How do you keep track of online shopping refunds?

[LilacPuppy]

Genuine question - do you lot have a system for tracking refunds from online returns?

I've returned maybe 6-7 items in the past few months (ASOS, Next, Amazon) and I honestly can't remember if all the refunds came through. I think one might be missing but I can't figure out which one because I've got returns going back to different cards and I didn't write anything down.

Do you just... remember? Use a spreadsheet? Or am I the only disorganised one here?

Feel like I'm probably owed money but have no idea how to figure out which return hasn't been refunded.

I don't buy so much that I can't keep track of it all.

Christmas is different but in normal life I can go months without making an online purchase.

Set a reminder on my google calendar to check it a few days after it "should" have been refunded.
I use calendar "tasks" to remind me of literally everything - don't clear them until you've done them! It works well for me.

thanks thats a good idea, will try this!

I just use the reminders app on my phone eg refund section then the name of retailer as the bullets. I then get rid of the retailer name once the refund is confirmed.

I usually keep the return receipt on the table with the expected refund written on it until I get notification of refund.

I have used a spreadsheet in the past, now I dont have time so just use a notebook

I would go into the orders and you see if the item has been returned, received and refunded. I would then check my bank account.

DP is the online shopper in our home and follows the same policy as this PP! We have a pot plant in the corner of the lounge, he’ll write on the return receipt what the item is (ie hiking boots, watch) and pop it under the pot, throwing it away once the refund is in

I have never in my life had an online shopping refund because 1) I don't buy much and 2) I always buy stuff I know I'll want to keep.
Maybe you need to look at just how much shopping you're actually doing, OP, because it sounds like it might be an awful lot.

The other advice I give is take a photo of all post office receipts as proof of postage and then bin it. Means you don’t need to keep track of little slips of paper but you have a record of needed, as in 99% of cases having the postage receipt photo is good enough for you to get the refund.

Don’t assume the online tracking will update, and sometimes the online
tracking isn’t accessible to you especially if a QR code was used. Sometimes you just get the QR code sent as opposed to the corresponding tracking info.

Weird thing to brag about, I hope
you get the gold star that you’re clearly in desperate need of

yep true, its just ordering for the kids and myself etc it can get a bit hectic!

I don't make the next purchase until the previous return has been recredited.

It helps with all manner of things.

thanks yep good point, keeps it all accessible on my photos

I leave the email confirming the returned item has arrived and is being processed in my inbox and only delete it when the money shows in the bank and I know its all sorted.

Reminds me to chase if needed as well.

I keep track mostly. Buy from one account. Just had to chase one from boden as there was no refund after 2 weeks.

I have no idea what sizing will be like until it's arrived, as it's so inconsistent between brands. If I need a pair of trousers I might have to order three different styles in two sizes each. Size guides tend to be quite generic.

So the information necessary to decide whether I'll want to keep it doesn't materialise until it arrives.

Same for my son. Two pairs of trousers from Next, same size: one pair falls down and the other one is fine.

Wellies and sandals - ordered a size up from same retailer and they are practically the same size as current ones.

You might think you could buy these things in the shops but they never have a range of sizes and I need a free morning to travel to the city, and they're in short supply.

It must feel very freeing to know exactly what you're getting - you're very lucky!

I run a budget spreadsheet. So all my expected incomings / outgoings. I add it on there and don’t remove it until I get the refund.

Spreadsheet for me and email myself the evri etc receipt.

i tend to take a picture of the proof of postage and then add to my todo app to check in a week or so type thing

I ‘pay’ on klarna pay in 30 days, so I don’t have to wait for a refund if I do return it. I do however have to remember to pay for what I keep instead.

I keep the order confirmation e mails, then any that need to be returned I move a separate folder marked returns.
I 'star' the email until the refund comes through and once it does I 'unstar' it or delete it if no longer needed.(sometimes I keep them to refer back to for sizes,styles etc).

Klarna

Klarna

Also when I get the proof of postage/receipt I write on the back what the item was I sent back and where it was from as sometimes there is just a post code and no business name,so hard to remember if sending a few items back which one was which.