Buying and returning clothes

[Hello Kitty]

I have a horrible time finding and buying clothes/shoes. I'm really picky - everything has to be the right combination of style, function, fabric/fit, and price. I get fed up while looking for something, and it seems like one of my needs is often comprimised so I often settle.

Consequently, I've turned into somewhat of a serial returner :o because I get home and things just don't look right. I guess I'd like to try and stop that habit, because a) I'm afraid I'll get caught and won't be able to return things anywhere ever again and b) it's a PITA to keep buying things and returning them.

So I guess I'm curious - how often do you return clothes? Is there anything you do in store to make sure you'll be happy with your purchase? Do you love everything you buy? Am I just absurdly picky?

[PG-rated]

I rarely return things (except mail-order stuff); I usually try stuff on to make sure I'll like it, and if I change my mind later, I usually just live with it. That's not the best use of my money, I know.

[KrissyCat7]

I almost always try my clothes on in the store, and I tend to buy in outfits....so I know the pieces will look good together.

I only order mail order from brands I know and like.

[greenbunny]

I don't buy something unless I absolutely pine for it. If I try something on and think "Yeah, that's cute" I don't buy it. I have to put it on and think "I absolutely must leave this store with this item".

[Hello Kitty]

I don't buy something unless I absolutely pine for it. If I try something on and think "Yeah, that's cute" I don't buy it. I have to put it on and think "I absolutely must leave this store with this item".
I guess I need to do that more than I already do. My only problem is I've been looking to replace shorts (for example) for a year now, and my current pair are kind of raggly and very ill fitting. Repeat that for a lot of clothes in my wardrobe. So I'm fed up of looking like a ragamuffin, so I buy something thinking - it's okay, or I can shrink it, or whatever, and I get it home and rethink my decision.

I do try things on in-store - I just think I look different in the store than I do at home? I also don't return it after I've cut the tags or washed it - unless there's some horrible manufacturing flaw or something. I also really don't buy all that much - mainly replacing existing staples in my wardrobe. So I'm not terrible :p

[isign]

I'm a serial returner too. DH isn't able to go shopping with me b/c of his work schedule. I'm bad about buying something, bringing it home, him not liking it, or me changing my mind, and then taking it back. I only shop in a few stores, so I'm worried that one day the'll say something.

[myshel]

I have this same problem where I let my wardrobe go forever before I update and then I feel extreme pressure to come back with something-- anything! The thing that keeps me from taking items back is that I just don't go down in my standards. By doing that, I always find something.

I return things if the size is wrong (usually mail-order) or if I get it home and it really isn't me at all. That rarely happens.

[Tanya]

Tailoring, tailoring, tailoring! Really, it's cheaper than you think. Especially if you get a good deal on some pants but they need to be taken in in the waist or crotch or something. But yes, I do tend to return stuff sometimes--usually it'll be a fancy shirt or shoes that I just have no place to wear them to;). I'm exceedingly bad about returning home items, though, but that's 'cause DH doesn't like to shop around yet has a vested interest in the decorating. And I like to shop, so it works out!

[Tiffany]

I return a ton f stuff and have never had a problem, everything always has its tags and I always have the receipt, so I don't see how they would have mch to say aobut it. Just for an example: Jean shopping is one of my least favorite thing. When I need a pair, I will go to about everystore in the mall and try a bunch on. I usually bring home about four pair, each from different places so that I can try them on, one right after another so that I can get a comparison of them and decide which pair I want to keep. Or I might buy a top thinking that it will go with something I already have, I get it home and it doesn't then I return it. If I've been out shopping for a day and made some purchases I will probably return at least one thing, I don't see a problem with it really.

[kam]

I buy and return clothes all the time because I tend to be an online shopper (considering that's what I do, go figure!). I order from places I know and with sizing charts that I've learned are dependable, so I'd say I return maybe one item for every 10 I order.

[PurpleRose]

I do this too. It's been worse since I've started losing weight, because I sometimes think I need a bigger size than I do. I've decided that I won't order online anymore and just buy in store (where I can try it on) until my weight settles.

I think part of my problem is that I really need the stuff, and I'm on that "shopping trip high", so it's more the excitement of buying something that doesn't look as bad as what I currently have. It also is worse when someone shops with me, because sometimes they talk me into buying things that aren't "me" (even if they're cute).

