10 Online Clothing Stores With Great Return Policies
Shopping for clothes in the store – once the only way to shop – now seems almost outdated. Why limit yourself to one designer, or even all of the options available at the mall when you have an endless variety of internet to choose from? But despite the convenience and choice of shopping online, I still prefer to browse the stands, usually with a friend, who encourages me to try on any color other than black.
Amazon’s new wardrobe service for Prime members invites you to open a store : you insert whatever you want into your virtual box, try on things at home, and don’t pay until you decide what to keep (or until seven days have passed – which comes first). Buyers get a discount based on how many items they choose to keep. This represents a major change from current online shopping, where you pay for clothes in advance and then wait for a refund. Amazon’s service is more like a carefully curated pop-up store operating in the privacy of your home. (This is similar to services like Stitchfix, which also don’t charge you until you choose, but the Stitchfix stylists, not you, decide what you get.)
You can now do this more or less with other retailers as long as you are willing to pay your credit card bill and wait for a refund. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of the best retailers offering easy and generally free returns and the best choice for shopping in the comfort of your home.
Modfabric
Like this vintage dress or butterfly juice glasses? Modcloth has free shipping (at least right now) and its return policy allows you to get money back for a refund, exchange, or store credit plus a $ 5 bonus. So if your cherry pie skirt is too tight and in the meantime your attention is drawn to a raincoat, pack it up and exchange it.
LL beans
LL Bean’s return policy is renowned for its generosity – you can return items indefinitely (although people have obviously figured out that people are buying things from thrift stores and are trying to return them, although I don’t know exactly how). If you ship your items back (and not to the store), the store will deduct $ 6.50 from your refund. So if you are very picky about your anoraks and need to test drive them for a week or two, LL Bean, which also has free shipping with no minimum, should be your first stop.
Zappos
The online shoe store, which has since expanded into apparel and accessories, offers free shipping and free returns for up to a year, and could very well pioneer an online shopping experience for shoppers who essentially bring the store home: ordering ten versions of ripped yoga leggings , for example, and then return all but one particularly tattered pair.
JCPenney
There is no time limit for returning items to JCPenney , but if you do not have a receipt, they will give you a “return merchandise voucher” (and they will save your information in a database to make sure you are not abusing the policy). JCPenney doesn’t have free shipping in the usual way, but they post free shipping codes often, so a little patience will save you that nine dollars.
End of earth
Lands End, home of athletic casual wear, offers free shipping for purchases over $ 50 and accepts anytime returns (for a $ 6.95 charge). Sometimes I go on a virtual binge and order a bunch of summer dresses, try them on at home and return everything but one or two. For men looking to complement their collection of cotton and iron-free shirts, Lands’ End has enough choices so you can cut your wash schedule down to once every two weeks.
Walmart / Bonobo
Walmart will return your items in their original packaging within 90 days for a refund or exchange . You can return your clothes to the store or print a prepayment refund label. (If you cannot find a receipt, you must return your items to the store.) Bonobos , which was just purchased by Walmart, has the same generous return policy: You can return worn-out items within 45 days for a refund or up to 90 days on a store loan. Returns are free of charge.
Gap
The Gap, which includes the Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta brands, offers over $ 50 free shipping and free returns . Athleta has a particularly generous return policy: if you train with, say, a pair of capris and a skirt and find that they are not really as comfortable as you thought, you can return them at any time.
Kolya
Kohl’s boasts a “no-hassle” return policy , provided items are tagged and not worn or used. If you’ve made a purchase using your primary credit card in the past three years, they might find you a receipt. If you would like to return by post, you will pay for shipping.
REI
REI offers free shipping over $ 50 and will pick up your items for up to a year (just make sure you have proof of purchase or are an REI member) for refund or replacement, although they won’t take things back if the reason for the return is it’s just normal wear and tear.
Patagonia
Patagonia offers over $ 75 free shipping and an Iron- On Guarantee , which means there is no time limit for returns. If you ship the item back, you will pay $ 5 shipping and they will assess if it will be returned, replaced, or refurbished (there will be a charge for normal wear and tear).
So will all these tempting deals finally kill the brick and mortar boutique? I don’t think so – impulse buying caused by a great storefront still exists, and nothing replaces the social aspect of shopping with a friend (or even talking to sellers).
So what exactly is the next generation of shopping opportunities? I’m guessing it’s a virtual friend, a bot that mutters, “Are you missing black sweaters?” And then when you object, he says, “Oh, what else. But keep your receipt.