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Kiss your free returns goodbye

thehustle.co

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Re: Kiss your free returns goodbye

#31

Post by thesumofall »

danpalmer wrote: post #17
pharmakom wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have noticed more stores giving actual garment measurements on their site (as opposed to a near meaningless size that is several inches off due to vanity sizing!)

Even measurements aren’t really an accurate indicator for most garments. The manufacturing tolerances for anything below designed fashion are just too large. When stuff is hand made (by experts, not just for the marketing label of “hand made”) then they tend to be accurate enough, but the stuff most people buy in shops is never going to have a reliable fit unless the whole supply chain is overhauled. And that’s not t…

That explains a lot! Always wondered why even when given precise measurements garments would still be way off

Re: Kiss your free returns goodbye

#32

Post by expertentipp »

readthenotes1 wrote: post #23

Borrowing clothes is definitely a thing among the women I've known (across generations). Buy it Thursday, wear it Saturday, return it Sunday.

I live in EU country and confirm this is a thing among women. They use online returns to show off in something new that they cannot afford.

Re: Kiss your free returns goodbye

#33

Post by Etrnl_President »

atoav wrote: post #15
thesumofall wrote: post #9

Most discussions about this topic somehow seem to assume that people enjoy returning stuff. They don’t. It’s effort One of the key unresolved problems in fashion retail remains the crazy, unreliable sizing systems. Just because you are size $X at one brand, doesn’t mean you’re size $X at another. Also, the majority of brands only cater to average body proportions. Slim feet? Tall? Good luck!

I know art students that routinely order stuff, use it for one film/show and return it. Because that's possible.

[dead]

Re: Kiss your free returns goodbye

#34

Post by thesumofall »

balaji1 wrote: post #24
thesumofall wrote: post #9

Most discussions about this topic somehow seem to assume that people enjoy returning stuff. They don’t. It’s effort One of the key unresolved problems in fashion retail remains the crazy, unreliable sizing systems. Just because you are size $X at one brand, doesn’t mean you’re size $X at another. Also, the majority of brands only cater to average body proportions. Slim feet? Tall? Good luck!

If there was no free returns, both customers and sellers will ensure better fit before sale occurs.

How would they do this? And what’s the incentive on seller side? By abolishing free returns without a better alternative in place, sellers clearly say that they rather accept lower sales than trying to ensure people receive fitting clothes

Re: Kiss your free returns goodbye

#35

Post by cik »

thesumofall wrote: post #9

Most discussions about this topic somehow seem to assume that people enjoy returning stuff. They don’t. It’s effort One of the key unresolved problems in fashion retail remains the crazy, unreliable sizing systems. Just because you are size $X at one brand, doesn’t mean you’re size $X at another. Also, the majority of brands only cater to average body proportions. Slim feet? Tall? Good luck!

Actually this is resolved entirely, just outside North America. It's incredibly frustrating when North American companies decide thingsike a 34" waist is 36" in one brand and 34" in another - don't get me started about inconsistencies within the brand itself - which is how I used to solve this.

Just buy European sized things. Sizes are sizes They're clear. They're clear to the point of your having a ability to measure yourself and always get what you're trying to get. Heck, many of these sites just publish a complete sizing guide, so that you can measure yourself.

My introduction to this, having moved from north America, has been eye opening. The standardization has eliminated any chance I ever try a North American made item now.

Re: Kiss your free returns goodbye

#36

Post by Broken_Hippo »

balaji1 wrote: post #24
thesumofall wrote: post #9

Most discussions about this topic somehow seem to assume that people enjoy returning stuff. They don’t. It’s effort One of the key unresolved problems in fashion retail remains the crazy, unreliable sizing systems. Just because you are size $X at one brand, doesn’t mean you’re size $X at another. Also, the majority of brands only cater to average body proportions. Slim feet? Tall? Good luck!

If there was no free returns, both customers and sellers will ensure better fit before sale occurs.

I disagree.

If returns cost them so much they'd do it now. But they don't: It is so much cheaper to produce the garment as it is that it won't change. They already make money from folk buying products and not bothering to return them.

