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Original poster

Wear clothes once, then take them back?

252 replies

Massiveroastdinner · 07/11/2021 21:35

Does anyone do this?

I remember doing this a lot as a teen, so I’d have lots of different outfits to go out in, but couldn’t afford. It was either from the catalogue or from shops.

Haven’t done it since, but was reading about how many fashion influencers on Instagram etc do

OP posts:
Goatinthegarden · 08/11/2021 06:44

This is grim.

I once bought a dress for a wedding and accidentally left the tags on. I realised after the wedding that it still had the tags on and joked that I should just return it.

I didn’t actually do it though.

Hodl · 08/11/2021 06:58

I did this a few times as a teenager, mainly in Miss Selfridge (showing my age.)

A friend used to regularly swap price tags on items whilst in the changing rooms, this was 30 years ago when it was easier to do.

A girl from our school would go to Dolcis which always used to be mad busy, she would get new shoes to try on then when the sales assistant was serving other people she would just walk out in the new shoes leaving her old ones behind.

PeapodBurgundy · 08/11/2021 07:03

It's people who do things like this who make returns for the rest of us complicated. I've been refused refunds on garments on a few occasions even though they we legitimate returns, I'd not worn them other than to try on.

One was a two piece dress (a silk slip style layer, then a gauze type beaded layer). I bought it without trying it on (had pram with me, so wouldn't fit in the changing room), there was a tag attaching the two layers together, which I accidentally snapped while taking off the dress. Tried to return it as it wasn't as flattering as another I purchased to try on as well, and was refused, as they thought it had been worn.

Another was a pair of trousers which I bought as a teen/tween and wanted to keep so had worn. The first time I washed them, the dye ran, and they came out patchy. Wouldn't refund them, as they said I hadn't followed the washing directions (I had).

Shops wouldn't be so reluctant to accept returns if people didn't take the piss.

Double3xposure · 08/11/2021 07:12

@TheFairyCaravan

My sister used to do it. She probably still does. She’s got no morals though and her standards are pretty low.

Years and years ago I was friends with a woman whose partner was in the RAF. He was being deployed for 4 months so she went to BHS and bought some sexy undies. After she’d worn them the night before he left she took them back saying they didn’t fit. The staff didn’t even check them. I never bought any underwear from BHS again and I wash all new clothes before I wear them.

I suspect this is an urban myth. I used to work in the underwear department of Marks and Spencer ( or as we called it “Lingerie”) and we always checked the condition of returns very carefully. It’s pretty obvious if underwear has been worn TBH.
OverByYer · 08/11/2021 07:14

I once had someone try to return a very worn pair of slippers when I worked in BHS , saying they were faulty. They reeked.
I refused but my manager over ruled me.

IrisAtwood · 08/11/2021 07:19

I’ve never done it and don’t know anyone who has.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 08/11/2021 07:22

SiL works in a fancy gift shop and staff are encouraged to wear the stock.

If they haven’t worn stock they are told to take a scarf or sweater from the shop floor, wear it and put it back at the end of the day.

Gingefringe · 08/11/2021 07:23

When one of my colleagues got married her finance (who didn't own nor ever normally wore a suit) bought his wedding suit from Next - kept the tags on during the ceremony/reception- and returned it after the wedding! Why he didnt just hire a suit I'll never know.

KaycePollard · 08/11/2021 07:26

It’s naff. And very dishonest. A kind of stealing, really.

VincaMinor · 08/11/2021 07:31

No I'd never do it

dayswithaY · 08/11/2021 07:34

I used to work in a clothes shop and this is very common. It drove me nuts and I always refused the refund.

I've seen dresses with crumbs stuck to the lap area, white deodorant marks, perfume, fake tan, make up, and on a few occasions - BO and blood.

If you asked them why they wanted to return it they would always say that it cost them a lot of money and they wouldn't ever wear it again.

Then people would get creative and actually damage the item so they could claim it was faulty - again, I always refused the refund as I knew it hadn't left the shop like that. They could take it up with Head Office if they wanted.

