order 10 in order to find one.

In physical stores you don't need excessive return policies in my opinion because you can make a pretty accurate judgement of the item you consider (even though I have seen manipulated mirrors in some stores who make you look slimmer than you actually are) but in online stores you have to have that policy otherwise online clothes shopping is not possible.
 
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#433
mmmpurses! said:
I personally have not been banned so I can't from own experience. What I do know is this: Three people I know have been banned. Two were banned from NM for excessive returns (and store CC's account closed). What they were doing was.. purchasing items during SALE EVENTS and working in tandem to buy at the next discount event.

The other is a chronic returner and was banned at Macys, The Limited, and Coach for excess returns. I believe that she has been reinstated to purchase at The Limited now. But she has not been reinstated at Macys or Coach. I know Macys pretty much told her, to never come back again.

I am close friends with a store manager at another high-end dept store. I know they ban people there for a number of other reasons (other than returns). If they suspect fraud... or suspect money laundering, or make claims of items not received (when system shows received) .... if you use the "employee" discount without being an employee.. (or accept any other discount the store normally does not offer) you may be banned.

I just recalled another friend who was banned from VS for doing the following: taking the customer returns that the store discarded (VS discards used items upon return, even if the beauty product was just opened to be sniffed or when an item comes back without tags attached yet clearly it appears brand new and not used). This was an employee though. She wanted to sue them but the employee handbook clearly stated the type of items that were to be discarded and that the employees were not allowed to take them. Fired and banned from shopping there.
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Its true. I worked at VS when I was 18. We had to destroy everything returned or unused beauty demos. It was so incredibly wasteful. We had to literally take scissors to returned bras that we priced at $50+
 
#434
Rachel965 said:
Its true. I worked at VS when I was 18. We had to destroy everything returned or unused beauty demos. It was so incredibly wasteful. We had to literally take scissors to returned bras that we priced at $50+
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There was a news report that showed used (i.e. crusty) underwear getting returned to VS. The salespeople would just put a new tag on and put them right back on the sales floor. I wonder if that's why they're so strict now.
 
#435
ProShopper1 said:
There was a news report that showed used (i.e. crusty) underwear getting returned to VS. The salespeople would just put a new tag on and put them right back on the sales floor. I wonder if that's why they're so strict now.
Click to expand...
Could be. I've seen returned crusties. We used a hanger to throw them in the trash but that was mostly because we wanted to for obvious reasons. We werent trying to consult the rule book in that situation.
 
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