Charging for returns?

[thebellagio]

I've just seen that H&M are the latest company to charge for online returns

Am I the only one who's really pissed off by this?

The logical part of me does understand why they are doing it. But the emotional side of me is pissed off. I live in a small town - literally all the shops on the high street have closed (there's no saving it, it's dead). The ONLY clothes shops we have now are Primark and M&S - i'm in the middle, where I don't want to buy my clothes from Primark, I'm too old for that. But equally I just can't buy my clothes from the same place as my 70yo mum. I really cant do it!

I used to love places like DP - but they are also charging for returns. But our dotty P shut down, so there's no going into town to try things on, see if I like them. The nearest shopping centre is over an hour away, so i'm literally reliant on online shopping. But I'm a funny size - I'm in between sizes, and I'm quite short so without trying things on I literally don't know how different makes/brands will fit

But charging for returns just makes me not want to buy anything at all. So I end up relying on friggin ASDA for clothes

Yes, this is a sad truth. But it works both ways.

If I were to attempt a bricks and mortar store, it would not work because people don't like shopping in store any more. So it's gone full circle.

This is why we have very clear terms and conditions.

Faulty goods always returned, refunded / replaced at no cost to the customer.

Change of mind returns - accepted within a limited time frame at the cost of the customer.

I prefer shopping instore. I used to love going shopping for the day, it was a real event going to a big city to get a new wardrobe. Now there's nothing worth going for as everywhere good has gone. Topshop at Oxford street was the highlight of visiting London but sadly no more.

Ah ok my bad, I didn't realise you meant local online retailers so I'll withdraw what I said.

Can you explain though, how we build up this shortlist of reliable local online retailers without a lot of trial, error and crucially, returns?

As far as I'm concerned, the vast majority of customers are making mistakes because they're not being given enough information by the retailer about what they're buying beforehand. I've just been looking at some trousers that come in 3 lengths, but I can't see any leg measurements. I don't think that's acceptable. I'm reminded of going to the haberdasher's with my mum in the 60s, and the shop assistant fetching a jumper and holding it up for my mum to look at - no touching allowed.

I don't mind, I'd spend the same on the bus fare to go and look in person. As long as its free delivery

I've just been looking at some trousers that come in 3 lengths, but I can't see any leg measurements

Even if they have measurements, they still arrive too long or short. I’m a 32” leg. Ordered them and they arrived too short. But I’ve measured my leg and it’s right.

Thank you and yes, exactly - not only is the information insufficient, sizing is now so random that, even if it's given, it's unreliable.

minipeony if I were still in a position to regularly go shopping then any bus fare would pay for visits to numerous shops and trying on sessions, so I don't think that's the right analogy.