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 generally don’t buy stuff that I won’t be keeping, how much are you buying op? It’s not that I don’t ever return anything, the last time I did was in December. It’s at most one a month so easy to track. It does sound like you need to rein it in a bit. Why give yourself the life admin?!

Notes app on my phone and then I delete the line when it’s refunded

I would say that is quite unusual and you are in the minority in this day and age.
Obviously over purchasing is not ideal for many reasons but sometimes it is necessary e.g. ordering two sizes as you’re not sure which will one fit properly. Also many items are no longer available in store now so you have to order online.
It’s a weird thing to be sanctimonious about tbh.

Use Klarna pay in 30 & you don't ever have to wait for refunds again

Tracking feels insurmountable. I just assume they get refunded.

I pay for everything on credit card so as part of statement checking I check that refunds have come through, I keep a list of returns in the spreadsheet I have that lists my monthly 'money to do' jobs.

Another advantage of paying by CC is that you’re protected for purchases over £100 if something is faulty and the retailer is shirking their legal duties and you don't actually have to pay for anything you order for 3 to 7 weeks so gives you flexibility to order different sizes and styles without a huge lump of money leaving your bank account.

I have a list in my notes on my phone, I tick it once I’m notified of the refund. Zara, New Look and Amazon have all had to be chased, sometimes two months after the return. I also photograph my return postage receipts with my phone too.

I don’t buy many clothes and don’t have many refunds. When I know I have 1 I log into my banking and make sure it’s arrived.

I bank online so I check my bank account daily anyway. I keep an eye out for any refunds. Normally don’t have more than one a month though.

I don’t return much, but when I have any returns of any kind I stick the parcel receipt on an old fashioned receipt spike with a note of what it was and who it was bought from, and periodically check I’ve had the refund. You often get an email when a return has been processed.

It’s really not onerous.

I do all my shopping online...clothes, household goods, books etc. I use notes on my phone to keep track. All the companies I use send emails of when item was returned and when it was refunded...and I use online banking to check.
Never had an issue but I never order from places like Temu or Shein.
The po faced poster saying you must order too much clearly isn't stock size.

I buy carefully and don't return very much. I 'star' the email in gmail and delete it when the refund is received.

If I have bought a fair amount eg in the sales then I make a spreadsheet.

I don't buy again from shops I've had to chase.

I don’t send that much back, but when I do I add a reminder to my phone for a week later to check the status eg have I had an email confirming they’ve got it, have I had the money. If I’ve got an email saying the refund will be by X date, I add a new reminder for that.

I write down what I need to return and the due date, refunds due and which account they are due back in. Reminds me to check every so often and once cleared, I delete from the list.
I also track any store card spending. Just use the notes app

just how much are you buying and returning that you can’t keep track of it?

My banking app notifies me when a payment lands.

I do this but a paperweight instead of a spike. I tend to squiggle on the receipt what I handed over.

Your bank statements will be the easiest way to check.

I just remember - the hassle of going to the post office etc to hand stuff over means I’m eagle-eyed re getting the money back! Easy to check on the banking app. Amazon and Next are really good at it.

Flag the email as needing action until I see the refund hit the account. I normally only do online orders using one email address and one credit card however, so it’s fairly easy to track.

We have very few on-line returns (probably only 1-2 annually) so it is easy to just keep a mental note. We would keep an eye on the emails & CC statement to check it has come through ok.

Thanks all - really useful to see how everyone tracks this! Interesting that a few of you mentioned having to chase retailers (Zara, New Look, Amazon). Thought it was just me being rubbish at admin but sounds like it's actually quite common. Going to try the notes app approach and see if I can be more organised about it. Though I suspect I'll forget after a week 😅

You’re ruining the free returns process by returning so much.

I look at my bank statement/transactions once a week, partly to tally up purchases/refunds. How much do you buy that you can’t keep track?