It's okay to wear clothes then return them for a refund

[KeyLimePies]

Kay Burley on Sky News mentioned an article in one of the papers covering what happens to clothing purchased online and returned (not sure which retailer). Apparently they go to a big warehouse to be sorted and are given a 'sniff' test - to which KB said "c'mon, we've all done it"

AIBU to think that the majority of people don't order clothes, wear them, then return items in a smelly state for a refund? I have never done this unless the item has developed a fault after wearing it - and I've definitely never returned clothing smelling of sweat or anything else.

YABU - it's perfectly okay to wear something then return it for a refund, even if it's not faulty - it's one of life's perks.

YANBU - the majority of people don't do a KB!

@cheekychaplin

Anyone who has ever worked in retail will tell you customers are brazen and will attempt to return anything. It's much more common than you would think.

So true! So sending back online makes it much easier. I have seen women on nights out putting tags back in their dress so it does happen.

I knew someone who worked in a retail clothing shop. She told me never to buy knickers or swimsuits unless they are in a sealed plastic bag. Apparently sweat hogs tare trying underwear on in the changing rooms!

It’s disgusting but I have heard of it happening

I do not personally do this. But I received a top from ASOS today which smells fucking awful. Very lived in. Looks unworn though.

I ordered some jeans recently. Tried them on, they seemed fine so pulled the tag off and went downstairs. Hadn’t got from one end of the house to the other before I realised that they were loose and slipping so I went back and changed and packed them up and arranged their return. I had pulled the tag off by that point so I just tucked it in a pocket.

The staff are going to think I’ve worn them aren’t they?

I’ve sent a few bits back recently. Had some bad luck with some really ill-fitting clothes. They’re going to think I’m a serial wearer-and-returner. I only tried them on!

I went to a wedding and clocked a lady in a dress with the tags on. Told her about them, as I thought it was an oversight on her part. No, she was going to return the dress the next day.
She ended up spilling drink on it later on, so not sure how her plan worked out!

Hence why clothes are sniffed by the staff when being checked. I've seen Marks and Spencers staff sniff the crotch of trousers and the armpits of t-shirts. ewwwww ! That's a grim job! 🤮

Urgh, I will watch out for anything bought online now that's not smelling as fresh as a daisy.
I don't know how people can get away with it, especially returning clothes instore. It must take some nerve & the offenders must have no morals whatsoever.

This thread did remind me of when I went into a (now defunct) Store 21, though, with a large, empty bag, and the 13 year old manager 'stage whispered' to an assistant 'watch her.'
I SO wanted to turn round to him & tell him I'd just been to drop loads of things off at a charity shop and am a NICE person, not a shoplifter. Dickhead. I was fuming.

@Queenoftheashes

I do not personally do this. But I received a top from ASOS today which smells fucking awful. Very lived in. Looks unworn though.

That might be from shipping the garment in a plastic bag, if it's been stored for a while it sometimes gets a funky smell. It should go after it's been hung up for a little while.

Distance buying regs state a person has 14 days to try on an item and decide if they want it because they wouldnuave had chance to do this in a shop. The unwanted items should be returned in a saleable condition.

However if retailers are going to give refunds for clearly worn and smell items, people will keep doing this.

I've never done this and also wash everything before I wear it. Obviously try it on to make sure it fits but then it goes straight in the wash. My mum/sisters think I'm bonkers because they just rip the tags off new clothes and wear them.
The thought of some sweaty, random person having worn, then returned an item of clothing makes my skin crawl! Especially bras. I mean - chances are it's been on someone's boobs. Gross!
If you wear and return you are skanky imo 🤮

@MummyMayo1988

I've never done this and also wash everything before I wear it. Obviously try it on to make sure it fits but then it goes straight in the wash. My mum/sisters think I'm bonkers because they just rip the tags off new clothes and wear them. The thought of some sweaty, random person having worn, then returned an item of clothing makes my skin crawl! Especially bras. I mean - chances are it's been on someone's boobs. Gross! If you wear and return you are skanky imo 🤮

What is particularly gross about boobs?

@RuthTopp many of our warehouse staff are current uni students, or already have degrees, former high flying careers, mostly tri-lingual, buying their first home in their early 20s, ... or like, working to help a partner through near bankruptcy due to Covid.

I’d re-assess your prejudice against people who have to work for a living.

It’s totally out of order to do this. The whole online process is an expensive one for retailers, not just the wearing and returning but also the cost of sending multiple garments when most are returned (for legitimate reasons) and have to be processed and returned to stock. Something the big retailers can cope with but often causes small retailers serious cash flow problems. I’m thinking of a friend of mine who owns two small boutiques in a couple of naice towns. She was forced to go online by the pandemic in order to survive and has really suffered because online customers have treated her like she’s Zara. For example buying two expensive dresses in two different sizes, keeping them for ages so they are “out of stock” (because she can’t hold multiples of every product) and she can’t sell them to other customers, then returning them damaged in some way so that they have to go in the bargain bin, or returned clearly having been worn, so are now second hand and can’t be resold at the full price, whereas if they’re tried on in the shop she has some control over how the item is treated. I know she’s been shocked at just how many people are happy to treat a small and struggling retailer in this way.

Sorry about the lack of paragraphs ^

Rank!

Many people do this, particularly for one-off type stuff like prom dresses, wedding outfits etc. I would NEVER do it.

Not ok! YABU

Its disgusting I try on clothes then shower, they wash what I don't send back because of this. Notice the last coat I got had a ribbon you can't hide once you cut it off can't return which is good.

🤮

It's the sort of behaviour that spoils it for everyone. Like Uniqlo now only allowing returns to the original shop bought from. There's a knock-on effect.
I think it's mostly young people/students/keeping up with the Joneses types who do this.

It’s dreadful disgusting behaviour. Some years ago I spotted the same older woman and her husband doing this in two different shops in two local towns. Very well turned out, very entitled. Shop assistant saying she couldn’t give a refund ‘ madam, it looks like it has been worn’. Reply in entitled ‘ well I can assure you, IT HAS NOT’. It was quite a scene.
Husband backed her up, equally entitled. Could here that there was make up on it. They didn’t get their refund.

And a few months later, different shop, different town- doing the same thing!!! Quite loud and look very well- to -do

Couldn’t believe the brass neck of them!

I heard from someone that the (less successful) 'influencers' do this. I guess it figures when they find it necessary to wear something new daily!

I believe on line shopping could use a deterrent by charging for returns.
Museum Selection and some other brands do not give free returns. This may help cut down this practice which ultimately helps no one, particularly the environment. If you need a posh frock, you can rent one and or join a swap scheme. But it’s not just clothes, I’ve heard of expensive household items being bought for that Instagram picture, and then returned. The world has gone completely mad.

I recently bought a hoodie with a pouch on the front. I put it on to try for size when I got home and put my hands in the pouch.. my hands and nails were immediately covered in dry tobacco bits 🤢
It looked fine / unworn / washed and must have passed the sniff test.. though a closer sniff of the pouch did smell of tobacco a bit. Bloody gross. Please don't do this people!