No more free returns just means more consumers will be wary of ordering. The better fit stuff won't happen until actual laws are put into place and/or places start punishing manufacturers by refusing to sell their products on their platform, regardless of who is reselling them.

I very highly doubt it will affect whether or not returns are free, though.

Re: Kiss your free returns goodbye

#37

Post by expertentipp »

htag wrote: post #11

Is the average online return rate really 15%-30%? What are people returning? My personal return rate is closer to 0.15%.

Not at all in my case, even something around 20-30%. Why all trousers nowadays are so tight? Why every upper garment is so baggy? You know that sunglasses come in sizes? This smartphone absolutely does not look as in the marketing photos, it's all cheap plastic. American M, Italian M, and European M are completely different sizes.

Re: Kiss your free returns goodbye

#38

Post by pcthrowaway »

shortcake27 wrote: post #18
thesumofall wrote: post #9

Most discussions about this topic somehow seem to assume that people enjoy returning stuff. They don’t. It’s effort One of the key unresolved problems in fashion retail remains the crazy, unreliable sizing systems. Just because you are size $X at one brand, doesn’t mean you’re size $X at another. Also, the majority of brands only cater to average body proportions. Slim feet? Tall? Good luck!

> Just because you are size $X at one brand, doesn’t mean you’re size $X at another In my experience it’s worse than that. Buying from the same brand, sometimes even the same item (or its successor), results in wildy different fitment. I’ve strictly returned to brick and mortar. It’s so much more convenient buying something that fits.

I've bought the same shirt from the same brand in the same size, only to find it didn't fit well.

The difference? The "Made in XXX" country had changed.

Agreed, trying to buy clothes online is a nightmare

Re: Kiss your free returns goodbye

#39

Post by usrbinbash »

cik wrote: post #35
thesumofall wrote: post #9

Most discussions about this topic somehow seem to assume that people enjoy returning stuff. They don’t. It’s effort One of the key unresolved problems in fashion retail remains the crazy, unreliable sizing systems. Just because you are size $X at one brand, doesn’t mean you’re size $X at another. Also, the majority of brands only cater to average body proportions. Slim feet? Tall? Good luck!

Actually this is resolved entirely, just outside North America. It's incredibly frustrating when North American companies decide thingsike a 34" waist is 36" in one brand and 34" in another - don't get me started about inconsistencies within the brand itself - which is how I used to solve this. Just buy European sized things. Sizes are sizes They're clear. They're clear to the point of your having a ability to measur…

While that is true, many companies over here sell american made brands clothes and those are still, for some unfathomable reason, using the original measurements, starting with waist sizes in inches, which in my personal experience can mean anything from: "Fits as intended" to "Could be used as cover for a Jet Engine".

Re: Kiss your free returns goodbye

#40

Post by Broken_Hippo »

cik wrote: post #35
thesumofall wrote: post #9

Most discussions about this topic somehow seem to assume that people enjoy returning stuff. They don’t. It’s effort One of the key unresolved problems in fashion retail remains the crazy, unreliable sizing systems. Just because you are size $X at one brand, doesn’t mean you’re size $X at another. Also, the majority of brands only cater to average body proportions. Slim feet? Tall? Good luck!

Actually this is resolved entirely, just outside North America. It's incredibly frustrating when North American companies decide thingsike a 34" waist is 36" in one brand and 34" in another - don't get me started about inconsistencies within the brand itself - which is how I used to solve this. Just buy European sized things. Sizes are sizes They're clear. They're clear to the point of your having a ability to measur…

This doesn't help.

I live in northern Europe. I usually buy pants in the store so that I can try them on. I have to try on every single pair, even if they are the same size, style, color, and are sitting on top of each other on a table.

The sizes within the same garment aren't consistent, let alone the sizing in different stores.

Not to mention that some places only put the European sizes on sites for the European market after using a conversion from whatever sizing system they happen to use. You generally aren't getting a different manufacturer by avoiding a "north american made" item.

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