People kid themselves it's not theft, but it is. It's also one of the reasons why clothing shops are going bust, soon all we will be left with is fast fashion websites selling tube dresses for £2.

amillionmenonmars · 08/11/2021 07:39

I worked with someone on a good wage who would do this regularly.

One of the many reasons why I did not like her.

She admitted it once, and I was shocked, but she said it was a one off as she was absolutely broke that week (though could afford the trip to the races!). After that I used to notice the outline of the labels tucked inside her dresses and tops that she wore for work. People used to compliment her on her lovely and ever changing wardrobe, but yuck, people would have bought and worn those things after she returned them.

Riverlee · 08/11/2021 07:41

Nope, never done it.

Fizbosshoes · 08/11/2021 07:42

In the 80s a friend of my mums (they were probably in their 30s and could afford something new at M and S) suggested getting an M and S dress for a party and then taking it back. My mum was quite surprised at the idea.

bendmeoverbackwards · 08/11/2021 07:48

@PissedOffNeighbour22

I recently received an order from next and it had clearly been worn. The smell when I opened the bag was horrendous. The dress had quite obviously been in a dirty laundry pile for a while. Pissed me off massively as I needed the dress for a wedding and it had sold out. It was a maternity dress, so not like there was loads of other dresses to choose from.

I've never sent anything back I've worn and I don't know anyone who would. It's disgusting and there's no excuse for it.

@PissedOffNeighbour22 that’s awful. I would worry that the shop would think it was ME that had worn them. What did Next say?
CaMePlaitPas · 08/11/2021 08:08

I've never done this and like a previous poster said, I have been flat broke. I'd prefer to buy second hand on Vinted, wear it and then sell on.

IsSpringSprangedYet · 08/11/2021 08:11

I think it's not the same as buying an item and bringing it home to then change your mind/it actually doesn't fit/suit, and then return it straightaway. I've done that before and twice with online shopping. But deliberately wearing it out and then returning is a grim. I can't imagine the store would ever clean it to resell. Obviously they don't Envy

MrsLargeEmbodied · 08/11/2021 08:11

i buy things online, try and take back if necessary.
hey i feel guilty that i mostly keep the coat hanger

caringcarer · 08/11/2021 08:11

I would never had even thought of doing this. It is dishonest, disrespectful and dirty. I was brought up with of you can't afford it, you can't have it, wer something else.

antsinyourpanta · 08/11/2021 08:15

*I think it's not the same as buying an item and bringing it home to then change your mind/it actually doesn't fit/suit, and then return it straightaway. I've done that before and twice with online shopping. But deliberately wearing it out and then returning is a grim. I can't imagine the store would ever clean it to resell. Obviously they don't

CathyorClaire · 08/11/2021 08:16

Never done it and never would.

I bought a packaged set of school shirts once that turned out to have greasy stains round the neck Envy - vom. Had to make a special trip back to return them which pissed me off even more Angry

On the plus side I got a very good discount on a designer sale dress for Dd's prom when I pointed out it had obviously been worn and returned. She was only ever going to wear it once or twice so it was a pretty cost effective way of doing it.

Maireas · 08/11/2021 08:18

@Youdoyoutoday

www.dailystar.co.uk/fashion-beauty/bride-traumatised-125-asos-playsuit-25394072.amp

This story popped up today!! 🤢🤢🤢

Oh my god, that's horrible.
LondonQQ · 08/11/2021 08:18

It’s really bad. But the demand for fast fashion is what driving it. And, arguably, at least it’s better than those same clothes ending up in landfill.

Much better, though, are those high end clothes rental sites. Or we could stop fetishising people who have many, many clothes.

Pinkgorrilaz · 08/11/2021 08:21

[quote Massiveroastdinner]@SmellyTheSmeolaSmoteSmestika Yes, it definitely wasn’t a good thing to do, we all did it and looking back it’s awful.[/quote]
No we didn't.

It's theft.

I'm amazed bloggers get away with it too as you'd think it would be obvious if you're constantly returning stuff.

Lovemusic33 · 08/11/2021 08:24

Never done it, seems wrong. If you can’t afford it then don’t buy it.
There are places that hire out clothing now, I know several people that have done this so they can wear something expensive on a night out.