Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

If you do most of your clothes shopping online...

14 replies

LittleNougat · 04/04/2019 11:22

I seem to be ordering package after package and 99% of items are sent back Sad Do companies get annoyed at this or is it just how it is?
Also feel like I spend ages endlessly scrolling through things, ASOS for example, even with filters on, so many results! How do you find the nice things Confused

Expert online shoppers, I'd be interested to hear your routines and secrets of your success. Thanks! Grin

OP posts:
chasegirl · 04/04/2019 11:32

I am the same as you! I am only 5ft 1 so have to online shop as many shops don't stock much if any from their petite ranges. I am also in between sizes so order both cos I am never sure which will fit.

I think retailers just accept that's how it is (I guess they have to) but I have noticed a few now make you print off your own return label which puts me off ordering from them.

I am not much help here sorry Grin

Hoppinggreen · 04/04/2019 11:34

Mainly shop online at Hush, Mint Velvet and a bit of Boden.
I think that I know what I like and how those brands fit me so I order accordingly . Rarely send things back

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 04/04/2019 11:35

I order everything on line, of course companies don't annoyed,they factor it into their costs. For every pair of shoes I order 3 as sizes vary for much and the others go back.

TipseyTorvey · 04/04/2019 11:37

I try to do it all from John Lewis and delivered to my local waitrose as it's next day delivery and returning is just so so easy. I always need to buy milk or something so it's no bother. Occasionally when I buy from elsewhere sometimes I forget to take things back and kick myself so do that very rarely.

zoellafortitude · 04/04/2019 11:38

I'm very tall and live far from any decent shops. Makes it a real pain. Also have very small budget so try to shop of Ebay - which of course is non-returnable. Wish I had an answer for you, OP!

Any way you could do a shopping trip in a big city - get a feel for shops you like that are a good fit for you (I get on with most Long Tall Sally stuff for instance) and then you will know what shops to look for online?

Palominoo · 04/04/2019 11:44

I mainly shop online but I read the measurements and I know what suits me so I rarely return clothes unless they have been very badly described.

Sometimes I Google an item so I can see it sold elsewhere and they may have different photos so I can get a better idea.

With footwear though it is completely different and if no half sizes available I buy two sizes to see which is the best fit.

Original poster
LittleNougat · 04/04/2019 12:15

@chasegirl I've noticed this too. It seems like a few of the high street shops are trying to get people into stores by making their online service more difficult. No wonder they will end up closing!

@TipseyTorvey That sounds really handy, I wish I had a Waitrose nearby ☹️

@Zoellafortitude Yeah that's something I could do, some trying on of different brands to get an idea of size at least

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 04/04/2019 12:21

I think retailers just accept that's how it is (I guess they have to) but I have noticed a few now make you print off your own return label which puts me off ordering from them

Online will be cheaper than opening a new shop.

My printer is always breaking down so I just ring the companies and they send me returns labels,I've done this a number of times.

Sooverthemill · 04/04/2019 12:25

I buy everything online as I can't get out of the house. Every single thing: clothes, shoes, underwear plus books food dog food. I'm good friends with my postman and dpd man! I only buy from people who make returns easy/ free. That tends to be John Lewis ( who sell wide range of stuff from tons of retailers), Boden, hush, M&S, offfice for shoes. I never pay for returns and I reckon I send 80% back. I often get 3 pairs of jeans and keep just one for example. It's the way it is, I don't have the ability to go out and even when I could, I didn't live near decent shops ( here if I could go I only have fatface and white stuff as it's a touristy type tiny town).

Palominoo · 04/04/2019 12:35

Ordering items in different sizes is the same as picking up different sizes and taking to a fitting room, really. Although of course, some things you can hold up against yourself to get a rough idea.

My annoyance sometimes is with the excessive packaging that some companies use. I want the items protected during transit of course but I don't want fancy tissue, ribbon and pretty boxes.

I've bought coats and jackets from a company called Protected Species and they package it like a ruddy birthday present. The cost of all that fancy schmancy is unnecessary waste and the cost is passed to the customer.

Original poster
LittleNougat · 04/04/2019 14:25

@palominoo I agree about the packaging. Surely all the plastic wrap is not necessary.

OP posts:
ilovecherries · 04/04/2019 14:52

I shop online a lot, and have had a massive weight loss, so never sure of my size yet, so do often order multiples, or to check a look on me that I haven't tried before. Sometimes I'm a bit embarrassed when I go to the PO yet again (small village, so no anonymity), but then I remind myself I'm contributing to keeping a tiny, lifeline for many, post office alive. Does wonders for my shopping guilt ;). I do tend to only shop with places that do royal mail or Hermes returns, and I never pay for returns. The odd time I get caught by DPD returns I'm annoyed, as that's a 40 mile round trip for me. I try and turn things around within 24 hours so I get my money back asap. I also try to avoid shops where you have to print your own return label, although I was very impressed with Warehouse this week. Had to print my own label (annoying) but I posted on Tuesday, and the money came back into paypal overnight. Quickest return ever.

OldJoseph · 04/04/2019 16:09

It's great, it's given me access to different shops I would never have known about otherwise. I was never a fan of the high street shops when there was no online. Even now when I go shopping in shops I'm faced with the usual lack of my size and help. I can't even bring myself to ask if they have something in my size because I know the answer. Some of these shops are huge and yet I can't find what I need. At least online I can have a quick look to see if what I am after is in stock.

Returns are a faff but no worse than returning to the shop after I've
changed my mind or found a fault. Always having to queue to explain why I no longer want the item and yes I've got the receipt or worse, no I can't find the receipt, so then only getting a credit note.

I'm not sure I'm terribly successful but I stick to a few brands I like, I'm strict with myself about returns, I return unless I'm convinced it fits and I'll wear it. I try and make sure the returns are free and straightforward before I buy.

gotmychocolateimgood · 04/04/2019 17:44

I'm friends with my postman too 🤗🙄 need to cut back on online shopping but I'm not well at the moment and parcels cheer me up. Oh dear. I haven't spent loads in one go, just little and often.

I don't often send things back as I spend ages choosing stuff and usually it fits luckily. But don't feel bad about returns... Just choose places with free returns.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page