I feel bad when I have to return things, but I don't want to waste money. I am going shopping in the next few weeks for some new things, and I'm making a list of what I need, and things I already own that I want the stuff to match with. I'm hoping that this will cut down on the need to return items.

[SingleWhiteFemale]

I've become a pretty frequent returner. I used to think that heck, I could buy a pair of jeans that were perfect, and walk into the same store 6 months later to buy the exact same fit/size/style, and not have to try them on because they'd fit. Ha! Now with stores cutting their clothes larger and me being completely unaware, I've become more of a returner. But I'm learning more and more which stores to stay away from (GAP) because of that. But I usually return the next day, and have the tags on it and the reciept so I haven't had any issues.

[laura]

I am a serial returner, but I'm okay with it. I'm also semi-manic about checking for price adjustments on my receipts from places that continuously mark down, like Gap, etc. I shop a lot online and I usually return half or more of the stuff I buy, but it's hard to find some of the things I like/want/need in stores (like ankle length pants, for example). That isn't a tremendously good excuse, however, since I barely ever try things on in stores anyway - I would rather try it on at home as an 'outfit' with whatever I already have to go with it to see if I really like it. Though with online stuff I would say about 50% of what I return is for fit and about 50% of it is that it just wasn't what I thought it would be, like different color/shade, fabric feel/weight, whatever. But I always return the clothes with tags and receipts, so I've never had a problem. I mean the salespeople hate me at Banana Republic, but whatever. :p

[diam124]

I return things fairly frequently. It drives DH crazy. Mostly it's because I don't feel like trying something on in the store and then when I get home it doesn't fit right. Sometimes I just change my mind though. I don't think there's anything wrong with returning something unless you've worn it. (I have returned things that I've worn and washed according to instructions but have then shrunk). Sometimes though I take the tags off absent-mindedly and then realize the clothes don't fit. Sometimes I think the salesperson probably thinks that I've worn them already but oh well. I had a friend who also checked for price adjustments. I never realized you could do that before I met her.

[Hello Kitty]

Well I'm glad to know I'm not completely uncouth for returning clothes. I felt I was really uncommon (or crazy) for doing so.

Re: tailoring - I can sew and my mom is an excellent seamstress, but there are some things that just can't be done without completely reconstructing the garment. I can make dresses without a problem, but pants and tops seem like more trouble than they're worth.

buying something that doesn't look as bad as what I currently have.
Yeah, exactly. By the time I get around to replacing the shorts I've had for 5 years, I'm desperate to find something that is good enough. I think I need to keep an ongoing list of things to look for in-store, and make notes of what will need replacement soon. So I can take my time and not have to comprimise my criteria.

DH polished my boots the other day and said, "you need to start looking for boots soon - I think these only have a year left and I know it will take you a year to find them." :o

[jimmysgirl424]

I hardly ever return clothes that I buy except for one particular item:

Jeans. The bane of my exsistence. I am short (5'0") and somewhat petite as well. (not the same thing according to clothing manufacturers!) I also prefer jeans that ride a bit lower because I hate high-waisted jeans and also because my navel is pierced. This does NOT mean that when I sit down I want everyone to get a great view of my ass and whatever underwear I am wearing that day. Anyway, because of those requirements, I just cannot seem to locate a decent pair of jeans. Ever. :mad: And at 34, you would think I would have found at least one 'safe' place to buy them. Not so.

So...I buy jeans, try them on, return them. Buy them, try them, return them. Buy them, try them, return them.....awww heck, you get the picture. :rolleyes:

[wine_o_girlie]

I am a serial returner, but I'm okay with it. I'm also semi-manic about checking for price adjustments on my receipts from places that continuously mark down, like Gap, etc. I shop a lot online and I usually return half or more of the stuff I buy, but it's hard to find some of the things I like/want/need in stores (like ankle length pants, for example). That isn't a tremendously good excuse, however, since I barely ever try things on in stores anyway - I would rather try it on at home as an 'outfit' with whatever I already have to go with it to see if I really like it. Though with online stuff I would say about 50% of what I return is for fit and about 50% of it is that it just wasn't what I thought it would be, like different color/shade, fabric feel/weight, whatever. But I always return the clothes with tags and receipts, so I've never had a problem. I mean the salespeople hate me at Banana Republic, but whatever. :p

Change the words "Banana Republic" to "Ann Taylor" and this is me to a "T".